New Britain herald., 1924-01-29
THE UTILITIES COMMISSION.

THE UTILITIES COMMISSION.
 Mayor Paonessa must have felt
 himself in delicate position when g
 communication reached him from the l Mayor of Bridgeport. asking if New
 Britain would share in the expense oi | employing an expert on trolley trans 1 portation matters to aid in presenting
 before the public utilities commission
 the case for those opposed to the fare ] increase. The Mayor appreciates, as
 all who have followed the fare discus
 sion appreciate, that the aid Of such ! an expert would be of inestimable
 value if there is any hope of chang
 ing tho decision Of the commission, 1 reached, 1t is to be presumed, after i due consideration and study. But the 1 question arises at onco should such services of an expert bc necessary be- fore board such as the utilities com mission? True it Is that the Connec-
 ticut company always has onp two or three "cNpprts' present at public [ hearings, to say nothing of President Storrs who has these matters at his
 finger tips or on his lips to present the comranys side Of the case And true it ls. also, that those who are not
 experts in such matters pro apt to
 make a poor showing arrayod against
 such talent as the company has at it's disposal
 Bnt just the hint of suspicion comes that the arguments of tho com
 pany's experts are aimed at the pub lie rather than at the commission, the
 members Of which are well yerscd in all the companys affairs. The com
 panN in d slight effort To show the
 peopla its needs, marshais only inc choicest facts--gr granted they are facts --tending 10 convince the dear people that il Is asking only what is right and proper II Is ones idea that the members of the commission know ali about these facts before they are pre- sented by the counsel for the com pany.
 Were the public utilities commls- sion exactly like a court of justice
 formed aud maintainrd to hear dis putes between the people within its Jurisdiction and decide upon the facts proven in open court and upon noth- ing else, DO matter what the judges might know from personal obsorva- ton. then the propriety of counsel for thc company and for the people who object to any certain action of tho company. might be quite proper. But the utilities commission occupies DO such position. lis duty IS To take care ot the people in the matter aof trans p0rtatiOn; to see 10 it's that they are given proper transportation and that their needs are filled in q proper way and al a proper cost. The commis- sion. in other words. should be far more jealous ot line inter-, sts of the people and should givr tbr people the benefit Of tho doubt Nhan there comes a question between tbe coniFaay and those opposing some ac' of fhe conn psHy. This. iu theory Of course.
 Undoubtedly. in granting faro iu- creasas. the memJ,rs of thc commits . sion feel that they are. in fact. taking care of the people by taking care of i the company Hhich sarte= he people If there remains any qur stioH tn the minds Of the members 0f the com mission as 10 the propriety oi the request. or any doubt as to the correctness of the compauy's fig ures as presented To the commission by the company's able experts. n 1 should bs the duty Of the commission | Co go over the books Of the company l and to ascertain for themselves the l facts in the case. This duty. Of course. l never rests upon a judge Of court 1 Of las.
 Tn theory. then. il is quite proper l for ths mayor of e city 10 rely upon the knowledge and the investigations 7 Of the public utilities commission 1 without the ai1 of an expert employed | by those opposed to the company's l actions. And. ], would seem. that members Of the utilities commission