Republican farmer., 1920-01-16
Country Towns Favor Flat Fare Rate Instead of Zone System-May- or Says Aid Should Come From State Not From Working Men.

Commission in the Common Council Chamber shortly be- fore adjournment at one o'clock today Mayor Clifford B. Wilson asked the commission to grant Bridgeport a flat fare of five cents and separate the lines from the rest of the state. If the cities must support the company for lines which do not pay, Mayor Wilson said, he favored having aid come from the state as a whole and not from the individual working man.
 W. Parker Seeley then summarized the case for the city, stating that there were two things Q grk deal more involved than the zone system. First---"Are the trolleys to run at all?" Second---"If so, on what ba- sis?' He stated that he did not con slider the Connecticut company any worse than any other similar company and no more a culprit. He then gave a history Of the Bridgeport situation from the time of the five cent fare. He said that first came the six cent fare which was in a measure a pop ular increase. Then came the zone system, he said, and a new protest.
 He then gave a summary of the condition of the company saying that it was insolvent, stating that It ow ed the state a large sum in taxes and a paving assessment and bridge assessment. He estimated that they needed 31 per cent more revenue and said they needed $1,500,000 more next year.
 MT. Seeley then stated that the zone system had increased the revenue $128,000 in one month and CT per cent of the revenue came from Bridgeport, Waterbury, New Haven and Hartford.
 MT. Seeley after this resume read the councils original protest to the Utilities Commission.
 Mayor Wilson was called to the stand and immecsately threw a bomb into the ranks of the Connecticut company. He first stated that he would try and confine himself to the realms of facts as he had not been sworn as a witness, and he said that he appreciated the Connecticut com pany coming here and said he was sorry he was out of the city when the other hearings were held.
 Mayor Wilson was most particular to ask the commission to divide the state into certain districts where the fare rates could be easily determined and Bridgeport, Waterbury, New Ha- ven and Hartford were considered by him fit districts for a five cent fare.
 Mayor Wilson said that the real reason for the existence of a trolley company was the convenience it af- forded the public. When that ceases the mayor said, the reason to justify the existence of franchise for the company ceases to exist. The mayor went on to state that the whole trou- F." b1e was more of local nature than the fault of the system.
 He then said: We in Bridgeport want a five cent fare because the people want it and the company can exist on it.
 Mayor Wilson said the reasons for the increased fare was because the people of other parts of the state did not patronize the trolIeys so freely. He stated further if the Bridgeport lines were run as a unit by them selves they would pay well and he believed that there was room for the jitneys and the trolleys to live side by side and both continue to operate
 A report of Captain Wheeler from the traffic department was then read which showed the amount of business done by the iitneys and the mayor took up the question of delays on thS trolleys caused by rhe zone system He then pointed out that he had tt give special permission for autos tc pass street cars as the delave were so long they held up traffic at al points in the center of the city.
 He said the people use the jitney: because they get to their destination quicker and cheaper. He pointed out that if the trolleys came down tt the level of the jitney then real com [. petition would result and the service would be better. He closed his ap peal with asking the commission tc give Bridgeport the five cent fare i deserves. He then passed on show 2 ing how the jitneys were limited b1 regulations and gave figures to show their numbers.
 Attorney Berry then asked if h, would approve If stopping the trol leys from running altogether ant Mayor Wi.s0h said they were essen tial at this time but in 10 years whe1 .A the development of motors has ad vanced he would not be surprised. Chairman Higgins asked if tn, F larger cities were given the five cen rate how would it effect the suburban lines and the mayor said a rate De a mile would be a fair thing there H pointed out that the burden of tn trolley's aid shoul5 be borne by tn iF entire state and not by the workini ] people, saying that those in town who have no trolley system but us E. them just the same should pay wit the rest of the people
 Judge N. C. Downs, of Stamford r ccened the case for the county town E by swearing in MaJcr Charles F 5 Hunter, engineer of the Stamfor f Eolling Mills company. Major Hun E ter testified that he had been con nected with the Brooklyn Rapi ss Transit company and Albany Ne, York electric roads and was formerI