Norwich bulletin., 1919-02-01
ROBERT w. PERKINS TELLS OF
TROLLEY COMPANY THoubEES

Especial to The Railetin3
The joint committee on railroads hello
its first meeting of the legislative
session, Frilay afternoon, at Hart
'forl; on bin to appoint commit
Tee of three senators to he appointed |
~ the president of the senate. four |
representatives to be appointed by the |
speaker, and four outside # the as
sembly to BIZ appointed. for the pur-
pose of inve stigating the conditions
of the street railbivs OF the state and
ascertain some remedy tor the befter
ment Of their condition irorder that
the public service coul1 continue for
the benefit of the people IF the state.
The governor, in his inaugural mes
,, sage, called the attention of the leg
islators to the important fact that
something must be done b. the state
to aid tn> companies in their present
financial straits, and this fact was laid
before the committee.
| All the companies were represented
a: the hearing and the situation was
| thoroughly discussed 1t was shown
| that legislation of a relief nature was
| actually req,'ired, that 1t did not make
any difference as to the kind of a bill
or kind of committee 10 Investigate
/ as there was no issue over any pro-
posed legislation, but thai Il service
was to continue, relief must come.
Robert w. Perkins, president of the
Shore Line Electric Railway company,
was one of tie speakers. Ee stated
there had been great increases in the
/ cost of operation, and there was no
corresponding increase in receipts, and
the remedy was beyond the owners of
the trolley properties, al ever the
country and this great iaG1stry is now
not able to meet the public demand
end is called g. national scandal. One
serious trouble is that there is too
| | much control over the Germany, not
only Ivy the public utilities commission
III the state, but also in the cities and
| towns, and a great portion OF the re-
!, ceipts are directed ana controlled in
! | disbursement by officials of state ans
towns not interested i'll the fnancia
: condition OF trolley companies. which
: are required to pay big lakes and buiIG
? highways foc the purpose of SERVING
the general public at the expense O
individuals who have invested 10 troll
e !ty properties.
Mr.. Perkins said the cost of 1abo1
had increased 100 per cent. since 1906
| and was double the cost in 1914. TIL
Shore Line company operates "a
miles of trackage and burns 20 90
T important item in the rxnense &C
e count. The price Of coal hit the com
pany hard. The price WAS $3.3S
: ton and now the price is $S44. H
e told the committee to figure out tt
n increase in this one item and. the
l. would get an idea of the general in
1, crease in cost OF trolley operations.
: He said there had been increase i
It rates, that have cquaihd the rates o
steam roads, and the limit lad bee
Re reached in that line, and Tie state is j
| rsclT0INSih1a "a G.tiT va 4rD
r. not tell the committee just what to 6t
10 as he did not want TO assur1'n that re
sponsibility, but if something wer
y not done, something woul7 happen, &
It the companies were surely ND agains
le Il, so to speak. He NAn+el a stat
1t commission 10 take hold Of the matte
1t and apply the remedy.
1t AS is we'll known the Shore Iir
re company was owned bv tl1> II tie Mo,
y ton r. Plant, and he received no rt
2 turn from his investrncnt Of 2770h Or
d. There is a deficit of S500 AAU and NJ
IS Plant had taken from his priva
A. funds $40 900 = keep the system
ID operation. 1t cannot be exnected hi
it the trustees of the estate will inve
70 more money in such Il losing ventur
Last month tire road was CTera+ed
to a loss of $4,000, that is orr expens
70 | were that much more than was &C
a lected from fares AMI freight ra-f
- # this company had not heen privat
o+ ly owned there would Lave bee ne
- IRENE difficulty in paying the bills
n would be a hardship on TIE pub!
a. but under present conditions, sor
-, traelage must he abandoned and re1
ha edied, and whether the s"'rice is
ne continue is u problem % he solved
Ill the state, and it is hoped The COMM
r. sion to be appointed under the b
~ NAV find a satisfactory Sf.l1lf ion