Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-08-27
SERVICE THE KEY no TRoLLEY SITUATION

down in the matter of bus competition for the trolley lines. In it
offer of settlement for the strike that has now existed nearly
month the corporation agrees to grant the platform men an IN
crease in wages of 20 per cent. if, in return, the company is per
mitted to buy out the competing bus lines and operate then
Jointly with the trolley system. Naturally, the matter Of compe
titnn is of no direct concern to the employees of the corporation
and as they are promised the increase which they demand, they
are willing to accept the terms. Tt remains for the Public Utili
ty Commission and the various municipalities to agree to the
terms of the trolley company.
1t has been plain for some time that the trolley company
has been forced to contend with unfair competition of the buses
While Public Service has had to secure franchises from the mu-
inequalities through which its lines operate, and has been sub
jected to heavy taxation as well as being required to pave and
keep in repair that portion of the public highways occupied by
the trolley tracks, sprinkle the streets in summer, and clear the
tracks of snow in winter, the bus owners simply have-to pay a
small license fee for the privilege Of operating their lines, often
making use of the cleared space in the street made by the trolley
snowplows and sweepers. The buses have no costly power houses to
operate. no tracks and overhead wires to maintain; the municipal
ity even goes so far as to pay for the starters for the buses, some
thing that the trolley companies have to do for themselves. 1t is
no wonder that the buses can operate at a five cent fare when
trolley companies find it necessary to charge seven and eight
cents for a ride.
When the employees of the trolley company quit work be-
I cause an increase in wages was denied them, the company simply
left its cars in the barns and the whole trolley transportation
system was tied up. 1t is all well enough for city and state
10 insist that the company proceed to operate its cars,
but if the men to operate the ears cannot be secured the company
is powerless, and it hardly seems as if the company can be held
fully responsible.
1t was plain, however, that some proposition ought to be made
SO as to start negotiations for a settlement of the strike, and it
was natural to look to Public Service to suggest something. The
plan as advanced by Public Service is now before the public.
1t is practically an admission that the trolley lines cannot COM
pete with buses under existing conditions. Either these con-
ditions must be changed Or a choice must be made between the
trolley and the bus.
Some people have maintained that the buses have so far sup
erseded the trolley lines that the latter could be abolished,
making way for the newer and more convenient form of street
transportation, just as the horse car and cable car made way
for the trolley a few years ago. For nearly a month, now,
the buses have had a clear field. Not a trolley wheel has
turned in 16 New Jersey Municipalities. The bus men have real
lied that it was their opportunity, but they have protested
that they were not being given a fair trial because of the tenn
porary nature of their leases.
The people feel, however, that the experiment of substituting
buses for troneys has been given a real test and it is now possible
to arrive at some definite conclusions. The consensus seems to be
that while the buses can fill all the needs of the public in rural
districts and between small cities and towns, the troneys are es.
sential in the large eenters of population and suburbs. Not only
have the buses not been able to take care of the crowds in spite
of the fact that their number has been greatly increased, but they
have added greatly to the congestion of traffic. This traffic prob
blem has to be commended with on the highways and in the rural
uisuicH also. te roaos ae oun a great deal wider than
at present anything that tends to increase congestion Is to be dis
couraged rather than encouraged.
1t would seem, therefore, that the troleys and buses must be
operated together, for the present at least. This being the case
there must be a much more equitable basis for operation. After
all, it. is service that the public wants. If this can best be rendered
through a monopoly under proper supervision, it is to the interest
of the people that the operation Of the buses and trolley lines be
put in the hands Of one responsible concern which can be held fully
accountable. A few main trolley lines with numerous bus lines
running out into all directions acting as feeders, and a system Of
transfers between them, ought to be decidedly more advantageous
than the present ho~dgepodge method of buses and troIleys in
deadly competition, neither one rendering the service the public
has a right to expect.
There is reason to believe that if its plan for settling the pres.
snt strike is adopted it will proceed to reorganize its entire trans
oortaion system; up-to-date bus lines will be substituted for some
are not giving decent service to the people and never can give de-
Of the present trolley lines that are now not only Improbable, but
cent service under existing conditions. With the whole system
Of transportation unified and under a single management properly