The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-12
President Mellen Promises He Will Improve
 Service in 30 Days
(Contiued from Page 1.)

l.J
 Mayor Buckingham received today from the Socialist party of Bridgeport a communication pointing out that the charter and ordinances of the ely em- power the Mayor to take steps for the betterment of the trolley conditions, and calling upon him to do so.
 Mayor Buckingham said he was in hearty sympathy wi,h the communi- cation and that the Socialists as well as all others of whatever political af- filfation they may be, may look to him to do everything in his power to better conditions.
 The Socialists point out that the Mayor is given by Section 32 of the charter and ordinances the power to give all necessary orders for the pres ervation of public convenience. order, safety and health. and ,o arrest and imprison without warrant any person resisting his orders, and to call upon the citizens. police. sheriffs or militia to assist him. They also point out that appeals to the railroad company have been futile. and as a result de- mand that the Mayor and Common Council avail themselves of their pow CTS. They want to prevent the over crowding of street cars. and also ask for proper heating, sani -ation. venti- lation and cleansing of the cars.
 Mayor Buckingham opened the dis cussion. saying that Bridgeport has .ong suffered by inadequate trolley ser vice. cars being run infrequently. and greatly 'ov<rcrowded. He declared that the merchants of the y are suf- fering losses because of the defective service. and that people in the subur- ban towns go to New Haven to trade because of poor trolley accommoda- tions in,o Bridgeport.
 The Mayor also said that the evils complained of had been in existence before 1907. and that the company had been given ample time in which to inn prove conditions.
 The Mayor said that enough cars should be run to give a seat to every overcrowding and referred to ,speci- fic instance in which 151 people occu- pied single car and to another in- stance where 161 persons were herded in a car. He referred to the injury done to the health of citizens. by the fact of the cars being unheated and spoke parti ,cularly of the jeopardy in which workmen were thus placed com ing from warm factory buildings to use the cars.
 MT. Mellen interjected: T suppose they get hot enough under the collar to make the car warm under those cir cumstances.' =
 Mayor Buckingham continued that Increased power is immediately de- manded and that the conduct of the company is hurting Bridgeport and hurting the company as well.
 Mayor Buckingham concluded with a reiteration of his demand for a seat for every passenger.
 MT. Mellen in replying said that the conditions existing were the con- ditions likely to exist whenever 50 per cent. of the power in power two more units of 1000 K. w each would be soon installed. He explained that it had been very diff hcult for his company to whip the property of the Connecticut Railway and Lighting Company into shape satisfy everybody present and he didn't believe, he said. that every body present expected to be satisfied He would however, he said, promise Bridgeport as good service as any other public service corporation would give 1t. We are on the edge of be- ing able to promise you something" he continued. But you must have patience"
 Andrew M. Cooper, of the Rowland Dry Goods Company, a member of he had written to A. B. Smith, for merly connected with the trolley ser vice, in 1904, showing that conditions then existed, which he said have nos since been remedied. MT. Cooper pTOuuceQ nSureS to snow the loss that merchants are sustaining by the negligence of the Connecticut com pany. In regard to the claim that additional power apparatus had been ordered which had not been deliver ed, MT. Cooper said, that in. his busi- ness he would expect to obtain ma chinery if he ordered it and he also said that if he enjoyed an exclusive monopoly of the right to furnish any commodity he would expect to live up to the terms of his franchise and treat all communities alike and give the best service that could be given. TROLLEY
 F. w. Bolande inquired if it was the intention of the Connecticut Company to dispense with the power house in Bridgeport, whenever the lines of the railroad company are electrified.
 To this question MT. Mellen answered that the Bridgeport system is supplied with direct current and hat the rail- road would be supplied, when electri- fed, with alternating current. The time might arrive. however, when a station would be installed in Bridge port in which alternating current would be transformed to direct cur rent. Such an installation. he said. is not at present contemplated
 F. D. Bell. of Meigs & Co.,. related the ins -ance of lady who was one hour in getting from Stratford to