New Britain herald., 1921-07-09
400 COMMUTERS
 WILL ORGANIZE
Continued from First Pase.)

off the streets after July IA. the same date that jitneys have been or dered off most of the principal streets of New Britain. The Commuters as- sociation has thrown down the eaunt- let to the utilities commission in real earnest and their fighting blood is up to a boiling point. .If Perrett and Cheney can't find a driver to operate a buss on the streets that day." said Selectman w. B. Rogers. referring to July IS, T will drive a car myself. The remark was greeted with enthusiastic applause.
 The meeting was opened by Ma thias Spies of Hartford, chairman of the Commuters association. Repre- sentative James R. Vietch was sec retary. MT. Spies went into the early history of vehicular traffic and road maintenance and advised his. hearers that it would be necessary to fight for their rights, but he said, it meant fight in a civilized and Christian way by means ofs the courts and not bv violence We have shown the puh- lie utilities commission we are not afraid of them," he said we have won out so far and we will win ont again.
  ject of a Commuters club, explained some of it's objects and the method of carrying them out The plan is a simple one. The club simply buys the jitney lines, each member buying a share of stock or d membership in the club. This stock or member ship, whatever is decided upon, will carry with it card emitting the holder to ride on the busses of which he is a part owner. Final details will be worked out by a committee, of which MT. Rogers is the head and reported at the next meeting to be held Monday evening. Bert Perrett, of the Perrett and Cheney company told how jitneys operated by Edward French, of New Britain and others in different parts of the state have been handed the same raw deal by the commission He said there are places where jit- neys have been barred from streets which are one mile from trolley He said there was not much to be gained by depending upon an appeal, because the appeal would not come up before the December term of court and decision probably would not be handed down until January or February. He said ne had consult: ed legal advice upon the club propo- sition and found it was not a viola tion of the law.
 Herald Is Cheered.
 A statement by Selectman Rogers that the New Britain Herald had taken a stand in this city on the side of the people and the jitneys, was greeted with applause. Do you suppose demanded Mr. Rogers. ''that the New Britain Herald and all other papers that are interested in this proposition are so interested simply because. they want the busses to run?' NO, they are interested in the issue involved. They are interest ed in the issue of whether or not body of men can hand down any such decision as this and get away with it. I don't care if the Connec- ticut company carries us to Hartford for nothing, as long as a decision like the ones just rendered stands legal I am only interested in whether a body of men can tell Perrett and Cheney or anyone else, You must take your trucks off the street.
 'I have no doubt Perrett and Gle IIIcy VIII De dIIoStou they run their busses,'' continued MT. Rogers. "The Connecticut company has the best legal minds available and is pay ing them fabulous salaries. They will comb the actions of this meeting with fine tooth comb in an effort to find legal flaws in it. But we are ready to fight. If Perrett and Cheney cannot find a driver to operate one n one of them myself
 Lets not bother with the smaller courts,'' continued the speaker. We always get a raw deal in East Hart ford anyway. Lets show the Con- necticut company we have as much money to fight as they have. Let's carry this fight to the superior court and if the decision is adverse, let's go to the supreme court. No matter what they do, let's fight them in the higher courts. Let's get out injunc- tions If necessary
 The public utilities commission isn't feeling any too good over this," said MT. Rogers. The question troubling the members now is whether or not the public utilities commission will be retained. This will be the issue at the election of senators and representatives next election"
 Special Privileges.
 We never expected and never should expect to see such a thing carried out,'' said Former Selectman w. A. Schieldge. Years ago the people raised the funds and main tained the highways. Now the troll ley system gets special privileges from the state and the minute they receive their franchise they become organs for speculation"
 Referring to the trolley charge of 20 cents between Manchester and Hartford, MT. Schieldtse said it ought not to be more than a nickel. "We are paying more for watered stock in running the trolley lines about this state than the original cost of operating the ines.'' added the speaker.