New Britain herald., 1924-07-30
THEORY AND PRACTICE

IL Is said of the Connecticut com
 pany that 1t could not forego the opnr-
 alton Of losing trolley lines in small
 towns without permission of the legis- lature. which in turn Is under the
 domination of the small towns. The
 Waterbury Republican. in saying the recent decision of the Public Utilities Commission fshould permanently set- tie the question of splitting up the Connecticut company unless the cgis- lature authorizes the abandonment of lot of non-paying lines" adds that, With the legislature in the control of the small towns that is not likely to happen"
 but from a practical standpoint the Connecticut company apparently does not think 1t needs the supervision of the legislature to abandon a line if it really has mind to do so. The worst that can happen to street car com pany in case it abandons line is to lose the franchise; and as no lines are abandoned unless loss is shown on the books. to lose the franchise of non-paying line Is losing something in the nature of cipher with the rim knocked off"
 Whom dld the Connecticut Con- pany ask for permission when it abandoned the Arch street line in New Britain? Neither the legislature or the utilities commission. The com- pany merely quit; the tracks and troll ley poles are still on the right of way. The franchise to run cars along this line evidently has been abandoned, but 1t is dollars to doughnuts that if the company suddenly again wanted to operate cars along Arch street it would simply start to operate; and if there were fuss about it, it is likely | that either the utilities commission 1 or the legislature would confirm the action.
 Whom did the Connecticut com rsny ask for permission to abandon the Asylum street line in Hartford re- gently. over which there was such fuss, and substitute busses? Certain ly not the legislature, as it wasn't in session; and if permission was asked of the utilities commission, careful reading of the newspapers at the time failed to disclose it.
 In abandoning lines 1t really wants 10 abandon. the Connecticut Co. can be relied upon to take the initiative if 1t wishes to do so. It probably would be difficult thing in practice to force the Connecticut company to operate s line in small town if it insisted on letting go. The company would have sufficient money in it's strong box to hire a few good lawyers to interpret the law and read it to such officials
 
 a general thing. there is no way to force company or individual to give service at proven loss, and for a legislature or 8 utilities commission to attempt it would be depriving citizens of property without due process of law, which is contrary to the constitution.
 The Connecticut company does not wish to abandon non paying lines in small towns; and it is not deterred from abandoning them by the legisla- ture It wishes to hold on to the small town trolleys and await developments and can afford to do so with present fares. Had tho utilities commission ruled against if in the recent fare case the proba bilities are that there would have been some quick action by the company with regard to the non-pay- , ing small town lines, the legislature !, notwithstanding But with the Re- publican machine in control of the !, legislature, and the Connecticut com- pany not Hn enemy of the machine, there would have been precious small chance of any fireworks about 1t.
 NATIONAL DEFENSE r