The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-04-10
SUGGESTS USE
 OF OPEN CARS

About open cars the Public Utilities Commission has this to say
 '-rhe pay as you leave policy of the zone system may to a certain extent eliminate the use of the popular and successful open car for summer use and thereby aggravate the difficulties caused by lack of sufficient rolling stock. To relieve the situation the commission would advocate the use of the open car in summer for spe- ciaI holiday and peak service, and on lines not exceeding two zones or the initial fare charge When used for special service on runs exceeding the initial fare, a flat rate may be charg- ed, not exceeding the maximum fares under rate two for such runs. In the use of the open car transfer privileges may be eliminated at the discretion of the company.
 Since 1916 the company has paid no dividends.
 After stating that suspension of the trolley would be a calamity the com mission says:-
 Some of the elements producing the precarious street railway condi- tions in this state are beyond the power of this commission to over come, and can only be remedied by legislative enactment Statutory burdens such as street paving bridges, taxes, and unfair automobile competition are among these eIe- nents The labor competition of in dustrial enterprises which are uure- stricted in the selling price of their commodities is an economic condi- ton which the carriers themselves must work out. The deprecated pur-
 
 high and increasing cost of producing service, are factors which should na- turaIIy be met by corresponding in- creases iE rates, but there is a limit at which increased rates will pro duce increased revenue
 The duty of a utility company is not only the rendition of a public service, but the rendition of good and adequate service This commission is fully aware of the fact that to render snch service the company must have sufficient finances, sufficient gross revenue, to pay all its operating ex- penses, fixed and overhead charges set aside proper depreciation reserve and pay a fair return on the invest. 1aert- We feel that any order of th% commission not based on this genera policy would work an inj1strce no only to the company but to the pub. lie entitled to receive such service.
 Street railway service is a direc benefit not only to it's patrons, bu to the communities, business indus tries and property owners in the To caifties served; and yet, under pres ent conditions all the expense of sup plying such service, including statu tory and collateral obligations i borne by the car riders, they bein; the only source of revenue to tn company.
 The company, whose public duty is to carry passengers over and alon; the highway, is required to expent large sums of money for cleaning tn snow and ice off the streets, for tn construction of highway bridges an face of a large portion of the stree area No other individual or cerpor alton using the highway is require to perform or directly pay for sue work The more of these expense the company has to pay, the greate will necessarily be the rates of far for the car rider.
 The demand for improved and eg pensive pavement in our public high ways, and the very expensive car and maintenance of such pavemer are due largely to autom obiles, iii neys and trucks constantly using tn highways, and in the case of th heavily loaded truck, using pavement destroying chains or other wors forms of non-Skid devices