New Britain herald., 1922-02-24
THI. FARE HEARING


 hearing before the public utilitie
 commission in Hartford yesterda.
 was that the commission should re
 fuse the petition of New Britain fol
 a six-cent fare within the city limits
 because the petitioners had produced
 no evidence, other than guesswork. tc
 substantiate their claim that the six.
 cent fare would work to the ad-
 vantage of both the company and the
 people of New Britain, and that six
 cents was a fair rate for the short
 runs, two of which are only mile
 or less in length, two, mile and a
 half one, two miles, and the other
 two miles and half.
 The legal rules of evidence do not
 apply to such a hearing. The powers
 of the commission are more than
 Judicial Notwithstanding these facts
 the petition was supported by evil
 dence.
 It was shown by witnesses under
 oath that the. public sentiment here
 is such that many people refuse to
 ride on the trolley at present because of their conception of the company's attitude, who would ride were the company to grant the reduced rate. Qualified experts testified under oath that, in their opinion (and the learn ed counsel for the company will ad- init that the opinion of qualified ex- perts is not deemed "guesswork" even in court of law) the receipts of the company under the sx-cent fare in this city would be greater than they are under the ten cent fare or than they would be under the three-for-a quarter rate. Testimony was given that the situation of the New Britain center, through which pass, or to which come trolley patrons or pros- pective trolley patrons go, made con- ditions similar to the situation in Norwalk on the 1 1-2 mile run on which the five-cent fare has proven success for the company. Argumenta- lively it may be added that it makes no difference where the magnet is, in relation to a run which draws travel If the attraction of one magnet in this case the New Britain center is equal to the sum of the power of any other two magnets, namely the points at the termini of the short Norwalk run, the travel will be the same. Whether or not such equality exists is matter of opinion. II is believed such equality does exist.
 It was shown to be the interpreta- tion of the law, given by the Corpor- ation Council under oath, that the utilities commission had broader powers under a recent law than un- der that which governed former de- cisions: that the public necessity and welfare went to the essence of what | fare is reasonable since the altered | language of the statute was adopted. | There was testimony, under oath, by | witnesses especially qualified to know public sentiment here, as to that public sentiment here and now, as contrasted to public sentiment here 1t other times and public sentiment h in other places.
 To meet this evidence, material and relevant in q court of law, the Con- lecticut company introduced evidence IS to failures Of trials of another l are, lower still, incidentally, in New Britain at other times, in other locali- I ies and cities, under other condi- t ions; it introduced statements of { ailures of other arrangements both t lere and in other places and it Irgued for another interpretation of f he law, not given under oath, if c memory serves r The Connecticut company ntro- r uced no evidence as to the success or c allure of the exact plan proposed, n he working Of the exact fare sought, nywhere or at any time. It intro- C uced no evidence as 10 the public 0 eminent in New Britain now This, C ] the final analysis, is the test. The d ood will of the people is necessary } the success Of the company. 1t Ia lay gain that good will in no way W ther than by granting the city's peti- al on willingly through prompt, cffec- W ve obedience to the order of the tc ublic utilities commission. IL A witness for the company was Il ;ked by the Corporation Counsel of fe CIV Britain if there was not some ys re, between five and ten cents which II ould bring in the greatest possible |di venue. The Company's representa- W ,e replied That's what we are af- tr r." The evidence at the hearing sub pt initiated the claim that such rate co