The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-16
Especial to The Farmer !

Newtown, April 16-The Danbury & Bethel Street Railway Go. has applied to the General Assembly for an amendment to its charater, authoriz- ing it to erect and maintain poles, wires and fixtures for the conveyance of electricity along the highways and on private lands in the town of New town, and also asks for the revival of all rights, privileges and franchises granted the company hitherto, until the rising of the General Assembly at it's January session. 1919.
 The bill was reported favoralbly by the committee on railroads on March 19, and according to the legislative calendar will come up for action this week at Hartford.
 Although the town is a party in in- terest, so far, it is claimed, nobody in authority here was notified of the pending of the bill before the railroad committee, and it was reported favor ably, notwithstanding that a majority of the citizens are opposed to cons firning this franchise to the appellant which has held the original charter granted to- Newtown citizens 20 years ago. Ex-Senator M. J. Houlihan, when in the zenith of his political activity, procured two separate charters, one covering water rights, the other cleo trical lighting and power for New town. One of these became the prop erty of the Newtbwn Water Co.,. The other was sold tO John T. King and associates of Bridgeport. It is the ex- tension of these privileges now sought by the owners of the ancient fran chise, that has aroused the ire of the tOwnspeople.
 In the last decade no efforts have been voluntarily made by the Bethel - Danbury Railway Go, to extend it's lines to NewtoWn, unless prospective beneficiaries pay nearly all the costs of the extension. Newtown borough was provided with service only after the borough voted to pay $500 annu- ally for 30 street lights. This was done two years ago. The following year Sandy Hook desired to get an extension of the lighting system to the village, but was met with the same exorbitant. demands on the part of the company, so the, terms were in dignantly declined. s
 Later Charles s. Cole, who estab- 1ished the Premiere Manufacturing Co. proposed to furnish 40 public electric lights on the principal streets of the village on condition that the town abate $1.000 annually on his tax bill. This was accepted at special town meeting, but when the manager of the concern was ready he was con- fronted by threat of a law suit from the attorneys of the company, unless he made a contract with the company. This, MT. Cole refused to do. as he has an electric plant in op feration at his works, and -expected to attach another unit of power. t.
 carry out his offer. The whole mat
 ter fell through and Sandy Hook, par
 ticularly, is indignant.
 Representative Thomas M. Holia n and Henry Rupf have been importun- ed by the citizens Jointly to appear in the lower house Tuesday and ask for recommittal of the bill. When this is done delegation of officials and heavy taxpayers will be on hand to
 show cause why fyrther leniency to this company should not be extended. Newtown wants electric light and power and has wanted them but it wants them on a reasonable terms as other communities. It will urge the cancellation of the charter so long in