Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-08
TUESDAY, JUNE 3. 1920.
G,lenlas'Sn Gvsnias Yesterday Essis l411O
Again the Trolley Fare.

Once more the question of adequate
rates of fare for riding on the trolley cars
in Wilmington is up for public and official
consideration, the Wilmington 4 Philadei-
phia Traction Co. having presented TO the
Public Utilities Commission renewal OF
its former request for authority to IN
crease the fare from seven to eight cents
For several months the company has been
complying with certain requirements lald
down BY the commission, as test oi the
suficiency Of existing rates. and now SAYS
il finds itself unable to achieve any meas
ure Of financial success on the revenues ac-
cruing from fare of seven cents. More
than that, it claims it IS falling behind
financially. Now it awaits final deeislon
,n its original request.
Here is q proposition that demands
serious and practical consideration. II
is not to be met by general denunclation
Of public utilities or protest on general
principles against any increase IN the cost
If local passenger transportation. L IS
for the Public Utilities Commission TO
make careful examination Of all the condl-
tions of the trolley companv's business
its resources and its fixed charges all its
responsibilities TO the people. and all its
responsibilities to its employees. its stock
holders and the holders Of its bonds. And
then it will be the duty Of the Utilities
Commission to determine whether the
company can fully meet all these obliga-
tons on the basis Of 7-cent fare, and Il
not, TO authorize an increase that Will
prove sufficient.
II will be admitted the people have had
q surfeit Of increased charges for all the
elements Of living In many respects
they have been cruelty gouged by IN
creased prices, but with few exceptions
they have borne the impositions without
complaint. even cheerfully But they
seem to have made an exceptlOn-and
what looks like an invidious exception
against any increase in the charge Tor rid
ing on the trolley lines It seems to be the
prevailing opinion that notwithstanding
the plainly apparent increases IN the wages
of all the employees Of trolley lines and the
heavy increases in the cost OF labor gen
eraIlv and OF materials trolley concern,
or any other public service corporation
should be able to get along on the fare
charges that were deemed sufficient be
fore the advent of the present era OF hlgh
prices.
This is manifestly Impossible Every
where the rates of trolley riding have been
increased or are about 10 be. In Boston
they were advanced to 10 cents months
ago. In New York City they were IN
creased. and still the huge transportation
concerns OF that city are IN the hands OF
receivers So they are in other comLnuni-
ties Even in Philadelphia where the
rate of five cents per ride has been man
tanned the traction company has gwen
notice that fares will be advanced o seven
cents on July ].
In the local situation, the trolley com
pany will be expected to present complete
statement of It's business and financial
affairs to the Public Utilities Commis-
sion, TOT L1e lDiOTUldllOil anu EAIAdiANt VI
that body. And if this statement, fully
substantiated. shows an increase IN iare
to be absolutely necessary 10 raising the
conpanv's revenues to the necessary
limit, it should be authorized. The COM
rnlnity must have the street car service;
il cannot get along without II. The troll
lev company must furnish it, but cannot
do 80 without sufficient revenues. II has
to maintain it's service against measure
of vehicular competition that cuts into
it's revenues, but it would not be right to
deprive the people Of this competition.
The question for the Public Utilities Com
mission to determine is whether the trac-
ton company can conduct its business IN
the proper manner without being allowed
to increase fares, and if not, to extend the
remedy.