Republican farmer., 1920-08-06

l
 tice of the hearing they had not had lt:me to get instructions from their 1 constituents but that they objected to | the increases which would result if the seven cent flat rate was adopted l Attention Of the Commission was called to the fact the increases would only encourage the jitney competition, compel men to use the communication service of the steam railroads and would decrease instead of increase the revenue of the trolley company. Committeeman Litchield of this city
 said during his remarks that the
 regulation of fares in Bridgeport is
 very closely allied with the settlement
 of the jitney question.
 | There Is an element of unfair | competition in allowing the jitneys to i run alongside of the trol1eys. It is not | possible nor to be desired that tEe | jitneys be regulated out of business,
 but they should be regulated that | the Connecticut company can operate | and the jitneys used as feeders It
 is possible that they can be so regu- | lated that the systems will comple- | ment one another. It is hard to say | what fare would give the Connecticut
 company adequate revenue but we
 to take. over the trolleys, 1 am not
 in favor of municipal ownership but
 the State could not make a greater | muddle of the management than you | have done'
 Percy T. Litchfield, chairman of Mayor Wilson's Fair Fare commission
 said that it was an outrage to have
 the mana cement spring their de-
 mands on the public at such short
 notice and that any kind of business
 management would have foreseen the situation months ago and have made
 preparations to meet it and give the people time to look into the matter and find a solution of the problem and not come before the committee without sufficient data or information
 on which Commission might make an , intelligent decision.
 | Committeeman. LitchfieId said he , thought if time had been allowed so that data and necessary informa ton , could be secured a method could be , undoubtedly worked out whereby the company would be allowed to charge [ enough to pay it's operating expenses . and fair return on it's investm lent | and he thought that each division in the State should work out it's own . scheme apd the rate should be bas-
 ed on the requirements of the locality. { Commissioner Noon said, "Do you , think. then, that Bridgeport should 9 be obliged to pay the Connecticut ) Power & Lighting Company it's rental | of million dollars without help from l the other parts of the State?" Chair = man Higgins objected to this question T and spoke hurriedly to Commissioner
 Noon and the question was not an- = swered or pressed.
 r 'I would hesitate to say that 1! n should" replied MT. Litchfield. ''The
 whole situation should have been n faced before this. so that there would
 
 e You don't take seriously the fig. s ures submitted by the Connecticut = Company to show its 1osses?" queried e Commissioners Joseph W. Alsop. h would expect to work out a solution
 The way the buses are handling the n business in Bridgeport at the presen r. time is hardly a success. Although is street congestion is much relieved e people do not look with ease on tn, d prospect of a winter with irresponsi , ble individual bus owners.
 Mayor Wilson said the compan. E. had presented no facts to justify thu |, call for a seven cent fare only tha 'e they needed more money. te Commissioner Charles c. Elwel ,a wanted to know what the effect ol r jitney traffic would be in Bridgepor if trolley fares were put up to 2 cents ,s "Jitney traffic would be increase to the loss of the Connecticut Com . pany," replied MT. Litchfield. . Would the Jitneys raise shei ,e present fares?" Commissioner Elwe
 inquired.
 io Just now self preservation woul ~ lead them to maintain their preser or fares" responded MT. Litchfield. IT. Do you think the Connecticut G
 should be granted an increase?' ask Sn ed Chairman Higgins
 oi "Yes: but the company should hay w taken time by the fore1ock,'' Mi on Litchfield replied.
 ad Do you favor a flat rate or a zon Of rate?" asked Chairman Higgins.
 "A flat ~rate.'' -l ve Do you refer to city lines or sut ce urban lines?'
 ly. II refer to both''
 ,st Why do you think the flat raj re- preferable?" asked Commisisont 1ls Alsop.
 'r ''The public will like it better; it ch easier to collect and it is more reac 'rl fly accounted for,'' MT. Litchfield r, ole piled.
 , Chairman Higgins then announce that the public utilities commission .t to have a valuation made of all tl h. Connecticut Company's property. IT on valuation, he said, will probably ! lev available by October l. It will be r nat ported to the next legislature. Chai ent man Higgins then preached for u
 first time the suggestion that instes aid of deciding the rate now the matt ate be held open until more thoroul i'd: investigation could be made zen The first speaker after the rece ter for luncheon was Mayor Wilson of Bridgeport. He said the five ce m- trolley fare was an accident of coi 1T age.
 not "rba +rol,ey co,,,a,;oa 1s,,a ,a of .o.. s,e.. = f." lis " ie " oao,' te3 basis the Connecticut Company c
 properly come before the public uti the tics commission and assert that tice seSen cent fare is enough. It is I hat honestS belief that in Bridgeport mo- should be treated as system.