The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-22
BUS FARE CUT
PLEA IS FILED
BY15PATRONs
Ten Gent Rate Declared
Too High, in Appeal Made
to Commission.
COURT FIGURES CITED
Lower Operating Expenses
by Merger Presented as
Action Cause.

Reduction Of 10-cent bus fares Of
the Peoples Motor Coach Company,
recently acquired by the Indianapo-
lis Street Railway Company for
$500,000, is sought in a complaint
filed with the Indiana Public Serv-
ice Commission today by fifteen
motor bus patrons in the Bright
wood vicinity.
Rates now charged are unreason-
sble and unjust, discriminatory, and
excessive, in that they are much
greater than necessary to carry on
operation of said motor bus business
and pay a fair and reasonable rate
upon the property and assets Of said
company and usable in the proper
operation Of its business as a COM
mon carrier" the complaint con-
tended.
Call Rates Excessive
The complainants further alleged
that the experience of said Peoples
Motor Coach Company, since time
OF its organization, has demon
Strated that said rates are too high
and excessive"
The petitioners request the COM
mission ito make thorough in
vestigation on all matters pertaining
to said rate and to make an ap-
praisement of the assets of said
company used and useable in its
business as public utility"
They further ask "that the COM
mission set a time for a hearing
upon this petition and give notice
to these petitioners whereby they
may be present and be heard with
regard to the matter herein al
legged"
Want Commission to Act
They ask that "as result Of said
investigation, appraisement and
hearing that this commission make
an order fixing the rate for said
utility at such figure as shall de-
ternine finally to be a fair and
reasonable rate, and for such other
relief as may be found to be
proper"
Citizens signing the action are
represented by Frank P. Baker, at
torney, 416 Indiana Trust Building,
and Harold Bachelor and William
@. Baohelder, of the law firm of
Bachelor & Bachelor, 730 Bank
ers' Trust building.
Petition of the Indianapolis Street
Railway Company for authority tc
purchase the capital stock of the
Peoples Motor Coach Company fol-
$500,000 and assumption of out
standing obligations of $4,000, to-
gether with the issuance of 8 per
cent notes for ten years to finance
the deal was denied when original
" presented to the commission.
Cites Court Figures
Refusal was made on the conten-
ton the price was too high. When
appeal was taken, as provided by
act of the 1927 Legislature, to
Marion Circuit Court, Judge Harry
o. Chamberlin approved the pur-
chase plan and directed the COM
mission to change its order ac-
cordfngly.
"The street railway company's pc
tition in this case is in itself the
best of evidence upholding our con-
tention that there should be a re-
duction in Peoples Motor Coach
Company bus fares" said Baker,
after filing the action.
Figures presented in the hearing
before Judge Chamberlin showed
that the real property of the Peo-
pies Motor Coach Company, in
cluding about forty buses approxi-
mated $225,0O0. In contrast to this
figure the street railway company
was eager to acquire the property at
$500,0OO.
Reduce Operating Expense
Street railway attorneys had
shown that joint operation OF
Peoples Motor Coach busses with
street railway busses would effect
substantial reduction in overhead
and operating expenses.
The petitioning parties: Joseph H
Schaub Jr., John S. Oliver, vii.
liam D. Castle, r. F. Dunn, Joe
Monroe, Truman G. Short, Adam S
Larson, Mrs. Mae Cottey, E. T
Partlow, Mrs. M. E. Younk, Omel
Bradley, Fred Cook, Charles S. Pol
lard, Mrs. Mabel Heller, Barnett
Miller. =