Republican farmer. [volume], July 30, 1920, Image 1

About Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920

Image provided by: Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT

                
I
ALL THE NEWS
THAT'S WORTH
PRINTING
Established A. Q, 1790 Vol.
PONZI IS!
PAYING
BILLS
Boston Wizard Gives
Out a Million Dollars
in a Day to Those With
Claims Story of His
Life Reads Like a Book
of Fiction Tells How
He Got His Great Idea.
Boston, July 29 -Three investiga
tions of the foreign exchange "wiz
ardry" which has enabled Charles
Ponzi to have $13,000,000 in banks,
If his story is true, were under way
today.
Governor Coolidge directed the
.state attorney general to investigate
in conjunction with the federal and
county district attorneys, Ponzi's sys
tem of changing American money inte
depreciated foreign money, buying in
ternational reply coupons and re
deeming them in stamps. It is this
process, Ponzi says, that has enabled
him to double investors' money in 90
His stream of money from invest
ors having been Interrupted pending
Inquiry into his methods, Ponzi con
tinued to repay clients todaq. Yes
terday he paid out more than $1,
000,000 and served coffee and sand
wiches besides. He claims he is
olvent and points with pride to the
fact that he left Italy 13 years ago
with $2.50 and until a year or so ago
was earning $16 a week
This is Ponzi's story of how it hap.
pened:
"For the time) being," lie said, "I
(Jiave ceased operations. Whether I
Shall continue, to be sure, remains to
tie seem There is no law forbidding
my continuing. The United States
government may make a ruling that
will hurt my business, but if I can
not go on as I am I shall go on in
ttre usual manner of the ordinary
banke'r and broker. At the outside I
iowe $3,000,000. I could meet three
times, that arrfount this minute. But
Uet me explain myself.
"The idea which you refer to as the
f'great Idea and which really is not
great, came to me last August. If
came because I was thoroughly
awake and on the lookout for the
lroain chance. Are not you afso doing
Just that, what. I had a scheme to
start an export publication, a pamph
; let or periodical dealing with the
most ordinary xport and import
trade. I wrote to a man in Madrid
asking' lUm certain things that I had
to know about exports, ajnd in reply
I received an (International coupon,
: whioh I was to exchange here in the
iTJnlted States for United States post
were stamps and these stamps I was to
pmrtll to the man in Madritl a. copy of
in y magaslne.
"Perhaps you do not know about
theao ooupons. They are simply In
ternational postal reply coupons, one
'buys them for 6 cents In one's own
wountry and sends them to a corre
spondent In another country. Tpu do
Ithla if you desire to render the cour
itesy of prepaying the postage of the
'letter of correspondence you hope to
receive. They are redeemable in
Stamps at 5 cents each. The sixth
cent goes to the government to pay
pthe expenses of getting them out. Un
derstand?
Well, that coupon I received from
Spain cost, in Spain, the equivalent of
one cent here in America. The rate
of currency exchange differs, yeu
know, in these times. Do you see? I
took that coupon to the United States
post office and there I receivedt the
value of Ave cents for it. That meant
the stamp had yielded 400 per cent
profit.
"I said to myself that I might buy
hundreds, thousands, millions of
these stamps In Spain, France, Italy,
Switzerland and all the new countries
In south and southeast Europ. Then
I planned further. I investigated and
studied forelsn exchange.
"I bought a small amount of the
stamps abroad. I made a neat turn
over. I had little money of my own
and I figured that it was best to make
money in this way while the possl
bllky was here. So I went out
nmong the few men I knew and beg
ged them to let me have their wages,
their earnings and what they could
oninin in loans. 1 worked. It was
hard work. It almost drove me mad
Hero I had an opportunity to make
a legitimate fortune, and I was going
to fail because there would not be
time and I'd have to do it like a pik
er unless someone helped me.
worked all day and all night. Men
laughed at me. They warned me that
I'd go to jail. I knew I was right
and kept looking for a man who
would take a chance or let me take
a chance with his money. I had none
of my own.
"I took one room at 27 School St.
