New Britain herald., 1921-07-07
Edward French, With $27, 900 Invested In West Main St. Route, Plans Appeal
Representative Arthur N. Rutherford to Champion Jitneys if Connecticut Go. Cannot Give Satisfactory Transportation.

The action of the public utilities commission in ruling off all jitneys on local lines, except the Stanley-Chap- man street route and the Arch Street. Shuttle Meadow route, effective July Is, has caused a furore in the city second to none in which the public has been directly interested in a long time.
 That the decision may be resisted, at least in the case of the West Main street ruling, is a pertinent possibil- ity and unless the trolley company at once proceeds to give a service as convenient. speedy, dependable and ing court action is most likely to fol- low.
 Wants Good Service.
 Representative A. N. Rutherford has expressed himself strongly in fav- or of any action whatsoever that will provide adequate transportation serv- ice for the public Mayor Orson F. Curtis expressed regret at the ruling. holding to the opinion that the public is being compelled to undergo a hardship because, he thinks. the Jit- neys aSe almost a necessity. Ex-Mayor George A. Quigley blamed the trol. ley company entirely for all the trou- ble, because of the poor service given in the past.
 Appeal to Be Taken.
 Attorney Albert A. Greenberg, counsel for Edward French, who operates the West Main street route. this afternoon had a conference with his client and made the assertion that. an appeal will be taken from the de- cision of the utilities commission MT French has $27 .o0o tied up in his jitney business and this will be a total loss, under the ruling" Lawyer Greenberg said, "and most certainly an appeal will be taken"
 Representative Arthur N. Ruther- ford who, at the time the public util- ities commission gave hearings to jit- ney men in this city, appeared as a staunch advocate of better service for the publicly the jitneys if ob- tainable no other way" today gave out statement expressing his views on the matter in no uncertain terms Representative Rutherford declared that the intent of the law, and it is Expressed definitely, provides that where public necessity demands serv- ice it is up to the public utilities to provide that needed service. Up to the present time, the trolley company has shown no indi- cation that it will give the, excellent service that has been rendered by the jitneys, and unless it does, and at once, action shclld be started to obtain this service by the jitneys.
 In commenting on the matter, Rep resentative Rutherford made it very plain that he was not out "gunning for the Connecticut company or act ing as a champion of any individual jitneur All he is after, he main tains, is the best of service for the public and if the trolley company cannot or will not give it, then let the jitneys do it.
 Unless the public utilities conn mission notifies the Connecticut com pany to give service as good as the jitneys and trolleys at present give, and possibly at a reduced rate, then it is time to take legal action and steps toward an injunction restrain ing the utilities commissions order rom becoming effective may be asked and a test case instituted
 Following is the public utility ruling .n refusing to permit Edward French to maintain ais fleet of five auto busses on West Main street:
 ''In this case the applicant made four separate applications for certificate of public convenience and necessity to operate a number or itneys over four separate routes in he City of Ne Britain, as per ap- olications on file, combined ana numbered 3s, will fully appear.
 After public hearings had, the is of opinion and finds hat existing transportation facilities Ire adequate to take care of the present demand for transportation over the route specified, and con- ,idering all the facts in this case, and following the principles laid down in he Manchester case of Perrett & 1lenney, we are of opinion and find hat public convenience and neces- ,ity do not require the operation of
 (Continued on Eleventh Pare1