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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT T —— Reddy Lays an Egg (Continued from page Haugh? Maybe you could ship him to the Fog Belt on the California coast which would permit the gentleman to dwell in an atmosphere more in 3) back or stock bonus that may cost Salt Lake rate payers some money later on? Is there some undisclosed consideration going to Bond & Share or one of its affiliates? Or to Pacific Gas & Electric? Who is “Salt Lake Light & When getting City what Lines” in as the the deal successor involving to Utah questions are answered fully Salt Lakers may begin to get an idea as to whether they are going to be jobbed again. Certainly, with the gumshoe tactics already in evidence, and the record for skulduggery made by Utah Power (¢ Light in three decades, the presumption is that the people are to be given a raw deal if possi ble. The Searchlight believes that the Public Service Commission should undertake forthwith a thorough investigation of “Salt Lake City Lines” and its holding company parent, “Pacific City Lines”. Before any “sale” to “Salt Lake City Lines” is consummated or approved, every fact about the deal, with the real identity of the “purchasers” should be made known to the people of Salt Lake who will be required to support the “purchaser”. If the Governor, Herbert B. Maw, will not sanction the outlay for a complete investigation of “Pacific City Lines’, etc., and follow those “Lines” wherever they may lead to, then that fact should be made known to the public by the Public Service Commission. His Excellency has been known to heed the Voice of Weber on matters of State policy on various occasions. And the Voice of Weber is known to possess a kilowatt accent. We believe that the Utah Labor Relations Board should scrutinize the “sale” very minutely. About 450 Salt Lake City workers are involved. Their established rights must be fully protected. The “purchaser” must be able to carry on the program of retirement and group benefits, including insurance matters heretofore agreed upon between the Company and the Street Car Men's Union. And the Union should be on its toes to protect the integrity of collective bargaining. Mr. Haugh promised that “Salt Lake City Lines” will retain the entire operating personnel of the Traction Company. Couldn't you possi: bly make Mr. Haugh promised that an order for 16 new buses will be placed “very soon.” (There goes that 16 buses again with deferred ordering again and deferred delivery again). Why 16? Everybody knows the bus system is about shot and needs nearer 60 new buses. Accidents and bus failures are climbing day by day. Traction? those keeping with his views. an exception of Jed F. Woolley, Mr. So why wait? Why not make Doctor Gadsby buy sixty right now, with the “purchaser” footing the bills if the deal proves bona fide and goes through. Utah Light & Traction has been making plenty of money to maintain and expand its equipment. It has been neglecting its equipment for several years. It’s about time the Company is compelled to devote a reasonable portion of its intake toward keeping up its equipment. Mr. Haugh “anticipates” expending $800,000 for new equipment and for remodeling shops during the next five years. Is that just “conversation’? Salt Lake has been given “conversa: tion” from the Traction Company ever since Doctor Gadsby came to Utah. It’s about time for a little performance in the public interest. Where Is ODT? While nobody appears to be entirely clear about the functions of ODT, there is a general impression that it has assumed most of the au thority of regulatory agencies in the operation of transportation utilities. If that is correct, then here is a problem ODT ought to be solving. At Sugar House almost every evening up to a dozen passengers stand around waiting for an infrequent Traction bus. An Airway bus comes along almost empty—plenty of seats for all Sugar House passengers all the way into town. But the Airway express bus isn’t permitted to load those passengers. It’s verboten. They are obliged to wait for Mr. Woolley’s slower moving cars, which they board and stand up in all the way to town. Very few Traction buses on that line carry light loads. Why not order Airway Lines to pick up passengers at Sugar House and on State street? Beyond question such an order would promote the convenience of bus riders. shouldhavea:little:bearing about time ODT wakes up. And, after all, that on thexmatters It's. - |
