Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-05
BROAD RIPPLE
DEMANDS FIVE
CENT CAR FARE
Town Hall Too Small to Hold
Crowd Meeting in Protest
Over Rate Boost.
BOARD TO ACT AT ONCE

After declaring a state of war with
| the Union Traction Company because Of
the service rendered the citizens of Broad
Ripple and branding the 10-cent car fare
as Outrageous" the taxpayers Of Broad
Ripple today were prepared to support
the town board In its proposed action OF
petitioning the Public Service Commits
sion to modify an order which permits
the traction company to charge 10 cents
car fare to Broad Ripple.
EmsIey Johnson, attorney for the
board, is preparing a petition which will
be fled at once before the public service
commission asking that the commission
revive the Scent fare.
MOVE MEETING TO
MASONIC TEMPLE.
Citizens Of Broad Ripple attended a
meeting Of the town board last nighs
and SO many responded to the invita-
ton to protest against the 1O-cent car
fare order that it was necessary to move
the meeting from the town hall to the
auditorium of the Masonic Temple.
! The town board decided to institute
proceedings before the Public Service
/ Commission in an effort to have the
fare reduced to 5 cents and If that fails
the board is prepared to take some ac-
| ton which will make the traction COM
!
Of Broad Ripple.
1t was suggested last night that the
town board pass an ordinance which
would tax Broad Ripple Park thousands
! Of dollars year the park is owned
! by the traction company. AS the last
resort in the program of war against the
| traction company, the citizens last night
proposed that the Blue Law be enforced
against Broad Ripple Park which would
result IN the park being closed on Sun
| days.
BLUE LAW HELD
OVER TRACTION COMPANY.
The citizens of Broad Ripple will not
urge the enforcement Of the Blue Law
unless 1t Is necessary to compel the trac-
ton company to return to the scent car
fare. It was pointed out at the meet
/ ing that some Of the citizens of Broad
! Ripple have concessions at the park and
such methods would fall the heaviest
upon the concession holders instead Of
the traction company.
! Those attending the meeting last night
| decided to appear in a body when the
| Public Service Commission hears the Pc
tition of the town of Broad Ripple for
the reduction of the car fare. 1t was de-
cided that they should make written re-
ports of conditions on the cars, the time
required to make a trip into indianapolis,
the delays, actions Of the conductors and
the length Of the time citizens must wait
| on the cars. These reports are to be
| given TO the town clerk and will be used
"a the basis Of the case
/ SAYS IO-CENT FARE
! SETBACK TO TOWN.
! DR.. r. c. Light Of Broad Ripple, in
addressing the meeting declared the 10
/ cent car fare was the worst setback this
/ town has had for twenty years." be-
cause 1t retards the development of the
| town and seriously affects real estate
values. He declared that the traction
interests have blocked the annexation OF
Broad Ripple to Indianapolis, and con-
| tended that If this opposition were with
drawn Broad Ripple could be part Of
! indianapolis within forty eight hours
! Il am ready for q fight or any other
way" declared William Barrett. 81 am
more concerned in the loss the working
people Of Broad Ripple, who must go
daily to and from indianapolis to their
work. will suffer by this 10-cent car fare
/ than I am in the value of real estate"
! Frank Osborne who was member OF
/ the town board years ago, spoke OF the
traction company violating its franchise
! by charging 10 cents and declared that
citizens are now moving out Of Broad
Ripple because of the increased car
/ fare.
Earl r. Cox, attorney who repre-
sents some Of the concession holders at
Broad Ripple park, called attention to
/ the fact that If the blue laws were en-
| forced against the park or heavy license
! fee levied against the park, 1t Will be
/ the concession holders who will suner
and not the park. He said that some OF
/ the cOncessioners have tried to purchase
Broad Ripple park from the traction
company, but stated the deal has never
/ been consumated
OsBORNEs PLAN
APPROVED.
! Mr.. Osborne again took the floor ana
stated that there is one way Of getting
! at the traction company and that is to
close up the park on the best day. which
| is Sunday"
This statement Of Mr.. Osborne met
with the approval of those attending the
meeting Mr.. johnson spoke at length
on the legal side of the controversy and
advised the town board to first attempt
to get the Public Service Commission to
modify the fare ordered. He advised the
board to take other steps if this failed.
William Gimmell, B. w. Bass, Ferd
Applegate and many others protested
a gainst the service rendered by the trac-
ton company. The average running time
is forty minutes from Indianapolis TO
| Broad Ripple and citizens stated at tho
meeting that the time is generally ten to
fifteen minutes more than the scheduled
/ time.
THE traction company didn't cut the
weeds along the track last summer and
| the weeds nearly hid the dinky cars,
! said one protesting citizen.
! DR.. NJ. E. Light said that If the town
| board needed money TO pay for legal
services in this fight against the trac-
/ ton company he would start the list
| out with a S25 subscription.
| William H Talbot, president Of the
board, presided.