The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-28
TIE STREET CAR VS.. THE CAB

City Council Tuesday evening. very properly held up for further discus
sion the application Of the Ultimate Bus line.
1t Is obvious that the operation Of the Buses n the streets OF wheeling
should be subject o better regulation than they are at present.
1t Is also obvious that these bus lines should contribute to the upkeep
Of the city streets and otherwise pay the taxes to which other business euter
prises re subjected.
Here Is the situation.
We have in the city a established street ar line which has been doing
business for upwards Of thirty years. This street ar line has many millions
o., dollars invested; it has continuously paid taxes upon its investment paying
taxes to the state. county and city: Also. as a part of its franchise it
pays yearly. many thousands of dollars, and in the course Of its life time has
paid many hundreds Of thousands of dollars ,r the upkeep of the city streets.
Under new conditions, the cab line begins to operate in direct competition
with this established street car line. The bus company takes many OF the
street car companys passengers; it's cabs stop at the regular street car
stops. They go yer the I'M line IS the street cars do In every they
parallel the business OF the street car company.
Yet these cab lines do not pay a cent Of income to the City Of Wheeling
the County of Ohio. " the State of West Virginia. They pay n taxes. direct
" " indirectly; they contribute nothing to the upkeep OF the city Streets;
they eongest the thorofares, impede traffic. and do nothing 10 Improve 'n0Se
thorofares or keep them in condition.
The street a company Is a responsible corporation. II a assense IS
injured, the street car company pays the damages assessed by court. No
such responsibility attaches to the cab company; at least. In equal measure
II a child is u ove and killed by astreet car 1t Is n absolute certainty
that a liberal bill Of damages viii be paid. No such certainty atacne 10 'he
Ultimate Cab. or any other cab line.
Tho street Ar company Is here to stay. Its Investment represents man
millions of dollars. It cannot quit on short notice.
The cab company may withdraw its abs tomorrow n mere Is NO 10"
to stop It. ~.
street car line Is not equitable. II Is not just; nor Is 1t In tn public interest
No one ought to wish to shne enterprise, but two enterprises seeking the
.ame benefits and serving the same public interest sn0u'a % SuO'e'' 81 tf
~ possible to the san equitable conditions.
These things, the Intenigencer holds re clear:
First: the cab lines. il allowed to continue to do Ousine's in "heehns'
should pay taxes.
Third: they should pay a license fee " and above ordinary taxes TO
III. privileges which they enjoy Of using rstreets for the purpose OF doing
q general and . profitable business.
practically the street. Of Wheeling are the business places OF the Gao
lines The merchant rents a store room and through his rent avs axes 10
~. .u ~. county and the state. Cab lines do their business o n the strees
.,d should nav or the privilege of using the streets.
II the charter Of the City OF Wheeling does not o sNe the power 10
,,,,sa thass nroper license fees, the charter should be amended at the
coming session of the Legislature. No more important SUBJECT Is oe'o'e Liz
citizenship OF this community. ~
o.. anno get along permanently without the street cal lines. Let us
IMAGINE. the condition that would exist II the crsb between Wheeling and
Benwood. Or between Wheeling and Martins Ferry were ehofeS ""n0S"n
and we had to depend solely upon cab service.
Streets, congested IS they are. could lot carry enous ea0sn TOT a' pue
-oa =, ,h,.i "a he fact it is q matter of public policy and public interest lot
- ouow ts husiness OF the street car lines to be invaded by a competitor
v,,chi ia entirely free from the ordinary charges. estr1ctons n mutations
,--~.oa ,on other businesses, and which, while enjoying all the uses OF
,r streets and the benefits OF or city, county stat
sa..-yhr,es IN n manner to their maintenance and upkeep