Putnam patriot., 1929-07-25
TATEM STARTS CABS
 IN THREE CITIES
Counsel Raises Question of Va lidity of Law as Signed By
 Governor
No Action Taken To Prevent Con-
 tinuAnee of Business

James B. Tatem. Putnam 20-ce taxi operator. whose petition Co oper- ate taxis in Willimantic, Manchester and Middlet0wn was refused by the Public Utilities Commission. has started running his cabs again in these three cities. Operations were resumed following an opinion of At torney Benedict Holden of Hartford. retained by Mir. Tatem to take charRe of his legal rights in the matter. No action has been taken by local author ities in any of the three cities where Mir. Tatem's petition to operate was denied 70 prevent the continuance of the business.
 Attorney Holden has raised the point that the new law regarding the operation of taxicahs under the su- pervision of the Public Utilities Com mission fails of effect because the bill was signed by Governor Trumhull af- ter the time limit set forth in the constitution of Connecticut had elaps- ed. It was under this statute. which provides that operators of taxicabs. who started business since the first of January. must first show that public HtNtfSitf anu N1HNtHttitt uNHiaAo that they so operate. that Mir. Ia tem's petition was refused.
 Deciding Case
 There is q case now awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court of Err TOTS which will be decided upon the same point raised by the attorney for Mir, Tatem. The ease is known as the State of Connecticut vs. McCook. and involves the right of the state to con- demn land It is believed that this opinion may be handed down today. | If it unholds the contention that bills signed by the governor after the time set forth in the constitution has elaps- ed are null and void. 1t is said that it will be Of far-reaehing effect and that some POO laws now on the statute book will be affected thereby.
 MT. Tatem has been quoted in a manner which implies that he Is in a belligerent mood. He has. however, been quoted as saving that this is not the fact. but that he does intend to assert his legal rights to continue in the legitimate business he started both before the first of the year and since January 1st The Putnam busi- ness. the nucleus of the chain of taxieab operations was started last October and therefore does not come under the ruling. The petition to op- crate in Putnam has been granted.
 Circulate Petitions
 Mir Tatem has asked the Public Utilities Commission for re-hearin@. If such rehearsing is granted Mir. Hol- den will appear for Mr. Tatem. In the meantime il is said petitions are in circulation by both Mir Tatem and other taxicab operators in the cities where Mir. Tatem wishes to operate One petition favors the continuance of Mir. Tatem's taxicab operations while the other petition opposes such operation. These petitions will be used. it is assumed, to show, on the one hand. that public necessity and convenience does require the operation of the Tatem taxicabs, and on the other hand that it does not.
 The constitution sets forth that a bill passed by both houses of the state legislature shall be signed and return ed by the governor within three days Sundays excepted. after being pre- sented to him. If not so signed and returned it shall become q law in like manner as if he had signed it, "un- less the General Assembly, by thelr adjournment, prevents it's return m which case it shall not be a law"