New Britain herald., 1923-03-01
scent TROLLEY fare
fight in ASSEMBLY
Conn. Go. Has Lost Public Con-
HdenCe, Is One Statement

Hartford, March 1.-The hve-cen
trolley fare question came before TN
legislative committee on RAILROADS
yesterday afternoon on bills from
Stamford for such a rate, and o.
Senator McGrath of Waterbury, Il
make the rate general In the state
Although the hearing was In The
house of representatives. chamber
the attendance Was not large. The
McGrath bill TO prohibit the use OF
one-man trolley cars was also heard
and there are other bills to be heard
on this subject today,
Senator McGrath spoke in behalf
OF his own iiye-cent fare bill. He
said that jitneys came into use In
1916 when a five-cent fare prevailed
on the trolleys. There was no law
to regulate jitneys and local ordi-
nances were used to rerouto them TO
remove them as competitors of the
trolleys Then, he said, the trolley
fares went TO six cents. The legis-
lature then regulated the iitneys
and trolley fares went to seven,
eight and ten cents. The last legisla-
ture eliminated the jitneys generally
on the plea that the trolley COM
pany might live, give service and re-
duce fares. The senator said that
in 1928, the jitneys We're off the
streets, the trolley service was not
good and fares were high Petitions
for relief sent to the public utilities
commissions were without avail, he
declared.
What is the trouble >" asked the
senator.
well, III tell you he said, max
ing his own reply, "the trouble is,
and will be. that the company has
lost public confdence--its biggest
asset What can we do to restore
confidence? The public utilities
commission has acted as wet
nurse for the Connecticut company,
feeding it bottle and all. Yet the
company has not the public conf
hurt the company but to restore
public confidence.
Mr.. McGrath said that in his home
town there were hundreds of men,
earning So to 81 a day and living
in the suburbs, who are forced to
pay 40 cents day trolley care, or
the equivalent of one hour of their
labor to the Connecticut company
He declared that these men had to
get relief in order to support their
families properly.
How do they get relief? They
60 home and talk it over with the
family and decide they must have
cheaper transportation. This has to
be an automobile. They figure up
the cost of trolley fares and then
of certain make of automobile
and buy the machine There are 500
of this type of machine owned in
Waterbury; 1000 in New Haven and
LOO in Hartford. The trolley com
pany loses the support of the fam
lilies who own those machines"
Force Buying of Autos
The senator estimating the loss IN
Inc company from the number of per-
sens owning automobiles, said: when
a person goes looking for a house the
hrst inquiry usually is as to a garage. |
The intended purchased wants trans
portation. Now then, this shows that
the public has lost confidence in the
trolley company. What has the com.
pany done 10 restore confidence? 1t |
Is too late now People are educated
to look for some other means of
No longer are street |
cars crowded on Sunday. Everybody
Is riding in autom obiles, some OF |
which can be bought for 500 down
and the balance on a note. How will |
the trolley company make money
when the people will not use the
cars?"
Senator McGrath said the trolley |
company ought to watch the motor
vehicle department. His bill, he
thought, would restore among the |
public that confidence which the |
has lost and which money
cannot buy"
Mayor Phillips, of Stamford, sup
ported the bill, going back in his
argument to the Boston Tea Party to
show how the people rid themselves
of grievous burdens which became
TOO heavy. He said the Stamford
people by the referendums had de-
clared themselves for az five-cent fare,
and the common council was so on |.
record. He asked: IF a stage
coach could not be subsidized why
should any other means of trans
portation be subsidized? ! say sub
sidized because remonstrance in
Stamford against taking off a bus
inc was without avail before the
Public Utilities commission. Why
should the citizens of Stamford take
money out of their pockets to subsi.
lie a dying company? The time is
coming when these antique relics
,rolley cars--will be thrown over
BOARD"
Mayor Phillips said he asked Mr..
storrs to permit experiments with
buses on certain lines, but Mr.. Storrs
'efused. The mayor was asked by
chairman DePeyster if there had been
in appeal to the commission or courts.
fhe mayor answered that the people
,eem to expect to "groan, under their
BURDENS" Our idea" he said, lis to
protect the people SO that they will
Tot have to groan, and protect most
hose who need ii most
OPPOSE MODERN THEOLOGY