Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-05-25
CITY FAILS TO.
GIVE RELIEF
AS EXPECTED.
Refusal of Council To
Grant COmpany's Plea
Leads To Appeal Made
To State Board.

Increases In cash fares and IN
Communication fares on the street
railway systems OF Salem and Eu-
gene from five to six cents. effec-
tive June 20, are provided in new
tariffs filed with the public sery-
ice commission today by the
Southern Pacific company, owner
Of the Salem. Eugene and West
Linn street railways.
No change in fares at West
Linn in provided for in the new
tariffs.
Increases in the fares between
Eugene and Springfield, and In
termediate points. from ten cents
to twelve cents are also provided
for in the new tariffs.
Scent Fare Refused.
The commission only recently
refused to grant increases In the
fares at Salem and Eugene to
eight cents as requested by the
company with the understanding
that the cities would move to ar
ford the railways some measure OF
relief. At that time showing
was made to the effect that reve-
nues were not adequate to meet
operating expenses OF the street
railways.
The tariffs Will become effec-
tive on June 20 unless the com
mission intervenes In the mean
time.
Council Sidestepped Issue.
The Salem city council, to
which the street car company was
advised to go for relief has failed
to take any positive action on any
of several requests laid before 1t
by Superintendent T. l.. Billings
ley. A special committee was APP
pointed by Mayor Halvorsen to in
vestigate the company's financial
standing, but neither the MAJOR
ity nor the minority reports OF
this committee was given consid-
Grafton.
The majority report, signed by
Chairman f. l.. Utter, Hal Patton
and A. II. Suter, recommended
that Mr.. Billingsley's letter, In
which the company's requests
were voiced, be returned with no
action. The council laid this re-
port on the table. The minority
report, signed by John d. Giesy
and A. F. Marcus which favored
certain concessions to the COM
pany, failed to be adopted.
Relief Recommended.
Briefly, the minority report
recommended as follows.
That the city amend the fran
chise ordinance 30 that ON Center
street from 18th street to the state
hospital, and on 17th street to the
Garden road, cars should be operr
ated at intervals of not more than
80 minutes. The present ordi-
nance specifies 30 minutes
That the city provide that the
company should not be obligated
to pave any portion of any streets.
on which Its tracks lie, which are
not at present improved. provided
that the company maintain those
which are at present paved.
That the city relieve the COM
pany of all obligations in respect
to the construction and mainten-
ance of new bridges.
Company Request Denied.
That the city permit the COM
pany to lay rails of not less than
~ pounds per yard and continue
the permitting OF 60-pound rails
where they are now laid.
The minority report did not
favor Mr.. Billingsley's suggestion
that the council pass resolution
requesting the public service com
mission 10 approve tariffs speci-
tying a six-cent cash fare and 3
5A cent fare when tickets were
purchased in books OF fifty tickets
each. Neither did It approve the
request that tho city pass an ordi-
nance permitting the abandon
ment of the Summer street line
between chemeketa and Jefferson
, streets.
Rome-scores OF royal guards