I found a man who said he'd put
money in my schemo if I'd prove its
worth. I had a couple or thousand
dollars and I decided to let it go in
to advertising and office rent. I shot
the roll, as they pay, and the roll
came home. I reality got under way
in December.
"I got a few investors, many of
them my own countrymen. To each
of them I issued a promissory note,
I as I do now, saying they could col
lect In ninety days. Why I pay in
forty-five days I' shall explain pres-.
ently.
"Within a month the few tnousand
dollars increased to fifteen thousand.
Persons who had received 40 or 50
per cent, on tlieir money in two
months naturally told their friends
And their friends came and its like
the story that the wise peasant told
the Caliph who threatened to behead
the poor peasant if he failed to tell
(Continued on Page Eight.)
MIElPXnBMCAM
CXXVIT &jj&HX? SSff
PONZI'S
International reply coupons are actually prepaid post
age. A correspondent on the other side of the ocean
sends a reply coupon so that the person on this side need
not pay postage. They are really postage stamps. Be
cause of the depreciation in foreign exchange they cost
actually one cent in American money in Spain or in oth
er countries. Their face value is 6 cents. Ponzi discov
ered that he could sell them here and in some other na
tions for five cents thus making 400 per cent. He pur
chased, he says, millions of them and gave his clients 50
per cent profit and kept 350 per cent himself.
Originator of new Get-Rich-Quic k company who is said to have made
$8,500,000, in year, wife and mother; Charles Ponzi (insert) head of the
Securities Exchange Company of Bost on, has borrowed money, giving noth
ing but his personal securities in ex change as a guarantee that he will
return the sum borrowed, plus 50 per cent, interest in 45 days. Federal,
state and city authorities have not fo und anything illegal in his enterprise.
k (OU&U
Ponzi Opened Office
JL
In Bridgeport Recently
The Securities Exchange Company
of Boston which pays 50 percent in
45 days. 100 per cent, in 90 days, on
any amount invested, and which is
causing great interest throughout the
financial world at the present time,
has opened a branch office In the
Liberty building in this city. The
office is located in Room 313 and
Charles P. Fox, who came to this
city especially to open the office, is in
charge. W. L. Jarvis, of Boston, is
the district manager. So far offices
have been opened only in New Ha
ven and this city.
Another office will soon be opened
in Hartford and other places in the
state. Up to the present time the
two solicitors have done very little
business in this city because inves
tors have been amazed at the guar
antee of 50 per cent for 45 days and
100 per clit for - 90 days offered by
the company for the loan of money.
Investors believe it is impossible, but
Manager Fox expects there will be
plenty of business vorj soon and af
ter the company gets established.
The manager himself has received a
check of $3,000, but that did not come
from a Bridgeport investor. It was a
Boston man who is willing to take
the chance with Charles Ponzi's meth
od of making money through the dif
ference in foreign exchange rates. This
week, according to Manager Fox, the
solicitors are not working because the
home office in Boston asked that
nothing be done until the audit in the
home office had been comprered.
Next week, according to Mr. Fox,
the local office will be ready to do
business with anyone and he expects
there will be a rush of patrons look
ing for an opportunity of increasing
their holdings.
ROUND UP OF 300
STENOGRAPHERS
Deputy Collector Wallace Smith
has received a telegram from Wash
ington asking that the local post of
fice assist in the rounding up of-. 300
stenographers who are wanted for
permanent positions in Washington.
The entrance salary is J 1,2 00 a year
with a $20 bonus. Anyone capable
of fining said positions and who are
looking for a chance to eo to work
In the White House city should get
in touch with Mr. Smith at once.
M'ADOO WILL
STUMP FOR COX
New Tork, July 29 William G.
McAdoo announced today that he had
consented to make speeches in behalf
of Governor Cox during what, he said
would be a vigorous campaign.
FIRE IN GARAGE.
Fire starting in a pile of rubbish in
the rear of Wheeler & Howes garage
on Congress streets at 12:30 o'clock
this noon did no material damage and
was quickly extinguished by the
chemical crew from Headquarters Co.
BOY MISSING.
The police have been asked to
search for Daniel Sekety, 10, who left
his home at S59 Hallett street, yester
day morning and has not been seen or
heard of since. The youngster was
barefooted and wore a white blouse
and black trousers at the time of his
disappearance.
