The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-15
Renews Promise to Give City Better Trolley Service and Cheaper
 Electricity. TIMELY SUGGESTIONS
 FOR GIFTS RETIREMENT Business Men Begin Campaign for Pub. lie Utilities Commission.
AN APPROPRIATION OF
 Sl,0J0 BY STATE BODY
City Clerk Boucher Ta'ks to Business
 Men on Practical Politics.

BerOre a representative gathering O the organization at the Stratfield last evening. Mayor Buckingham told the members of the Business Mems Asso- citation that a large measure of re- sponsibility in conducting municipa. government is resting upon theil shoulders. He declared the time had come when business men should keer out of politics for the reason that po- litical activity might hurt their busi- the city as a whole cannot but helr the business interests of the city, Sc he urged the business men to enter in- to municipal affairs. to accept munich pal duties as members of commissions or committees when they were called upon. and to give the officers of the government, the benefit of their exper- fence.
 He made a number of suggestions to the business men. with a view to se- curing better lighted. cleaner. less ob- structed streets: advocated the estab- lishment of an information bureau for the convenience of the travelling pub lie, and said the Mayor would be al- ways anxious to receive complaints
 
 failed to act upon them
 The Business Mems Association took the initial step towards a vigorous campaign for the establishment by the next General Assembly of a Public Utilities Commission. The president of five members to report at the next meeting what would be the most ad- visable steps for the Association to fol- low. to work up public opinion and General Assembly on the side of the public as against the public service 
 Mayor Buckingham arrived after the close of the regular business meeting of the association. just as the mem bers. to kill time, had gone into a dis cussion of the public utilities commis- sion problem. During this discussion it was disclosed that the State Busi- ness Mems Association. with which the local body is affiliated and in the direc- torate of which 1t has representation. had appropriated s1.0c0 to provide means for vigorous campaign in fa- vor of the establishment of such a 
 Mayor Buckingham, arriving from a of the Park board. was given a hearty round of applause. His ad- dress was informal. and closed with a general discussion among the NSn- bers of the association and himself. ClIy C1erk BOuCner addressed the DuS- mess men briefly. and reminded the that if they desired to prove a factor in politics they must have per- feet organization. He told them some thing of practical politics. and urged upon them the necessity of acting as 3 unit to obtain their ends.
 Mayor Buckingham was introduced by President Bolande of the Business Mems Association. The Mayor said he had been invited to speak. and had not been assigned a subject. so he felt nasmuch as he was a member of the of covering a. number of subjects and of touching upon a few topics which might be embodied under the name of suggestions"
 ze." said the Mayor. that the city government is connected more closely .han ever with their business inter- ssts. In the past business men have feared to take an active part in city lffairs- When men enter politics often .heir characters are aSsailed- But in he long run the business man who ends honest and conscientious effort .o city affairs will not be the loser.
 At the present time there is one condition in which we are all interest ed. that of the trolley service. Last night was an example. when people were piled into cars. herded like cat He and forced to stand on each other. Lt was almost impossible to get on gar last night between 5:30 and 7 o'clock when the storm was at it's height. We have a committee at work of which two members are mem )ers of the Business Mems Associa- ion. Alderman Jackson being the sec -etary. He is taking complaints. in and he is going to be of great assistance to the committee.
 We were. told by a representative # the company that 10000 people ride nittee feels that this should guarantee rood service Even thus far there ras been a slight improvement in the 'ervice. and the committee is conf lent there will be more progress in hat direction. If not. the COMMIT rEE WILL USE SOME OTHER MEANS BESIDES MORAL SUASION. The conditions are disgraceful to a ity of this size. We are attempting O get the service the city demands and s entitled to have"
 Mayor Buckingham took occasion to all attentipn to the inadequate rep of Bridgeport. in common with other cities. at Hartford. Most If the members of the Legislature. he ,ointed out, knew little or nothing bout Bridgeport from personal obser- 'ation. The Legislature votes away he franchises of the city. giving the ity itself a very small voice in the | onferring of these privileges. and eaving the holders of the franchises l 'ossessed of invaluable rights
 ''All we can do." said he. "is to as- | ist our Senators and Representatives |