Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-29
EIGHT CENTS
FARE ASKED
BY CAR LINE
Petitions Public Service Com.
mission for Raise, With z
Cents Transfer.
THREAT TO END SERVICE
Claims Owners Lose Half
Million a Year and Can
Operate No Longer.

Citing operation of jitney busses
and the general business depression
as causes for decreased revenues,
the indianapolis Street Railway Com.
pany today filed with the public serv'
ice commission, a supplemental petit
ton, asking authority to charge an
Scent cash fare and two-cent trans
fer charge on it's lines in Indianap-
oils. With the petition, the com.
pany filed a statement giving the
loss IN revenues Of the company in
three periods, March to April II,
April IS to May 81, and June L to
July IA, inclusive.
The petition was fled at the opening Of
q hearing before the commission on the
results Of the present rate Of 5 cents
with a cent transfer charge. This rate
expires at midnight Sunday. It Is ex-
pected to be extended temporarily by
the commission until action can be taken
on the new petition.
The company asks that It be author
lied to increase its rates Of fare to at
least cents for each passenger over the
age Of 5 years and that the cents
charge for each transfer issued be con-
tinued, and that such rates continue in
force for such time and upon such con-
ditIons as your honorable body may pre-
scribe and it asks all other proper re-
lief"
The petition sets forth that on the
twenty eighth day Of May, 1921, the pub
2 81,
that on and after June l. and continu-
ing until Aug. 1, the street car company
should be authorized to charge and re-
ceive cents for each passenger over
the age Of 5 years. and . cents for each
transfer issued, and that in the meantime
further consideration of said petition
would be continued.
JITNEY BUSES
HURT BUSINESS.
The petition shows that the operation
of the jitney busses in competition with
your petitioners lines of street railway,
which existed at and before the time Of
fling Of said petition, has not ceased or
diminished but, on the contrary. has In
creased, and that by reason thereof, and
the general business depression, which also
has continued and the continued high cost
Of all operating expense, and increase in
taxes resulting from the World War.
your petitioners net income from such
rates Of fare and from all other sources
IS not sufficient to yield a reasonable re-
turn upon the value Of its property ac-
tually used and useful in supplying street
car service to the city Of Indianapolis, as
1t is required by law to do"
The company charges in its petition
that under the order of May %, the COM
bo fC chO IN
81. 200 per day N earning a reasonable
return even upon the value Of its prop
erty so used, and that the daily loss is
increasing, and If continued throughout
the year. will amount at the end of the
year to more than S550000.
Continuing the appeal says:
Your petitioner further shows that the
jitney ousses which are being operated
in competition with wour petitioners
lines of street railway are SO operating
und.r licenses issued by the City Of In
diHnapolis under its authority to regulate,
license and tax vehicles engaged in carry
ing passengers for hire and that your
petitioner has heretofore applied to the
mayor and common council Of said city,
letters to take measures to protect your
petitioner against such competition,
which 1t submits is unfair and unjust,
but your petitioner shows that no such
mea sures have been taken.
DISCONTINUE IF
NO MORE REVENUE.
wherefore, in view of the inadequacy
under existing conditions Of the rates of
fare Of your petitioner as fixed by your
honorable body to yield it a reasonable
return for the use of its property, your
petitioner shows such rates should be in
OIL 4 F1rr oh hqf ha
cial condition of your petitioner result
ing as aforesaid from jitney competition
and business depression, makes it i'm
possible for ii to continue service unless
relief he afforded, and therefore that an
emergency exists for the immediate
granting of such relief"
Copies of the letters sent TO Mayor
Charles W. Jewett and Russell Wilson.
president of the city council, asking that
action be taken to regulate the opera
tiOns of jltney busses, In competition
with the street railway company, were
attached to the petition.
According to the statement of loss of
revenues, which was also attached to
the company's petition, during the forty
four-day period from April IS to May 81,
when the fares were 6 cents cash. twenty
tickets for 81 and 1 cent transfer, as
compa Il with the previous period of
forty-fl : days, March to April II,
when t. fare was cents straight and
1 cent transfer, there were carried $50, 4S2
less revenue passengers and 394 TAG less
transfer passengers with loss Of $12,-
492 05 in revenue
Comparing the period of forty-four
days, June 1 to July IA, during which
time the fare was reduced to 3 cents
straight and the transfer charge in
creased to 2 cents, with the previous Pc
riod of forty -four days, April IS to May
81. when the fare was cents cash,
twenty tickets for ST. and 1 cent transfer,
there is a decrease of 739,7S7 revenue pas
sengers, and 4S5 transfer passengers,
with a loss in revenue Of $50,95630, or
S1,157 per day.
REVENUE CUT
81 eco PER DAY.
The daily decrease, according to the
statement, from July 1 to July "A, 1921,
as compared with the same period of
July. 1920, Is 1900. This is excluding
Friday, July %, 1921. which was ci@us
day.
The statement explains that the pc
riod of forty-four days Is taken because
the schedule of 6 cents for a single cash
fare, twenty tickets for 81 and 1 cent
or from April IS to May 81. For com
parative purposes results are given for
forty-fOur days before and after the pc
riod April is to May 81.
The statement of revenues during these
periods, as attached to the company's
petition, is as follows:
There has been a steady decrease In