Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-04-11
(Srecial to The Bulietin.)

of the house at Hartford on three
bills submitted by the legislative COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
condition of the trolley roads of the
state The attendance was small and
not commensurate with the Importance
of the subjects considered.
n. S. Buckingham of the federal
railway administration spoke against
the passage of the act that would au-
thorize the Hartford and Springfield
Street Railway company TO operate its
cars over steam, railroad tracks, on
the Suffield branch. Harrison r.
Freeman of the company believed that
if the bill were passed satisfactory ar
could be made with the
federal administration.
Senator Dillon and Representative
Shaw of the investigating committee
spoke in favor of an act authorizing
commission. They set forth that the
trolley problem was much larger than
anticipated, and that a commission
was essential in order to make a spe-
cial study of the matter and make a
concrete report to the next session of
the general assembly. Unless there
be continued investigation the 1921
session would be fully as much at sea
as was the present when the trolley
matter first came up for consideration.
1t was brought out that Judge Walter
C. Moves, government trustee, had
told the committee at hearing that
he knew of no way to reduce present
expenses.
Ralph o. Wells. representing the
Manufacturers association, stated the
association and the New Haven Cham
Der of Commerce were in favor of the
bills under consideration. in fact all
the recommendations of the commits
sion. He said the trolley companies
were of great Importance to the state
and that the people he represented
were representative of the people of
the state. The jitneys as at present
operated cannot suDersede the trolieys
as a public necessity and convenience
Trolley cars are run on regular time,
regardless of weather or monetary loss,
while the jitneys cease when bad
Feather prevails and when there is no
lAss The roads, he believed. were
economically managed. Take, for in
stance, the Shore Line, which was
owned by the late Morton F. Plant and
maintained at his personal expense.
Mr. Plant was a business man and
there is no doubt that he selected men
to manage his railway on the most
economical basis. Mr.. Wells was OPP
posed to state or federal management
of the trolleys of the state.
Michael NJ. Shirk, representative
from the town of Washington, objected
to the matter of compensation for the
proposed commissioners and it looked
to him as if there were some men out
of job,
Senator Hemenway spoke in opposl-
ton on the ground that the whole
matter ought to be considered by the
public utilities commission. as they are
best posted in all trolley matters, much
better than any special committee.
Representative Miner of Plymouth
said all would be in favor Of private
ownership with state aid. He be
lieved that the trolleys ought to be
forced into the hands of receivers and
take their medicine He favored a
special commission to continue the in
vestfgation.
Senator Dillon showed by the pa
tronage that the people of the state
were interested in the trolley roads
and that if the roads went into re-
ownership It would mean the abandon
ment of the sections that do not pay
operating expenses. Property owners
and merchants are interested in the
trolleyS as well as the car riders
There are So towns in the sttae with
out trolley service, and one of them is
the town of Washington, the home OF
Mr.. Shirk and perhaps that is rea-
son why objection is made to stats aid
Senator Clifford Hough. a member o.
the commission and resident Of
Washington, favored the commission
extension mad believed the remedy hat
been offered in the bills presented.
| Robert w. Perkins, president of thu
| IN
conditions We're universal and thert
was 80 per cent in the shrinkage o
most of the securities. The condition
| is caused by government and stat
control and cannot he regulated as
private industry. The companies ar,
not permitted to collect in fares abov,
the operating expenses to provide a!
emergency fund. The riders contribu
ton will not pay operating expenses
| The labor and operating costs hav
! doubled. and the public will not pa!
an equal proportion of the cost of op
Grafton. If the state fails to realiz
the position of this great industry ant
offer aid, it will mean serious problem
and its consequences. Now tn
| buses operating between New Londol
and Norwich charge the same rate a
| the trolleys in the middle part of TIL
! day for the same rate as charged b,
the trolley, but at night the jitne
price is more than doubled. He sal
he would not accept as d gift if re
quired to operate the property of tn
Shore Line Electric Railway company
Something must be done or Connect
cut will be in trouble in transportation
business. The act reads:
Section / The governor is author
lied to appoint a street railway com
mission of three members, to investi
gate the conditions under which tn
street railways of the state are operat
ed and to report its findings to tn
general assembly at its January ses
sion, 1921. with a statement of sue
conditions at the close of the yea
1920, and recommendations and sug
gestions as to legislation which the
believe to be required in order to plac
such street railways upon a safe an
efficient operating basis. Said com
mission may, if found desirable, EN-
ploy a competent expert to make
careful appraisal of the street railwa
! properties of the state after Aug.
1920 and other necessary clerical as
sistance.
Sec. >. The members of said com
mission shall receive such compensa
ton and reimbursement for expense
as shall be approved by the board
control.
Sec 3. Act to take effect from pas
sage Another act reads as follows:
Section /. The highway commits
sioner is directed to cause to be cor
: structed a street railway in the towr
of 'Groton and New London 'betwee
: the terminus of the present tracks
; the Shore Line Electric company c
l Thames street, Groton, and Mai
, street, New London, subject to Il
prior execution of a contract betwee
| the Shore Line Electric company ar
, the state of Connecticut to the effe
, that the said company will lease Il
5 property at an annual rental of 10 p,
| cent. of the cost of construction, sa