New Britain herald., 1922-03-23
BRIDGEPORT FARE HEARING

BRIDGEPORT FARE HEARING
 President Lucius $. Storrs, or the Connecticut company is reported 10 nave said at the trolley fare hearing in Bridgeport yesterday, that until the time comes when the transportation corporation can be designated as sole medium of transportation the com munty must suffer through higher fares.
 There is but one sure way for the Connecticut company to bring apou' its designation as 'the sole medium of transportation
 That way is by reducing fares and giving good service.
 If the Connecticut company would do this the travelling public itself would designate" the company as the sole medium of transportation. The public would patronize it to the ex- clusion of other methods of transpor- tation.
 There would be no need for ap- peals to the public utilities commls- sion. The matter would regulate it. self.
 Other methods of bringing revenue to the company have been tried. Par tial elimination of the jitneys has brought it increased revenues and in creasing antagonism on the part Of the people.
 The lower fare method would bring elimination of the jitneys, whether the people liked it or not, and increasing good will, instead of antagonism, on the part of the people.
 There is a great asset within the grasp of the Connecticut company That asset is public good will. It Is slipping farther and farther from the company. Soon there is danger that it will be beyond the companys reach The public demand, not only in Ne" Britain but in many other cities, for lower fare is growing tremendously.
 Today is the time for the company to seize that slipping asset. If it gets beyond reach, if the public demand is not recognized now, there is danger that the public demands for other means of transportation will become so strong that it will prevail Whether or not the public would suffer if such demand for other transportation is granted eventually to the total anni- hilation of the trolley company, is a question quite beside the point. The good or harm will. have been done Action by the company then will be too late.
 To raise a questionable point, to advance an argument that may be de- feated, is but to weaken the case of the person who raises such point. For this reason it is unwise to base a claim for lower fares entirely upon 
 the facts apparently sound that more money has been taken in under the lower rate in Bridgeport and in Nor walk than was received under the ten cent fare. This argument which seems so unanswerable to the layman who has not the whole data at hand might be answered by figures and facts compiled by company experts which figures and facts could not be controverted by the people because of lack of means and ability and time and facilities for going into them as thoroughly as would be necessary to meet the company's case.
 Granted that the company is seek ing the proper rate-in its own inter- est if you will. In it's own interest the company should seize then cherish, it's greatest asset--the good will of the people. It can gain that good will by lowering the fare. It can cherish that good will by giving good service. Then the matter of competition would eliminate itself and the company would become practically the sole means of transportation" the conn pany would prosper, and the people would no longer suffer through high CT fares"
 The vital point is that now is the time to accomplish all this. Delay is likely to bring the tragic words Too late"