Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-13


 held Monday evening in the Chamber of Commerce building with large number in attendance, the report of the committee. consisting Of Arthur M. Brown, Timothy c. Murphy and George H. Bradford, appointed by President c. V. James in accordance with g. resolution passed at previous meeting of the board of directors of the chamber, to investigate the mat ter Of increased fares on the Shore Line Electric Railway, was made by Mir. Brown. chairman of the commit tee. and as a result of the report resolution that a committee or three be appointed to circulate a petition to call town meeting for the pur- pose of deciding whether the town should take up the matter with the down.
 Nominating Committee Appointed.
 President James called the meeting to order shortly after o'clock and called for nominations for the nom!- hating committee of five to p'ace in than thirty members to be voted upon for directors of the chamber of com merce fer the ensuing year. The fol- lowing live were nominated: C. I. Smith C. w Perkins. Nelson J. Ayl- ing, A.. E. Story and $. J. Kehoe. One vote was cast for the committee by the secretary upon the motion of John NJ. Lee.
 Trolley Fare Report.
 Following the appointing of the nominating committee the meeting proceeded to the matter of the in creased fares and President James called for a report from the inVestl- eating committee. Arthur M. Brown tee. made the following report:
 The increased trolley fares has caused considerable Interest among the people of Norwich and at the last meeting of the board of directors of the cha amber of commerce a resoiu- tion was passed which said that a committee be. appointed to first inves- tigate the conditions of the Shore Line Railway; second. to get the opinion of the public utilities commission and third to report the best means of se- curing a relief from the increased rates.
 First. the committee called on R. w. Perkins, president of the Shore Line road. who received us courteous !y Mir. Perkins stated fully to the committee the cost of operating the road. the state of the finances of the company and offered to open the hooks to verify his statements.
 No Opinion From p. U. C.
 Next we interviewed the chairman of the public utilities commission and ho informed us that he could not would be called upon to pass Judg- 1aent on the case if it was brought to their attention through the proper channels. The chairman also stated that the matter could be brought be- fore the commission on the petition of ten patrons of the road or by pc tition of city. borough or township through which the road operated .'. in recommending action, the law points out that all we can do is to put cur power behind some petitioning party either the ten patrons of the road or the city or town
 4 &{.,1 m 1ad n on to state whether the rates of in- crease on the Shore Line company's road were out of proportlon or not hut such an answer would require thorough knowledge of the affairs of the operating of the company and would require the services of an ex- pert.
 Sanction Increase to Some Extent:
 We know that all things have. in creased in price during the past three years and all fair minded people will sanction the increase in trolley fares to some extent but whether the com rany has increased them more than necessary is not for us to say We have carried out our instructions ac- cording to the resolution
 The report was accepted.
 T. c. Murphy then rose to say that he had asked MT. Perkins to make the fare within the town of Norwich five cents instead of five cents only within the city limits. MT. Perkins said that he could make no concession. MT. Murphy said that he thought the proper tribunal to take the matter up would be the town of Norwich.
 Favored Town Meeting,
 Frank Aubrey said that he had fol- company since the last meeting and had attended several meetings where the question had been discusseds but; could not get any satisfaction. The have a town meeting called for the purpose of considering the question. MT Aubrey then made the motion that committee of three be appoint ed to circulate a petition to call a town meeting for the purpose of bring ing the matter before the public utiii- ties commission
 MT. Boardman seconded the motion.
 Frederic W. Cary said the question is whether the rates are too high or not. He said that good deal of ex- pense would be necessary to bring the matter before the commission and the Chamber of Commerce could not stand the expense. He favored town meet Brown would give his own personal opinion on the matter
 Justified in Increase.
 Mr. Brown. took the floor and said that while he had no grief for the Shore Line company he was fair m1nded enough-to say that ne Deheveo the railway company was justified in jumping the rates. He said that rai1- roads all over the country were in bad shape financially and have petitioned the interstate commerce commission for increased rates. Only three cities in the state at the present time arc charged only five cents Tn the city limits and in one of the cities the rail- way company is in the hands of the receivers. MT. Brown stated the in- crease in labor of the Shore Line was from B to S3 per cent during the past 10 years and that the cost of material had increased from 84 to 1S6 per cent He said he thought the company was Justified in raising the rates and that it would be impossible for the people, to get relief by going to the public utilities commission.
 Albert H. Boardman spoke on the effect that the rates had on the bus mess of the city and advised the meet ire A<. xn<,z<, fn fXsa raatkz,. f,,,.k1,