BRIDGEPORT, CONN., FRIDAY. JULY
SCHEME
SAY HE SWINDLED
MANY WITH FAKE
MONEY MACHINE
Peter Kulesza, of Brooklyn, N. T.,
who was arrested in that city last Sat
urday in company with Stanley Wait
tais on a charge of swindling a local
woman out of $3,200 in the sale of a
fake money making machine, will be
brought back to Bridgeport as soon as
the necessary extradition papers can
be prepared.
Kulesza is wanted in several cities
for a similar offense, ani is alleged
to fiave been mixed up in two money
machine deals here. Wattkus, who
was arrested at the same time, s not
wanted in Bridgeport, but may be ex
tradited to Massachusetts where he is
alleged to have sold a machine.
The outfit which was sold to the
local woman consisted principally of
two small boards and several blotters.
Kulesza placed a bill and a piece of
paper alternately between the boards,
prinkled them with water, which he
said was acid, and then fastened the
beards together. He said that the
acid would transfer the dye on the
bills to the blank papers. The "ma
chine" was then put away for a short
time until the dye had become thor
oughly dry. Upon opening the boards,
the viotim discovered that she had 16
blotters Instead of the expected cash.
Kulesza further explained that
should a person wish to make two
$1,000 bills out of a single of that de
nomination, the dye should be allowed
to -dry for nine hours. The procedure
would give the man plenty of time to
make, a get-away with a large haul.
SEASIDE TRUCK CASE
NOLLED IN COURT
The first arrest for violation at the
city ordinance which provides against
the driving of commercial cars in
Seaside park, took place yesterday
afternoon when Officer Sherwood took
into custody Walter Bernstein, of 71
Capitol avenue. In the city court
this morning. Bernstein explained
that he was taking his wife to the
park in a delivery car. Charges were
nolled upon the payment of costs.
BRING COSGROVE'S
BODY FROM COBLENZ
The body of Private Edward J. Cos-
grbve of Company H. 5Sth Infantry',
IT. S. Army, arrived in the city last
night. Private Cosgrove died in Cob
lenz, Germany, on March 2. 1919, of
pneumonia. He was 26 years of age.
He is survived by his parents, John
W. and Rose Cosgrove of 763 Kossuth
street, also throe sisters, Catherine,
Anna and Rosemary, and one brother.
John. Delegations from the American
Legion and the Women of the World's
War will attend the funeral, which
will be held from the funeral parlors
of Mullins. Scott & Redgate. 193 Gol
den Hill street, on Saturday at S:30
and from St. Charles' church at nine
o'clock. Interment will be in St. Mi
chael's cemetery.
STOLEN IN JITNEY
Nick Cosias, of 54 Kiefer street re
ported to the police today, that $56
was stolen from his pocket this
morning while he was riding in an
Ash Creek jitney. The money was in
'f wallet.
UNLADYLIKE TO
SIT ON FENCE
Morristown, N. J., July 29 At
a dinner given by State Senator
Arthur Whitney at his home near
Ralston, last night, to a number
of State Republican leaders. Mrs.
E. F. Felcter of North Plainfielu
who is chairwoman of suffrage
ratification committee and vice
chairman of the Republican State
Committee of New Jersey said
that she had found many women
voters throughout the country
unable to determine their poli
tics and were sitting on the fence.
'This is most unladylike thing
to do," she declared.
Travis
Is
Given
A
Pardon
Stamford Bank 'Man Sen
tenced' to 15 Months At
Atlanta Last September
Released By Order of the
President Also Charged
With Taking City Money.
Stamford, Conn., July 29 William
K. Travis, who, on September 26,
last, was sentenced to Atlanta peni
tentiary for embezzling funds of the
Stamford National bank, has been
pardoned by President Wilson. He
will return home tomorrow, accord
ing to Mrs. Travis, who- received
word today. Travis was a former
city treasurer and was also charged
with taking wrongfully $7,200 of th
city's funds. His bank embezzle
ment according to the indictment,
was $30,000. In this latter instance
Travis accepted notes of the Sykes
Motors Sales company, in which he
was interested with James A. Sykes,
and disobeyed orders of the bank
directors who had warned him not
to loan money to this company.
