The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-21
INDIGNATION IS INCREASING OYER
 ZONE SYSTEM
(Contfnued from Page One.)

tCOntlHued rom Page One.D amount of household expense those who live in Devon will attempt to find rents in Bridge port, and thus by competition will raise prices.
 We'll informed manufacturers dread the change, for they realize that the tncrea sed charges will fin ally take the form of demand upon higher trolley fares and by higher rents precipitated by higher trolley fares.
 The administration machine is in something approaching a panic. The application of the zone system arriv- ing two days before election will bring vividIy to the minds of the vot- CTS the attitude of the administration has taken toward the trolley mono poly.
 The message of Mayor Wilson brought no cheer because his sup porters believe that his action calling merely for a protest, is taken to late to soothe the feeling of trolley car patrons It is completely realized, by some of the mayors closest friends, li4dL HIS conduct HOW, W1ln messages and protests, will be measured against his similar futile activities when the street railway fares were raised from five cents to six cents
 There is another element in the sit uation which is causing more alarm than any other. It is said in fact that the sudden visit of MT. King to Bridgeport, last night, was to take up the matter of how most surely to avoid collision with the report of the Traffic Committee, which as early as March 3, 1919, had reported to the mayor, that the service of the Con necticUt Company in Bridgeport was poor, and that the increase of fare from five to six cents should not be tolerated, because it would help neither the city nor the company.
 The Traffic Commission, which was headed by Walter B. Lashar, made definite and simple recommendations by which the company might give a, five cent fare and make money.
 From March 3 until the present time Mayor Wilson has remained in active. and when enormous fare in- creases are presented, which seri- ous1y affect the pocketbooks of the people, either by direct payments or
 
 turn of suburban renters to the city, and the matter is close beyond repair, he raises a commttte to protest to the Board of Public Utilities
 Upon the value of that remedy of icials of other towns about Bridge port have very strong opinions, as for instance First Selectman Manley A. Cheney
 Who said last night at a Milford town meeting that he did not be- ieve anything could be done now about the zone system as the Public Utilities Commission were behind the Connecticut Co.
 Selectman Cheney further said he had talked with John K Punder- ford, manager OF the Connecticut Co.,, and that Punderford had told him the zone system was the last leg the company had to stand on. That the company was on the verge of bankruptcy.''
 Mr. Lashar and the Bridgeport committee pointed out the futility of the first increase in fare, from five cents 10 six cents, and characterized Il e. useless and prophesied no re- i'7Lzant increased revenue in the city o+ Bridgeport from such increase of local fares
 The coEfI-.ltssi on recommended in Creased frequency Of car service, with -E5 --u of oIe man safety cars and o--er improvements.
 tr0m that time until now nothing baa bean done by the city govern :Hsnt. and the people are to be sub 5-asau 70 even more disturbing fare increases. which, as everybody be- lLcves. will only plunge the trolley monopoly into deeper financial diff fcutly.
 ioyy Council Acted.
 Finding sentiment of the entire clty against the zone fare system of the Connecticut Company, Mayor ,} ison, who shortly after noon yes -erday talked with newspaper re- lorters as If he had never heard the -arn zone system" before they ques- toned him, and confessed that he }l3A't know anything about the mat eT of such vital concern 70 all of the aecple of the city, took flying jump the band wagon against the pro- Ecsed fare increase and recommend i to the council last night action eainst it
 This was done after announcement d been made by a member of Will
 n's own party in the council that
 Connecticut Company would not
 allowed to put the zone system yer on Bridgeport" when it was ap- d