The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-07-17
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VOTE
. HE CHAMBER of Commerce vote,


IT HE CHAMBER of Commerce vote unfortunately does
- not reflect the spirit of majority of the people Of
Bridgeport Perhaps the questions which put to vote
are not well framed adroy framed
hey came from the floor during the progress the Chambers
mass meeting and represent skill in confusing the
problem and more purpose to confuse it than to clear
do you favor action which would in the cessation
portation" ~
This, question proceeds the threat of
neccut suspend service might take effect at their
option, without the part of the city, and
without possibility of the suspension being prevented
The fact is that mandamus might be souht and OBJ
aned compelling the continue that action might be
brought in the United States Circuit Court the removal of
the trustees for action calculated nure the property and
for moving in without getting order Of
ceivershp and operated like other nsovent public
vice corporation
that has been committed in submission of
this question: the assumption carried that the Connecticut
suspend and that the city will be help
less and necessarily left entirely to motor bus transportation
The real case is different The Connecticut company
would almost certainly be restrained from such action if
the city sought its remedies
If the membership of the Chamber Of Commerce had been
asked if it desired that both Of tney
and trolley should be the city, the affirmative
would doubtless have been overwhelming
The second question misleading The elimination which
is proposed is not simply elimination of "actve itney
Rsnn as
and wicked They bridges the streets
which essential sort Of Moreover this
ton carries implication that there sort of
anee of adequate trolley service"
There Isl p6thinef the kind. No guarantees have been
given AS the price Of the destruction of successful
tor Mr. storrs for the Connecticut Company has promised
his thirty promised nothing
says that it, with the tneys gone his lines do not
pay that be will at the end Of the thirty
which opens the quite completely for demand for sub
sidy, other form of municipal aid
Upon the gun at the head threat of Mr. storrs the
of this city, without attempt whatever to seek
legal remedy without ascrtanng the rights of the city, and
without procuring and publishing the opinions of its attorneys
the theory that must give its watch and its
money.
The Chamber Of commerce. as deberave body, should
have its questions with statement of the merits
of The
remedies available to the city.
The city if it Wishes keep both trollies and neys
But this is to have
government that is with its citizens and that represents what
S best for the city.
city government with heart that bleeds whenever it
upon impoverishment the trolley monopoly and
roices that made the city and life
harder for the city's people. cannot fill the bill.
all the conditions the city ought bring
against the Company seeking order
bidding 1t to suspend service.
city should question in the Federal Courts, stimuli
taneousy the authority of the trustees These trustees
the court They have received the property for the
purpose of selling it. They have not been udicia ordered
to suspend service They have right moral legal to
pend service.
probably wise if the city should take steps
bring about the dissolution company winding
willing and able to operate it, stripped of its load of wind
its excessive rentals of the dead weight which
its managers from time to time have heaped upon it.
Bridgeport does not know whether the Connecticut
pany is making, op'losing money in Bridgeport
fit is losing in Bridgeport nobody knows wheth
the system is at fault or whether the tneys
scrutiny conditions under cent fares, would
show that within City Bridgeport company
money; pss6ablyaaa good money. approximate
cause sustained is not therefore, the ney
competition, but the zone system
VICTORY FOR THE SHAMROCK
~ IR THOMAS Upton is sportsman in the best
= word He plays the the highest level,
appreciation of Americans He that he would b.