The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-11
AN INTERESTING DECISION

A
 A committee of citizens from the growing city of Bridgeport recently waited upon the railroad commission in support of a petition asking that all trains running through their locality be compelled to stop at the Bridgeport station. This appeal was made under the new law which provides for hear ings before the railroad commission when the service given is thought to be unsatisfactory.
 The commission in it's decision finds that the contention of the Bridgeport citizens is not we'll taken, and that for the commission to do what 1t was ask ed to do would be to unwarrantably in- terfere with the management of the company. So far as the petition Is concerned 1t is clear that 1t was inspir- ed by local pride which has been low cred rather than injured by the fact that several trains do pass through that city without stopping. The city of Bridgeport has been growing very rapidly and intends to become the largest city in the State. It already claims to be the second largest but for the life of us we cannot see what the size of a city has to do with the problem of service. If the railroad company gives efficient service, taking care of the needs of that locality as they express themselves in trade and 1 if in addition it undertakes to give special service to through or trunk travellers the pride of q given locality can hardly be considered sufficient reason for it changing It's methods of doing business. It Is mere coincl- Idence that the city of New Haven sees Iall trains stop here. Its pride Is not affected by the fact because it's pride
 was never considered in arranging Ithat all trains should stop here. There was a time when one express went through flying. All trains stop here because this is the home and dis- Itributing center of the system, as the Irailroad commissioners explain.
 The decision of the commission lbristles with good sense. After re-
 minding the petitioners that Bridge. bort is already we'll served by tho
 company as the number of trains cltet lshow the commission says: "It hardly Iseems to us to be wise policy for th' | State of Connecticut to prohibit thu
 continuous passage of such interstate traffic through the State, and there
 may be grave doubt of its right t' do so." Later on in it's decision tn commission says: "It is the duty o
 the railroad company to furnish al reasonable facilities for public travel and if 1t fails so to do, it is our dut,
 and our inclination to require an reasonable increase in such facilities This Is pretty sound doctrine for tn lcommission to preach and to practice
 If the railroad company is short-sight ed or stupid in the management of it
 property or if in other words it fail
 to live up to It's contract with tn IState of Connecticut, there is a powe (which can compel it to do so and tha
 power says it is really to exercise f
 But it also says 1t is not ready to in l terfere unreasonably with the man lagement of the property. The onl attitude which the State can safel assume relates to the sincerity of tn company in acting up to it's agree ments. To become bossy would be injure the investment, which is a leg : itimate one, and to weaken the SCI . vice. We have no doubt that the cit of Bridgeport will recognize the goo sense which has dictated the decisio of the commission and good nature( ly adjust itself to it.