The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-30

The Argus believes the Davenport city
council has adopted an unfair and unwise
course in refusing permission to the Tri-City
Railway conpany. for the purpose Of reducing
operating expenses. to enforce certain altera-
tons IN ~ schedules. me company had petit
toned the council to be permitted to discon-
tinue the Fourth street line, branch taken
over from another company; to turn the
Bridge line cars at Scott street instead Of
continuing down to Warren street and to place
owl cAss on an hout instead Of half hour
schedule The company present6 figures to
show that these changes, which would not So
riously Inconvenience patrons. would result in
neat saving to the corporation, which claims
that If 1t is to continue doing business 1t pres
ent rates Of fare 10 will have to curtail in some
direction.
The company long has protested against op-
Grafton of the Fourth street branch and in
sending its Bridge line cars west Of Scott
street, but has been Obliged. in order to sat-
'isfy the whims of some Of the people Of Dav-
export to continue these nonessential accom-
modations, meeting monthly losses as con-
sequence AS for half-hour owl service seter
midnight possibly the company could have be-
fore now reduced these schedules without
arousing much opposition. There appears to
have arisen in Davenport . determination to
oppose every move Of the street railway COM
pany for relief. ~
The Argus has never hesitatsd to take issue
with the street railway company when it be-
lieved that 1t was seeking rstrenchments that
would impair the service Is a whole, but, too
this paper has always taken the position that
where the corporation has come forward with
am honest proposition and could show justih
cation for contemplated changes, the public
should be willing to give its assent ass -
1t is possible the company could make
schedule alterations in Rock Island that would
cut its expense account, and il the public Is
not to be- seriously discommoded as result
the corporation should DO Afforded the relief
sought. What ThesAryus does not want to see
the company DO 10 to diminish the quality Of
its service. and to that end steadfastly has op-
posed introduction OF the one-man or bobtail
car. The Argus insists that the company main
tain its service standards. this applying both
Al TO equipment and manning Of cars y
The Tri-City Railway company unQuestion-
ably is facing crisis II its existence 1t has
informed the Davenport council that 1t would
be willing to abandon the one-man car plan il
the curtailments mentioned were allowed. The
Argus takes this to be a fair proposal. The
Davenport councils by it, arbitrary attitude,
has forced the company to do the next thing,
and that is to carry its fight into the courts,
where in all likelihood it will be given the
relief that it is seeking.
The people Of Rock Island, and the people Of
Davenport should b equally generous. are
ready to meet the railway company half way.
Rock Island has always been proud Of its
transportation system. and does not want to
see it put back to village status. Applying
the pruning knife here and there, as is done
occasionally in all lines Of business, will not
be greatly noticed just so the company keeps
standard cars in operation and with men on
both ends ii charge Of them.
The Argus believes in toting square with
all public utility corporations Just 90 uong as
those corporations tote fairly with the COM
pany. The Argus does not consider that the
street railway company was unreasonable in
ito recent request Of the Davenport city
council :.
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