Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-08-24
REDUCTION OF
CAR SERVICES
NOT NECESSARY
President Todd Admits Posi-
bilities of Obtaining Coal
From Illinois.
CHANGES HIS ATTITUDE

Denial that the Indianapolis Street
Railway Company has found it
necessary to reduce street car serv-
ice yet" in Indianapolis a dec
Iaration that 1--WE do not intend to un-
til it is absolutely necessary" were
made today by Robert l. Todd,
president.
This declaration followed the as-
sertions in The Times yesterday to
the effect that the city, state and
company officials were In agreement
on a plan to reduce the street car
service in the city, obtain higher
fares for the company and then ''im-
prove" the service by restoring it to
the present inadequate basis.
The basis\ for the threatened curtail-
ment of the street car service was de-
clared by the company to be inability to
obtain coal for the West Washington
street power plant unit that is ex-
ceedingly inefficient and is used only to
carry the rush hour" service Of the
traction company.
1t was announced by the company
that when few days supply Of coal for
this plant had been used 1t would be
necessary to shut down the plant and
abolish the extra rush hour service, thus
making it impossible for thousands Of
indianapolis citizens to use the street
cars going to and from work.
The reasons assigned for inability to
get coal In the company's public an
nouncements was inadequate revenue and
the high prices OF coal in the open mar
ket.
At the came time this announcement
was being made, the street car company
was advertising a quarterly dividend on
its stock.
Samuel Ashhy. corporation counsel,
disclosed the attitude OF the city admin
istratIon toward the threatened curtail-
ment Of service In an interview iu which
he said the matter was mot serious
and the city was mot asleep"
E. /. Lewis, chairman of the public
service commission, showed the willing
ness of the state authorities to permit
the street car company to disrupt it's
present service by stating that while
the commission was ready TO consider
the matter of fares. and could write an
oFuer fOuctEhAuN the HtbptrtA StAflSs
al cost" basis of operation, the commits
sion preferred to await a conference
with Mr.. Ashby.
MORE CHEERFUL
ATTITUDE.
Today, following the publication o.
the program which involved the incon-
veniencing OF thousands Of indianapolis
people. a much more cheerful attitude has
been assumed by the company.
Mr.. Todd is now endeavoring In his
statements to make It appear that the
continuation Of the present service is not
contingent on finances. but on ability 10
obtain coal.
He says nothing about the lack Of
money with which 20 buy coal.
His statement is as follows:
The situatlon is unchanged.
We have sufficient coal to last until
Friday.
I'VE hope to obtain some from mi
nois before that time.
"It is on Its way and may reach In
dianapolis. II It is not conhscated.
$50 far rs we can determine, IL Is alb
soIutely impossible to obtain coal in
Indiana.
I'VE have not curtailed the service
and DO not intend to do so until 1t Is
absolutely necessary
Mr.. Lewis said today that the com.
mission Is now working on the order con-
cerning the service -at-cost basis and
that he hopes 1t will be completed by
Sept 1.