Norwich bulletin., 1919-04-02

report made to the legislature at Hartford, Tuesday, by the special street railway investigating commits sion, but the condition of the Shore Line Electric Railway company, whose lines cover the eastern part of the state, is more serious.
 Bankruptcy, curtailnent of service, abandonment of lines or sale of mater iai property as junk are conditions which face the trolley properties of the entire state. This conclusion applies to all but 12.s miles of the BPS miles of trolley lines in the state, and the com mission adds that if the present gen. eral assembly does not act, it will be too late to apply remedy in 1891.
 In regard to the general condition of the Shore Line and the New London bridge approaches, the report says as follows:
 The situation of the Shore Line Co. is more serious than that of the Con necticut company. It was owned and developed by the late Mir. Plant. Prac- ticaHy the entire line runs at loss but through the public spiritedness, the owner, MT. Plant, he personally made good the deficits which amounted from s150,099 to $200,o60 year. In 1917 the net revenue before the payment of taxes and rent of leased lines with in- terest on the funded and unfunded debt was s243,e66 After the above taxes rentals and interest were paid there was deficit of s209,633. Tn 1918 the net revenue was only s45,s47 and after paying taxes alone there was a deficit of s23,319. The real deficit was s429, ,3G9 with the owners receiving nothing for their investment.
 Mr Plant is now dead The state cannot be expected to operate the road and make up large deficits. The pres ident of the Shore Line asks for relief from paying costs, taxes, bridge costs, iitney regulations and for affirmative state or local financial aid.
 In regard to the New London bridge approaches the recommendations are the following:
 This commission recommends the construction at the expense of the state, and under the supervision and approval the highway commissioner of the street railway approaches to the New London bridge including rails and other overhead construction so that the line will be ready for use and opera ton by the street railway company be- tween the tracks in Groton to the tracks in New London; and that the use of the approaches and tracks be allowed the street railway company at an annual charge of rental to be paid the state of 10 per cent. upon the cost of construction to cover use and de- preciation, street railway company to caro for the maintenance.
 The findings are summarized as fol- lows:
 We find that many causes have con- tributed to bringing about the present crisis in the condition of the street railways of the state Among them those most vitaIly affecting the condi- tions are:
 ]. War conditions. 2. Abnormal increase in wages. 3. Abnormal increase in the cost oi material.
 f. Abnormal increase in cost of coal 5. Taxation requirement Of the state.
 6. Paving assessments required by state laws.
 z. Bridge assessments required by state law.
 8. Rapid development of unregu- lated jitney competition. s. Operation Of non- paying lines. 10. Depreciated purchasing power of tIe former unit of street railway fare. the nickel
 II. Great increase in use of private automobiles.
 r. Improved facilities required ot ! companies.
 We believe that some of the above I named twelve causes will adjust them l selves within the next two years wheI we return, to peace conditions. SuuI l causes as No. 1, No. and No. 1, we 1 believe that within two years there
 may be a reduction in cost of materia l and equitable means found for an in. l crease in per centage of costs of Iabol 1 to the gross revenue.
 i As to items No. to No. Ii inclusiv, l we can see no hope for relief from the pressure and intolerance Of thes' | causes except by means of definite an6 adequate legislation by the presen general assembly.
 1 Tn it's recommendations the cofnn1is ] sion says: The commission, as q re. l suit of an investigation recognizes thu 1 magnitude and seriousness of the stree
 railway problem and it realizes that il 1 the short time allotted to it for con l ducting an investigation all it ca1 protitably and safely do is to repor the conditions as they have been pre- sented to it and then make such rec concentrations as in its judgment vii enable the street railways to tide owe ] this abnormal period and still kee) running and leave it for a commission of three to be appointed by the gov ernor to take up the investigation am
 report with the 1921 general assembl. the results of the relief measure granted, and the conditions as they ex ist on Jan 1. 1921, together with in formation and recommendations as t
 the future legislation needed at tha
 time to put the street railway opera tions in the state on firIner and nor lasting basis
 The commission makes the foIlowin
 recommendations:
 1. Taxes.
 This commission recommends tn suspension of any call or demand O street railway companies for the pay nent of taxes to the state at the pres
 ent time or when they become due u
 to the rising of the general assembl l Of 1921 and that a uniform rate of
 per cent. per annum shall accrue upo
 any unpaid taxes up to that time ,. Relief from bridge assessments This commission recommends com
 pIete relief to street railway compan ies until the rising of the general as sembly of 1921 from all charges an
 the payment Of all costs on bridge con i, struction as assessed under the pres ent state laws, except cost of main taining the tracks and other raiIwa
 equipment required by them for oper ation.
 8. Relief from paying assessment This commission recommends th complete relief to the trolley compar les until the rising of the general as sembly of 1921, from all paving charge as called for by the present laws of th state, except the maintenance for eigt , inches beyond the rails and except th replacement in a proper manner of an , paving which they may remove or in ; jure.
 f. Jitneys.
 l This commission recommends that tf , se-called iitney or jitney bus be de ) ciared common carrier and thereh be placed under the same control an supervision as the street railway con l