The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-03-19
'CARDLE MAY BE
At HEAD Of FARE
PETITION HEARING
Corporation Counsel Favors
Taking Many Cars Off
Washington St,


mission on the petition of the In
dianapolis Street Railway Company
for a 7-cent fare will be conducted by
John w. McCardle, chairman, he in
dicated today.
The matter will be considered for
mally Friday by the commission. Date
for the hearing has not been set The
law requires at least ten days notice.
A review by an official today showed
the fact that the past four petitions
for fare changes made by the Indian
Gpolis car utility have been granted
by the State commission.
In 1918 the company uetitioned for
a scent fare with free transfers. Per
sons under 3 years Of age rode free.
Two years later the company asked
for a 1-cent transfer fee. The COM
mission approved.
Six-Cent Rate in 1921
A scent fare was granted April IS,
1921. Twenty tickets for 81 was or
dered.
Five-cent fare with two-cent trans
fer charge was ordered May 2s, 1921.
Previous to 1918 the company sold
six fares for 25 cents.
Patrons continued today with no
organized opposition to a fare boost.
Attention has been directed toward
improving car service by re-routing
and new methods in operating street
cars. yet no organization TO date has
indicated any legal counsel would be
employed to insist on retaining the
five-cent fare.
Taylor Groninger, city corporation
counsel has admitted that he will
take the stand that some fare in
crease is necessary. although he will
insist on seventeen tickets for 81 in
stead Of sixteen as proposed. He has
not opposed the 7-cent cash fare.
Civic Clubs Undecided
Edward o. Snethen, president of the
Federated Community Civic Clubs.
said it would be ten days before the
federation would adopt a policy. in
dividuaI clubs are now voting on the
car fare increase.
The street railway company could
do few things to improve its service
and at the same time really reduce
operating expenses il it would" said
Councilman Heydon w. Buchanan.
who has been opposed to increased
fare. IF a downtown loop were es-
tablished car service could be speed
ed up. transfer facilitated and the
same effect as added cars could be
gained by reducing downtown looping
seven or eight minutes"
Re-routing Favored
Groninger has also favored re-rout.
ing of cars to speed up service. He
has suggested beat line where cars
might loop and transfer be made cas-
ier. Another suggestion is a belt line
where trunk lines would end. and pas
sengers would transfer to belt cars
Tor points downtown. Groninger has
also advocated taking street cars off
Washington St.. except those of the e.
and w. Washington lines.
John n. Feasey. purchasing agent
OF the Pettis Dry Goods Company. will
head special citizens committee to
Investigate street car rerouting,
Gronfnger announced. Groninger will
appoint the other members later.
It has been proposed to combine
some lines SO that cars might go out
one line and return on another. A
combination Of the Illinois and Cen.
trail lines has been proposed in this
connection.
Other suggestions being discussed
today included oneman cars on GER
tain lines where travel was light. and
trailer cars for the heavy traffic lines.
The company, however, is still clamor-
ing for the higher fare as the only
solution of its financial condition.