New Britain herald., 1921-07-13

leys declined to run. He recommend ed similar course here and if the trolley company is not satisfied. allow them to take up their tracks and go he advised. He was in favor of a five cent fare on the jitneys.
 Wall Takes Shot.
 Councilman William Wall contrast ed the good service afforded by the Jitneys with branch of service being supplied by the Connecticut company. lie favored the jitneys remaining even II 1t resulted in trolleys going.
 Timbrell Against Signs. Councilman Howard Timbrell felt that good service was being provided by the Jltneys. He objected to pla- carding. the busses, however, since he felt they were eyesores.
 Eichstaedt Likes Jitneys.
 Councilman A. F. Eichstaedt took the floor long enough. to register him. self as entirely in favor of the con- tinuance of jitney service.
 Curtis Speaks Again.
 Mayor Curtis took the floor several times during the meeting and shot shafts at the trolley company. He remarked that motor transportation had proved popular, and in the opin- ion of some the trolleys have seen their day and the city can afford to let the company pull up its tracks and get out
 Takes Rap" at Conn. Company.
 The Connecticut company through its friends in the legislature, he said, has succeeded in having the control of the jitneys placed Tn the hands of the public utilities commission. When its decisions were rendered the city saw that it's desires were not con- sidered at all, the mayor continued, since the facts that were SO apparent at the hearings were not taken into consideration for a moment, it was evident. The feeling against the ruling, he said, is strong, even among those who have never ridden in jitney bus.
 For the Working Man.
 Jitneys and trolleys are the poor mans means of conveyance. If a man must pay 10 cents to ride in a trolley it's drain on his purse especially in these days of short hours and low wages. He quoted statutes to show that a city had the right to ask for hearings from the commis- cil so act.
 NotS bdCk III f1lSUOry.
 The mayor told of the growth of the trolley company and of it's change from horse to electric cars. He re- cited the story of how the council was taken to Springfield and provided with a supper just before the matter came before that body for action. The franchise was granted without the payment of a cent. Later the secur- ing of that franchise was used as an excuse for spending money and to- day the riding public Is paying the interest on money spent for something that was given the company for noth- ing, the mayor remarked in a para doxical manner. The city, he said gets but $500 out of the company in taxes while the state gets whatever else is paid.
 Question Important.
 For the next two or three montha the jitney proposition will be an inn portant one. A man riding twice day will save s15 year if jitneys are allowed to run. this saving paying months rent in many cases, the may or stated
 Trolleys a. Nuisance.
 In addition the trolley lines are a nuisance in more ways than one, the mayor charged their wires working obstacles in fighting fires. their tracks making an uneven roadbed, and in winter their snow blows tying up traffic by shoveling the snow out into the highway.
 On a rising vote on the mayors res- olution. it was adopted unanimously.
 Second Resolution.
 The second resolution was offered as follows:
 Resolved, that the mayor be- auth orized and empowered to appoint a committee. for the purpose of making a survey of the public passenger trans portation requirements of the city and for the purpose of ascertaining the reasonable fare to be charged for such service.
 Resolved, that to carry. out such purposes, said committee be author ized and empowered to incur reason able expense not to exceed $250 for collecting data on said subjects and for securing an appraisement of the value of the investment of the Con- necticut company in the city of New Britain and such other information as may be required for ascertaining the costs of the operation of the Con- necticut company per person in New Britain, and
 Resolved, that said committee make report to the common council as to it's findings as to the traffic route requirements of said city and costs of transportation and It's recommenda- tions as to routes and as to fares to be charged"
 Alderman George H. Wells moved the adoption of that resolution and it was adopted unanimously. Councilman M. F. King moved ad- journment of the meeting.