Republican farmer., 1919-10-24
Council Sends Committee to Protest to Public Utilities Commission -Cheney v, First Selectman of Mil ford, Says Protesting Won't Do Any Good Traffic Commission Show ed How to Get Five Cent Fares and Better Service, But Administration Took No Heed.

But Administration Took l No Heed.
 Indignation was increasing throughout Connecticut today, over the proposed zone system of fares, and especially in
 Bridgeport where the housing problem is acute, and it is re-
 cognized that an early conges-
 ton must follow upon the ap- plication of the much higher suburban rates which are to become effective Nov. 2. Speaking upon this point to-
 day real estate men were un-
 animous in the opinion that a
 comparatively small increase
 in demand for rents will have
 a marked effect on the price.
 Real estate men expect mark ed rent increases.
 The effect upon Devon is us-
 ed as an example. The people
 of Devon will pay a normal
 fare of 12 cents to Bridgeport
 center, which is the present
 rate per ride. But some work
 in the West End, and to these the cost will be greater. The least additional pay ment that would be required of
 a Devon person would be 24
 cents for the round trip to and from work, which on the basis
 of 300 days a year would be an additional charge of $36. This would be the minimum, for the cost 10 an entire family would be much larger.
 Attempting to reduce the . amount of household expense i those who live in Devon will attempt to find rents in Bridge port, and thus by competition will raise prices.
 Well informed manufacturers dread the change, for they realize that the increased charges will fin
 ally take the form of demand upon the pay roll, demand caused by
 iCyl,a 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 vividly 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 SUD-
 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, i that his conduct now, with mesa ges 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 l Bridgeport, last night, was to take 1 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 tie 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 i 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 8 until the present 1 time Mayor Wilson has remained in l active. and when enormous fare in-
 creases are presented, which seri-
 ously affect the pocketbooks of the 1 people, either by direct payments or 1 by rent increases caused by the re- 1 turn of suburban renters to the city,
 and the matter is close beyond repair, he raises a commttte to protest to the BOard or GuDIC | Upon the value of that remedy of | fcials 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 1 town meeting that he did not be- ieve anything could be done now about the zone system as the Public i Utilities Commission were behind the | Connecticut Go.
 Selectman Cheney further said he
 had talked with John K. Punder- | ford, manager of the Connecticut Co.,, I and that Punderford had told him | the zone system was the last lee ike 1 company had to stand on. That | the company was on the verge of | bankruptcy"
 i MT Lashar and the Bridgeport | committee pointed out the futility of | the first increase in fare, from five cents to six cents, and characterized 1 it as useless and prophesied no re- sultant increased revenue in the city l of Bridgeport from such increase of I local fares.