Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-24
Six Car Rides
 For 25 Gents
HEARING AT THE. CAPITOL ON
 MEASURE.
VIGOROUS OPPOSITION
Manager Punderford of Connecticut company Declares Company Cannot Afford It-Hint of Stock Watering,

Hartford, Conn, April 23.-The de mand for six-for quarter trolley tickets, as claimed by the Consolidated Trolley Improvement association, was preset nted to the railroad committee this afternoon. Senator Neebe. City Clerk Stephen Boucher of Bridgeport Representative Stremfau, Representa- tive McMurray and Corporation Coun- sel Kleiner of New Haven spoke for the bill, which provides that all trolley companies in the state shall sell SIX tickets for 25 cents Both MT. Neebe and MT. Boucher told of meetings or representatives of aldermanic boards who endorsed the movement and who submitted a measure to their respec- tive bodies for endorsement.
 Movement Started in Bridgeport
 MT. Neebe had a tilt with General Manager Punderford of the Connect movement was sporadic, MT. Neebe in sisting that it was a spontaneous de- Inand growing out of a movement first begun in Bridgeport to secure better trolley accommodations during rush hours MT. Neebe insisted that the question was one of great importance to nine-tenths of the people who use trolleys. MT. Boucher, who had sent out notices to a1dermanlc bodies, told of the meetings held to forward the movement To MT. Punderford he said that he had not gone into the matter of the financial ability of companies 
 had been inquired into by a lawyer who gave his services without charge He told of a request being made by the Bridgeport aldermen for six fares for quarter and the company had said that the property was in poor physical shape and the reduction was not possible for financial reasons.
 Brandes Could Squeeze Out Water.
 MT Kleiner said he represented the board of aldermen of New Haven by instructions. He believed the matter was like @Banquo's ghost" 1t would not down, and would not until it had been settled rightly. He recalled that few years ago the trolley company had said that it cost four cents and fraction to carry a passenger and that a reduetion of fares would mean Ioss.s He apprehended, however, that if Louis Bra ndeis were here he would go through the company's books and squeeze out the water in the invest ments-squeeze out some methods of Bookkeeping and make posslole the finding of a basis upon which the committee could find the real cost of carrying passenger
 Should Be a Wholesale Rate.
 He said the measure proposed a plan of business which the trolley company Itself follows. of obtaining reduction on goods which 1t buys at wholesale. The railroad company sells communication at @ reduction and why should not a trolley company SlVe a reduction on a number of tickets?
 Said Mir. Punderford: Do you think six tickets for a quarter is whole sale rate?"
 MT. Kleiner said: T do. and I think people would ride more if they bought tickets that way"
 People Would Ride More.
 Senator Peck: Tt would be like charge account"
 MT. Kleiner: Yes. people who thought they were ~etting something that cost a little less would use lit tie more," and he related his own ex- perience in Washington in using the trolleys on the~siX for quarter plan
 Company Can't Afford 1t.
 Vice President Storrs and MT. Pun derford opposed the measure on the ground that the trolley companies could not stand the reduction and be- cause a general law would be con- fscatory to many companies whose revenue gave only small margin over operating expenses. MT. kleiner. on the latter proposition, had said in re- ply to MT Punderfords question as to whether there would not be conf1sca- ton if a company lost money under the bill, that if men wish to be fools enough to go into business when there is no likelihood of adequate re- turn the state should not suffer MT. Punderford made a vigorous plea ln opposition to inc bill