The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-21
JITNEYS AND TROLLEYS
 CRASH AT BIG HEARING;
 RAILWAY MAKES THREATS
Company Says Trolley Service Will Be Curtailed If Jit neys Aren't Regulated-Auto Owners Take Hard Wallops At NEonopolist Street Car Service -Jitney Advocates Out in Force Face Public Service Com pany's Array of Legal Talent


 necticut company, summarized the company's position, in a lengthy state ment. He maintained that in fair ness, competition sbecween trol1eys and 1 "jitneys' should be on equal terms and if jitneys are to be unregulated and untaxed, street railways should be unregulated and untaxed. Such a proposition would not be entertained. he said, and the only fair alternative consistent with established policy is proper regulation and taxation of the automobil bUss. ''Jitneys have been operated for so short a tirne," he said. f'that they have not yet brought about any reduction in the street railway service.''
 The trolley companys counsel in their statement call attention to the fact that the jttneys, instead of sup p1ern enting the trolley service, have merely para11eled it at the most pro- htab1e places, leaving the trolleys only the long and unproftable "hauls.''7, The trolley companies, too, must furnish service all day and all night in many places at a loss in or der to accommodate the public, while the jftneys are able to stop any time they want to. If the stro1ieys are to lose the patronage of the public on the short rides, in which their profit lies, they will have to raise their fares for the long rides.
 Leo M. Davis, representing the Nor walk Chamber of Commerce which eadopted resolutions protesting against any Jitney legislation, replied to MT. Days statements.
 Replying to the latter's claim that there is sentiment against the jit ney business, MT. Davis declared that the only one wishing to throttle the business is the Connecticut Company. The state, through it's dominant party has permitted this corporation to grow strong until it became arrogant in it's attitute. The lesson of 1912 has been recognized, he said, and the company does not have the arrogance and in dependence which it formerly assuTn- ed.
 1 MT. Davis said the company now comes whining to the state to pro tect it from competition which has sprung up by reason of the poor ser vice given by the company. He ap- pea1ed, to the committee not to side with the .'octopus.''
 k Lawrence L. Lewis of Waterbury, l representing an automobile bus con cern, said the machines used by the l company have been bonded in heavy amounts to protect passengers, and | the operators paid each day the amount of the premiums. He doubt ed if legislation would be constftut1on- al He cited that in Waterbury there
 
 with the chief of police, and he be- lieved that every municipality has means through which the business can be properly adjusted.
 John F Tobin. of Waterbury, spoke along similar lines. c. M Robinson, of New Haven, declared that there is no opposition to the jitney except by 1 the Connecticut Go. The principle at stake, he said, was whether or not a citizen has the right to embark in business. He thought the Connec- was. at the legislature to get some thing. He denied the claim of MT. Day that the jitneys were only par I9lleling the sk tro1leys. He said he I knew of several men at the Winches- ter factory in New Haven who were able to go home at noon hour. on the fjitneys-something they had never l been able to do befope.
 George M. Wallace of New Haven, representing users of the jitneys, at tackled the service of the trolley com Icent fare on the trolley lines, claiming : that two cents out of five was tax on the people, due to granting the Con- necticut company monopoly. He al so pleaded against legislation regulat- ing the busses.
 David M. Reilly of New Haven ob- jected to the regulation being thrown into aldermantc boards He also in sisted that passengers in jitneys should be protected by compelling the owners to take out insurance.
 Representative King of Fairfield asked if any patron had demanded this. but MT. Reilly did not know ot any case.