New Britain herald., 1922-12-09
rRoLLEY FARES.

iates to reduction Of trolley iarcs Pto
 cecds to beautifully beg the ques
 tion." Its conclusions are reached pc
 cause 1t bases it's whole argument or
 fts own answer to disputed fact. Il takes for granted that reduction ol
 trolley fares means a reduction o'
 revenue. No conclusions based on ar
 assumption which may or may mol
 be true may be taken as unquestion- ably sound It is possible to gran' that the conclusion of the report
 namely that a reduction in fares would be unwise at this time, is prop CT if it is granted, also. that its major premise is proper. But no such assumption may be made. Many people believe. as Henry Ford be- lieves incidentally, that in certain To- calities a reduction of fares would mean an increased revenue.
 This has been the case in Bridge port and Norwalk. This fact is ad- rnitted by the report and it is to be noted that the fare in those cities has not been raised from the "triaI' i've cent fare. Why?
 But the report seeks to nullify the effect of this admission by stating that: "The present rates, however, provide a revenue below an amount which would afford a reasonable re- turn on the investment or fair value of the plant" And yet the report has just said that .the experimental flat rate fares without transfers privilege in Bridgeport and Norwalk show an increased revenue in those two com munities over prior revenues when unregulated jitney competition had reduced the company's revenue to a minimum" But the fact re- mains, contradicting the whole as- sumption upon which the report is based, that the revenue has been greater under the reduced fare!
 Before leaving this point it should be said that the report makes the finding of fact--another matter in dispute-that There is no other pop- ulous center in Connecticut where all these conditions exist (conditions adapting themselves to a fiat fare plan) and it Is very doubtful if the installation of the flat five or six cent fare without transfer privilege would give satisfaction in the other large cities, taking the cities as a whole" But must the commission take the cities as whole? Certain peculiar conditions exist in Bridgeport and Norwalk, says the report, lending themselves to this reduced fare. The commission leaves the fare at five cents there. It is contended-and the point has been made before the com- mission--that the geographical situ- ation in New Britain, where people pass through the center from one point to another point is very similar to that in Norwalk where the travel is between two centers. New Britain is just as well adapted to the flat five cent fare rate as is Norwalk.
 But the matter which taints the whole report in regard to trolley fares is that assumption that reduced fares must make reduced income. And here is the important point of the whole argument based upon ques- tionable premises. Granted that tha Connecticut company must continue to make as much money as it is now making, if one will. Granted all the things the report finds-that the well fare of the communities, etc, de- bends upon prosperous transportation facilities, or words to that effect. The Herald contends that reduced fares here will make the company more prosperous. Forget "the people" if one will Let the company refrain from considering their welfare. Still even from this selfish viewpoint the Connecticut company would gain in revenue if it reduced the fares in New Britain over the short hauls, just as it has gained in Norwalk and in Bridgeport The trouble is that the company and the Commission do not wish to extend the lower fare to other cities-small cities-because that would create a demand and a reason, in peoples minds, why it should ob- tain everywhere. The Herald is ready to admit that it is possible the fiat five-cent fare would not produce greater revenue in certain cities--but it is not ready to admit it would fall to do so in New Britain.
 Tho report made one slip which dIscloses the attitude of mind of those this matter. It modifies its by saying that it takes the cities as a whole" A few words, | written at the dictates of the sub-con-