The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-08-26

continue it's passenger service on August 2, and that the city was without immediate adequate control to meet the situation. We are deal
 ing, however, with condition and not a theory"
 It is to be expected that the rail-
 way will voluntarily, or by necessity,
 resume operation upon further de-
 mand by the city. Such regulations
 by the city as it deems for public
 good, should, therefore, be made im-
 mediately, without any thought of re-
 talliation, and without any prejudice
 toward either the railway, or the bus
 com petition, which was claimed fac
 tor in causing the suspension.
 Should the railway company fail
 now, upon further demand to imme-
 diately restore its service under the
 system of fares legally provided, it seems proper that the city should in itiate such action as may under the law be done, for requiring such restor- ation, or sacrifice of franchises and shoulk therefore proceed 10 lend its aid and encourag cement to the organ ization of a modern standard bus company, to be enfranchised for term
 of years under suitab ble municipal con- trol or, municipal ownership and | operation, may be deemed eXpe- dient.
 It is believed that the failure Cf | the present system of bus service to ! fully meet the requirements, is due | to the fact that operation is volun- ] tary by individuals, and lacks the pos I sibility of control that may be exer- | cised over an enfranchised body. | It is further the opinion of the 1 commissfon, that properly orsaniz- | ed bus corporation, surrounded by
 control, can meet with entire satisfac tion, all the transportation require | ments of the district.
 | It is the view of the commission | that prior to the suspension of car
 service, there were unfair elemen in
 the competition of the two services, ! resulting in some degree, in inability
 of the railway to successfully operate it's franchise and also resulting in ] congestion of the main thoroughfares | and some interference with a free
 choice of vehicles by the riding pub
 lie. | At the same time it seems proper | to say that to take action that would virtually suppress responsible motor | bus service in the city would ham | per the line of progress toward bet l ter things in future transportation. | It is also recommended that on l all streets, wh ere motor bus service is permitted and where railway service | is also operated, the Traffic Division | of the Police Department shall place | in prominent view upon the streets, l and enforce the observance of under it's authority now believed to be pos
 sessed, signs indicating particular
 locations where railway cars and mo-
 tor buses may stop to receive and dis
 charge passengers. It is recom- mended that these signs read, respec- lively, Trolley Stop" and Bus
 Stop" and that in no case shall 2
 Trolley Stop sign and a Bus Stop
 sign be located nearer than 150 fec
 apart.
 A rule should be enforced requir
 ing buses to drive to curb for load
 ing and unloading passengers ant forbidding any bus to pass another while both are moving.
 These regulations will permit sep
 ara tion of the traffic upon street. where both kinds of service are per mitted, avoid unfair competition be
 tween railway cars and buSe through both stopping at the sam , time at same locations, and will fur , nish to the riders a free choice O walking to either the Trolley Stop I 1 or Bus Stop according to their re spective desires.
 - And who is there who may pre- P sume to say to the orderly rider up g on our city streets that he is not en ' titled to a free selection of publi l | vehicles and that in the competitio e of genius in transportation, a fire |. way shall not be made for tn I Struggle of all and the survival ( = the Attest?
 . It is recommended that inspector d should be provided under auspices ( e an authorized city department to ir c 1 md tn rcb or $ ules, starting from terminal point y | headways, safety of operations an U sanitation, as well as honesty an v courtesy of drivers. Upon complain 2 of inspectors power should rest wit IL the department to obtain suspensic e from the streets of busses and dri7 CTS proven objectionable to public il
 tereSt. Funds for this purpos
 should be derived from the propose .e excise tax upon the gross revenu
 of the public busses, and the balan of such revenues should be applit oa toward the maintenance of the ci o streets.
 c+ The city should eventually obta 1 the full right of municipal franchi .x of all transportation service with se its own borders. Such rights shou o provide for more workable metho H. | of dealing with corporations, COT
 panies or individuals with referen n- to fares and continuity and quail al i of service, so that privileges of ope h. ation should carry with it obligati 1t. of efficient cooperative managemel on On the other hand the city shou
 itself have its obligations, havi on once granted franchise to keep co on stantly informed concerning it's st i'd | cesses and failures, and see that co ,ss ditions are met as they arise and tt ,ss service is not allowed to deteriate 1 of want of sufficient flexible worki if rules and cooperation
 K Recommends Commission la To this end it is recommended tf
 local permanent transportati ec- commission for the city be appoint d1- and legislative action be sought 'llc the coming session under which st lid commission shall be recognized as oth medium and clearing house for te- tercourse, reports and regulation by tween the railway hps r.