The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-11
Many Towns May Lose \
 Service
For Interests of Public More Jitney Routes May Be Established Here.

Ruin of the entire unified fare system is the basis of the opposition of the Connecticut Company to the five cent fare in Bridgeport AS g. re- suit of the disruption, General Coun- Sel George D. Watrous of New Haven, told the Public Utilities Commission here yesterday that street railway ser vice may be lost to several towns in the state. President L. c. Storrs and MT. Watrous objected strenuously to l granting the lower fare here, and in, formed the commission that it would | be utterly impossible to operate the road on the five cent basis, either as | test of otherwise.
 Despite the protestations of the street railway executives, the lower fare undoubtedly will be given. at least a trial in Bridgeport. The federal trustees of the company, from whom the order must come, are not in favor of granting the reduction, but have announced their willingness to do so if they are so instructed by the commission.
 While the Public Utilities Comnis- sion made no announcement yester- day as to their decision, save to state they would make known their ruling on next Tuesday or Wednesday, Chairman Richard T. Higgins, in a re- cet letter to the trustees, clearly made kown the commissions position.
 'The ten cent fare does not bring the necessary revenue" Chairman Highs said in his letter of October l cannot manage to supply service in Brid dgeport without continuing loss, there is only one alternative.
 "I would suggest as an experiment or test for a limited period of time, the adoption of a five cent fare with out transfer on all city lines radiat- ing from the center of the city
 'This might on certain lines neces- sitate a change of the outer zone point. The revenues and expenses of such an operation in the city Of
 Bridgeport and for the Bridgeport division to be, carefully kept separate sidered in connection with the cost and maintenance of the Bridgeport division.
 "Such an experiment could not put the company in a much worse condi- tion than now exists. and in the ab- sence of some prompt action or relief in Bridgeport. the commission will feel obliged in the interests of the public to authorize additional jitney routes and grant additional certifi- cateS.'
 Hartford, Conn.,. Nov. 1.-The Pub lie Utilities Commissions decision on lower fares for Bridgeport which will be rendered early next week, will probably be an indication of the com missions attitude toward lower trol- ley fares in general" Richard IT. Hfg- gins, chairman of the Commission, said 
 would not be considered an excep- tiona1 case as to lower trolley fares.
 Asked if the experiment at Nor walk, where a five cent fare was put into effect last Sunday on the line between Norwa1k and South Norwalk, would have any effect on the com mssion's decision for Bridgeport, Chairman Higgins said he thought it would not. T doubt whether we will have information on Norwalk by that time that can be applied to Bridgeport or other cities" he said.
 Chairman Higgins did not wish to discuss details about the Bridgeport situation, but made it clear that other communities of the state would be borne in mind wheE 8 decision was rendered for Bridgeport. It is not understood that if lower fare is ordered for Bridgeport that the same thing will be done for other communi- ties at once, but rather that the lower fare order will call for an experiment in Bridgeport, the results of which will call be used to determined whether the commission will order lower fares for other communities.