New Britain herald., 1924-07-28
CAR FARE. BOOST
 HELD REASONABLE
?. U. Commission Decides in
 Favor of Conn. Co.

neetieut company. whereby thre'
 tokens are given for twenty-five
 cents are not unreasonable, Th'
 petitions of the cities of Hartford
 New Haven, Waterbury, New Bri
 ain, and Stamford. which claimed
 hat the rates were too high ant
 asked for a reduction, are denied,
 Higher Bridgeport Fare,
 The commission further findl
 that the token fares in Bridgeport
 md adjoining communities should
 be increased from seven and one
 half cents ar two tokens for fifteen
 cents. to eight and one-third cents
 or three tokens for twenty-five cents. The petition of the connee.
 lieut. company for these changes in
 Bridgeport ia granted.
 The commission also rules that ii is not justified at this time 10 make any arbitrary segregation Of the Connecticut eoipany's railway sys. tenn or 10 change the existing divisional lines,
 The decision was reached after briefs had been filed by the cities interested and by the Connecticut company.
 Lists Changes in Fares.
 The commission in It's findings shows that on October 20. 1920, the maximum rate of road allowed to be charged by the Connecticut company was ten cents, except in the New London division. On Mo- vember 1. 1921. the company es- abolished maximum fare in its New London division of ten cents. onr March 1. 1922. It. is furthe pointed out, the Connecticut com pany. while still retaining Its max mum cash ten cent fare. volun- tarily reduced its fares by the use of tokens. selling three tokens for twenty-fve cents.
 On April 1. 1923. the company made a further voluntary reduc- ton. of its token fares from three for twenty-five cents to two for ff- teen cents.
 On April 1. 1923. a five cent radial zone fare. without transfer, in the city of Bridgeport, was changed to a maximum cash fiat fare of ten cents and token fare of seven and one-half cents or two tokens for fifteen cents. This resulted in a uniform rate of fares on the com- pany's entire system, excepting in Norwalk, with this distinction, that adjoining communities were es tablished by the public utilities com- mission and could not be increased without its approval, while all other I, rates.
 Claimed Fare Unreasonable.
 The claims of the petitions were that the 8 Ia cent token fare is unreasonable whether the value of the company's property. its revenues and expenses be considered as an entity, or solely with relation to the several cities filing petitions and the lines and territories con- nected herewith and tributary thereto; that principle or plan of | segregated operating and accounting divisions for the company's entire system should be ordered by the com- mission. The arrangements to be in- cluded with such divisions were not set forth.
 nCIeISe OI company.
 The Connecticut company claimed that the 8 1-3 cent token rate of fare is no more than just and is less than what the company is con- additionally entitled to earn as a fair return upon the fair value of its property devoted to the public service; in the fixation of rates, the company should be considered as an entire system and to segregate the system into separate oper- ating and accounting divisions, other than the present divisions and to the { extent they now maintain, is not { necessary. is disadvantageous to the public welfare and illegal.
 Company's 1923 Income.
 Included in the commissions re- port is an income statement of the Connecticut company as whole for the year ending December S1, 1923. This shows that the company re- ceived from all sources of revenue bout $14,7so,Ooo; that the wages, of property, power and general expenses were s11,673, 900: he federal state ana municipal axes amounted to $577,oOO. This eft, according to the report, bal lnce available for depreciation, re- urn on property and reasonable sur ,lus of s2.s3O,0O0.
 Lower Fare; Less Income.
 The revenues for the year 1923, he report continues, were about '275,oo0 more than in 1922, but he expenses increased s513,00O, so hat the balance available for de- etc., was about s256,O00 eas than in 1922. The increase in evenue for 1923, the report con- inues. is found in the first five 1onths of that year when the 1-3 ent token fare was in force. The last even months of that year, during hich time the 71z cent token fare 'as in force throughout the state, in- luding Bridgeport, shows a decrease | revenues of s20o,O00. and an in rease in expenses of s4t0,000, as ompared with the same months of he year 1922. The result was de- rease in gross income for that per ,d at rate of $S4,oOo month, or a ecrease at the rate of about s1,O0O,- DO a year, compared with 1929.
 Owes State Back Taxes.
 The company still owes the state Connecticut nearly sS02,000 in verdue and unpaid taxes. The ompany also owes an assessment 'r the construction of the Wash gton bridge over the Housat onic yer, amounting to s4S7,000.
 In reference to the proposed re- -ouping of the system into other and arcnuntino di,.ieiona