The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-13
TROLLEY 60. ORDERED TO OPEN BOOKS Utilities Commission Acts De- cisively in Manchester
 Fare Case Connecticut Company up Against Possible Serious Trouble in Future
 Cases

Hartford, Nv. 13-The public utii- ities commission has reached de- | cision on points raised during the hearing on the Manchester trolley fare by the petitioners for a ten-cent fare between Hartford and Manches- ter instead of the present fifteen-cent
 fare. The matter has been before
 three legislatures. The chief point in the demand is that the payment of l five cents for one portion of the fare under the same system was not just ! to many residents of Manchester for l the reason that the distance for which i the fare was paid was very short l The rate case is the first one before | the new commission. The hearing
 extended through many days
 | Every Request Recognized. l The petitioners were persistent in | their demands that the books of the
 Hartford division of the Connecticut l company which is the holding com | pany for the New Haven roads troll
 ley lines, be looked into Every re- 1 quest of the petitioners is recognized | by the commission. In addition Pro-
 lessor George F. Swain, of Harvard | university, who headed the commits | sion of that state which made val uation of the property of the New
  road company, for the Massachusetts legislature when the matter of issue | of securities was under consideration, l is requested to appear before the com mission on December 12 at Il a. m.. | or at some time convenient to him at | an early date to testify to the value | of Athe property of the Connecticut | company in this state.
 AS Professor Swain. Is not within the Jurisdiction of the commission, I only conditional request could be 1 made. The commission will hold | hearing on December N, when the | Connecticut company will be expected
 to obey the order of the commission
 which has just been handed down. Daily Report of Conductors. The commission in the order recites I just what the petitioners asked for and specifically rules on each request. The petitioners asked for the daily | reports from the conductors and the | monthly report on the Hartford divi- sion as made to the vice-president; | the stock books and treasurer's book of the Hartford, Manchester and Rockville Tramway line; the presence of the auditor or representative of the Connecticut company to testify to statements submitted by the then au- ditor to the: railroad committee of the legislatures in 1907 and 1909,. pertain
 
 line; the presence of Mir. Sage of Hartford, who testified in regard. to the daily reports of conductors; the amount of the income from adver- Using. hauling freight, handling mail and concessions at Laurel Park. The commission says in it's finding that 1t is made under the statutes and finds: First-The petitioners are per. mitted to file as part of their case the written statements made by C. L. Campbell as auditor of the Connec- ticut company made over his sigma ture as auditor to the railroad com mfttee of the legislatures of 1907 and 1909, purporting to to give an estimate of the volume of business on that line.
 Second-The Connecticut company is directed to produce for examination by the commission the daily reports of every conductor on the Hartford and Manchester line for the months of January and June, 1911, together with a statement of the amount of faires paid and passengers carried during those months so far as posei- ble. to be ascertained from the books and records with a statement as to passengers carried and transfers is- sued and commuters carried On stu dents tickets.
 To Ascertain Other Income. The company is ordered to produce it's report or copy of them of the Hartford division made by the super intendent of the vice-president for those two months. It is also directed | to submit statement showing as far as possible to ascertain the income |sfrom advertising. hauling of freight, handling of mail and park concessions for the year ending June 30, 1911. A statement also is to be made as to
 the mileage of tracks in the Hartford division, the number and type of it's
 cars on this division, also to produce all stock books and books of account ing of the Hartford, Manchester and
 Rockville line. and all stock books of the Hartford Street Railway company
 for examination by the commission. The commission makes the request that Prof Swain be called before the
 commission. In conclusion the com
 mission says it will take cognizance of the facts submitted and if neces- sary will call for further records, books, etc, should the same be deem- ed necessary.
 The order for the production of the books is believed to be the first of its kind in such case in Connectt- cut It is at any rate the first time so far as the but recently created util- ities commission is concerned. The action is an important one and opens up a wide field of probable trouble for the Connecticut company, as it may be compelled to go to the same trou-