The Penn's Grove record., 1923-09-14
TROLLEY STRIKE TO BE
MADE CAMPAIGN ISSUE
Continued from page !

arrived for the steps necessary TO put
in motion the machinery OF govern.
ment, including the power OF the
courts, to bring the deplorable situa'
ton to a sane and satisfactory end,
even at the cost, perhaps, of several
millions of dollars to innocent security
holders.
The busmen of the state have fur
ther injected the strike into politics by
sending to all candidates for senate
and assembly a questonnaire as 20
their attitude upon the relGtivity Of
the nimble bus. They want the next
Legislature to look upon the present
situation as a serious and far-reaching
economic crisis, as far as internal
transportation problems are involved;
and they propose to use all the infiu-
ence they possess to get voters in ac-
cord with their point of view. The
busmen are convinced in their own
minds that the long strike has given
full and satisfactory demonstration of
the ability of the trackless, rubberized,
gaseous vehicle to provide needed
transportation. They claim that long
term franchises would permit them to
stabilize the industry; to install more
and larger buses and give quick proof
that the trolley car is passe.
Both Forms Needed
Advocates of the trolley system are
just as firm in the conviction that the
claims of the busmen are only partly
tenable, and point to the vibratory
messages to which the riders are sub
jected as proof that the nimble bus
cannot possibly supplant the rumbling
trolley. The synopsis of opinion ap-
pears to be that both forms of trans
portation are needed, and that both
sides must give ground in the effort
to bring some sort of order out of the
existent chaos.
One thing of which the people are
very sure Is that they are sick and
sore of the controversy, which is not
getting anywhere. The Public Utility
Commission, to which appeal was
made by the Chamber of Commerce
and other bodies to end the strike,
gave the only possible answer 1t could
Iower to do any such thing. The only
power OF the Utility Board under the
law by which 1t was created is to reg
uIate rates, and to see that adequate
service is rendered by such utilities
as may be in operation. 1t has 10
power to revoke franchise granted
corporation, nor any authority to
oPta hax
any reason laid down their jobs and
sought rest.
Even Governor SilZer's plan for the
appointment of receiver for the Pub
lie Service might fail to restore cars
tc the tracks. While receiver would
be part of the Court, acting as an
agent of the Court and under Its di-
rection, he could not order the strik-
ing motormen to take the dust-laden
cars out Of the barns, or the conduc-
tors to begin to collect fares. The
strikers have agreed to accept the 10
per cent increase in pay offered by
the company as part OF Its settlement
plan, but their agreement was with
the ofncers of the company and q re-
Gsiver would possess NO authority
over them. Nor would the quo warran-
to proceedings begun BY Attorney
eueral NcCaran. at the suggestion
of Governor 1ilxer - another phase
OF the legal proceedings. have any
diRsrsnt effect upon the strikers or
the company in SO far as resumption
Of service Is concerned.
crux Of the Situation
The crux Of the situation, therefore
appears to lie with the Public Serv.
ice itself and that concern has dis
played little disposition to give any
ground, adhering to its original posi-
tion that it cannot continue to exist
with the auto-bus in active and costly
competition. Its plan for settlement
of the strike included elimination of
the buses from routes covered by its
trolley cars and the absorption of the
vehicles at their physical value That
became one of the most serious OBJ
stacles to settlement because the
for higher fare, fixed a large rating
upon its going value" The busmen
claim with much energy and earnest
ness that they have also established
. going value" in their industry as
indicated by the immense number Of
passengers they carry and did carry
even before the strike tied up tho
trolley cars.
Thus the burning controversy, keen
" affecting a very large proportion Of