New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-07-16

v
Corporation in making another reduc-
ton In rents that it owns is COM
mendable and worthy of the special
mention given it in the press. In brief:
About 1870 families, hard hit by the
industrial depression, have had their
financial burden lightened by about
10 per cent insofar as rent charges
are concerned. When it is again called
to mind that this is the third such
reduction the corporation has made
since the first of the year one can
readily understand and believe that
1t Is governed by a board Of direc-
tors who are not only good business
men, but Also honest and conscien-
tious.
Unfortunately however, this action
cannot he heralded as general about
the city. True, many landlords have
reduced their rents and no mention
has ever ben made of 1t. In their in
dividual cases virtue has been it's own
reward. But how many more have not
reduced their rents and how many
have sought to increase them or keep
the latest increases effective! A fair
return on investment is to be expected
and when taxes are increased the
landlord should expect to get a
ants; but it is unfair and unjust for
him to levy an assessment that not
only pays the increasinged taxation.
but also adds a bit more to his pocket.
And this has been done.
And while on the subject OF prices:
we have all read with as much SYM
pathy as interest in the movement
80
obtain a reduction in the price charg-
ed for ice cream sodas. In Boston the
price of ice cream is also subject for
public protests and there is a move
to have it declared a food necessity
$50 that under that heading the price
charged might be regarded as too
much. But here how is it The price
of milk has been lowered somewhat
from war time peak prices. The price
of sugar is away, away down. The cost
| of syrupS is also less and we all know
that the price paid labor is less With
these facts in mind it will take a lot
| of explaining on the part of those
Swho dispense ice creams, college ices,
sundaes, ice cream sodas, ETC., to
prove to the satisfaction of the public
where they are entitled to charge such
such exorbitant prices as 20 and 25
cents for the more palatable dishes
Of ice cream and Is cents for the
old fashioned ice cream soda that
used to cost nickel and once in a
while dime at the more exclusive
stores.
| The jitney muddle has been too
we'll aired to need added comment in
this column, but fact that seems to
have escaped the notice of a good
many might be touched upon. Origin
ally the committee on cities and
boroughs was to handle the trolley
situation and, it has been said. this
| committee was almost hand picked
with a view to eliminating the jitneys
In favor Of the electrics. This, how
ever, became unwise as a storm of
sentient in favor of jtneys was
seen gathering on the horizon. What
happened next? Our astute managers
of pubic affairs fix up the laws a bit
and pass the buck on to the public
utilities commission which, it has been
said, is more or less Of "hand pick
ed" organization and most decidedly
not unfriendly to the trolley COM
pany But there is yet more. While
|attention of many legislators and GER
tainly the public was attracted to
other quarters a legislative committee
slipped over-a measure providing fol
Especial licenses for jitneys. The result
is that all jitneys must have a specia
license and, it would apper to the
layman, the Connecticut company ha!
got them going and coming. If by an,
slip up or appeal the jitneyman keep:
running and cannot be temperate,
halted by the public utilities com
mission ruling, then the police depart