Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-08
TEN CENT FARE.

TN tENI ram
The way was paved for the Public Service
Railway Company to ask for a fiat ten cent fare
with free transfers q few weeks ago when the
SANE request was made by the Trenton Traction
COMPANY. Also. for several weeks past the
Public Service has been running a series oi
advertisements in the newspapers of the state
purporting to set forth the present financial
condition OF the company. The point that has
been the most impressed upon the public in
these advertisements is that the street railway
has been and is operating at a loss.
But even though It has been pretty generally
realized that something important was in the
wind the-formsl request for a ten cent fare
comes somewhat As a surprise. In the hrst
place, in view Of the widespread dissatisfaction
caused by the almost constant maneuvcrings on
the part Of the Public Service in an effort TO
get on a paying basis at the expense OF the
people. and because OF the ~disrepute the Public
Utility Commission finds itself in largely on
account of the grants already awarded the
Public Service. it seemed almost increditable
that the whole subject with all its bitterness
would be revived. The fact that the Public
Service is thus willing to face the music once
more indicates beyond a doubt that the
situation is desperate.
Is 10 a pretty serioufa matter to ask trolley
patrons 10 pay ten cent? hr a ride at the present
time considering the Kind Of service they are
getting. Trolley riding Is little short OF a
nightmare. No one uses the trolley except those
who have to, at least not in this section Of the
state. The service has gone from bad to worse
and, apparently. the trolley company is unable
to remedy it. On the face Of this situation it
has the effrontry to ask a ten cent fare.
No doubt the company would argue that it is
impossible to improve the service when the
expenditures already far exceed the receipts.
The cost of operation has Increased by leaps
and bounds, yet the income has been augmented
by merely a two-cent raise in fare with an extra
cent for transfers.
It would be a serious thing to have the Public
Service Railway Company 60 into bankruptcy.
especially at this time. The finances of the
country are in such q state that a failure of
such magnitude in the business world would
be like a match in a powder magazine. Yet we
all know that no concern can continue to exist
on a losing proposition. It is all well enough
to talk about squeezing the water out Of the
stock and all that, but aside from tho claim
on THE part of the company that there is no
water In the stock and that even If there had
oeen any in the beginning. it has all been
absorbed by the increase in valuations, the
present is no time to try to rectify whatever
mistakes have been made in the past.
The question now before the People Of New
Jersey is whether the Public Service is to
continue to function as a street railway on a ten
cent fare basis. or street transportation is to be
thrown into chaos through the discontinuance
of the trolley service.
In considering this question it would seem
to be a fair question to ask about the future.
the Public Service makes no promises whatever.
It does not even express a hope. 1t merely asks
The Public Utility Commission to sign for It a
blank check. leaving the company 10 do what
j. pleases with the increased income.
II the people are asked to pay ten cents 10
ride on the trolley It would seem as IL they
ought to be assured that something will be
done to give them better service than they now
receive. II lie notorious that trolley transportation
here is far behind the service being given in the
Middle West and West. Trolley riding between
Perth Amboy and New Brunswick for instance.
a distance of only twelve miles, is too horrible
to contemplate. The business between these
two places is enormous. Before the days of the
trolley 1t was necessary to go around by way OF
Railway on the Pennsylvania railroad. When
the trolley came 1t was hailed with delight it
being thought that a quick and convenient
means of transportation had at last been
established between this city and the county seat.
Today, however, those who do not have auto
mobiles take the bus or go back to the old
halfway route-anything but the trolley.
This is a situation that ought not TO be. The
trolley has not kept abreast with the times. 1t
is its own fault that keen competition in the
form OF the jitney has come in. Between two
such important places as Perth Amboy and New
Brunswick there ought TO be quick transparta-
ton In smooth running. clean. comfortable. well.
lighted cars. The trip ought not to take over
half hour at the longest. That is the kind
81 service they get in the West and Middle Yves.
and they do not pay more than ten cents, il al
iauch. for it. either.
II the Public Service Railway Company could
hold out some such encouragement as this per.
haps its appeal for an increase in fare would not
meet with SO much opposition, There is no in
iication that such improvements are even con.
templated. however. The company asks for q
ten cent fare, apparently, in order that 1t ma,
continue 10 exist even as 1t Is.
We do not believe such an increase is warranS
I'd under these circumstances. 1t is evider,
that there is gross mismansgement somewhere
we do not believe the company has exhausted
every means in It's power TO put itself on a pay
ing basis.
When the fare was increased from FIVE tc
-. a.--.L a