The sentence of the United States
Court at Xew Haven, Judge Garvin,
presiding, was fifteen months. He
had pleaded guilty.
LUDENDORFF ASKS
TO FIGHT SOVIETS
Paris, July 29 General Ludendorff
is reported in a Berlin despatch to
the Journal t : have made an offer to
the British charge d'affaires at Berlin
to raise an army of 1,500.000 men to
fight the Bolsheviki in Russia in ex
change for the return to Germany of
Posen and the annulment of certain
clauses of the Versailles treaty, among
them the one dealing with Danzig
and the Polish corridor.
CORONER HOLDS
UP HIS FINDING
Testimony is now closed in the case
of the accident which resulted in the
death of James DeMeo, eight year
old newspaper boy, killed Monday af
ternoon at Bank and Main streets, by
a truck driven by Charles L. Kittels,
driver for George Kelley.
Detectives were unable to locate
the missing witness, but according to
the story of the little brother of the
boy who was killed, the woman who
gave him the money did not see the
accident.
Witnesses have practically agreed
on the point that the driver was un
able to see the child, until it was
under the wheels of his truck. The
finding will be given by Coroner Phe
lan in a few days.
SHORE LINE ROAD
SOLD FOR JUNK
New London, July 29 Announce
ment was made today of the sale of
the shore line electric railway com
pany property between Flanders Junc
tion, Saybrook, and New Haven, to
the United States Railway & Equip
ment Co., which will dismantle h
IJne and dispose of the material and
equipment as junk. The sale In
volves $340,000.
wtll investigate;.
Mrs. Kate Noski, of Devon, who
escaped from the Connecticut? State
Farm for Women, at Niantic, last
December, was arrested here yester
day for drunkenness. Her case was
continued in the City court this morn
ing, in order that the probation officer
kmay investigate the circumstances.
Michael McDonald, city, who was
arrested last night for drunkenness.
Was unable to appear in the City
court this morning owing to the. fact
that he has not yet recovered from
Lthe effects of his spree. Charges
against him were nolled and he was
taken to Hillside home to recuperate.
SAYS WIFE IS CRUEL.
On the plea that his wife is guilty
of intolerable cruelty to him, Ralph
Dingee of Greenwich, is bringing a
suit of divorce against his wife. Anna
Orr Dingee, also knoown as May Orr
Dingee. In the petition Dingee states
that they were married on December
8, 1913, and that they Have two chil
dren, Ralph, aged 5, and Lillian
Frances, aged 4. both of whom are
living with the father at present. The
case is scheduled to be heard in the
September term of the Superior court.
FINED $50
Fannie Mitchell alias "Fannie
Bain." of 2 8 Lumber street was ar
rested by officers of the vice squad
yesterday charged with keeping a
disorderly house. In the City court
this morning, the woman was fined
$50 and costs and sentenced to twe
months in jail. The jail s. tence was
suspended. When the Lumber street
establishment was raided by the po
lice on Sunday, the Mitchell woman
made a temporary get away by
jumDinc tbrouah an open window.
FA1B1I1E1
30, 1920
Subscription rates by irall: Weekly l.qo per year TsTpw SJprieS -Vol. CXXVIH
tr. advance. 179 F.vlnWd Avenue. Bridgeport -Lew OBJ. ICQ v wx.
Tells Utilities Board That
State Trolleys Must Close
Down Within Two Months
BUSES
STAY
Jitney Men Say They
Will Remain Whether
or Not Trolleys Come
Back Say the People
Must Decide What
They Want Would
Like Mores to uiose a
Little Earlier.
Jitneys will continue to operate in
Bridgeport whether or not the Con
necticut company decides to resume
troney service. This statement was
made today by John G. Schwartz.
president of the Bridgeport Bus asso
ciation, who added that the jitne.urs
were perfectly willing to stand an
other test against the trolleys and let
the public decide as to which means
of transportation is the best.
"The Jitneys wil stay on the streets
even should trolley service be re
sumed," emphatically declared Mr.
Schwartz. "We are willing to put it
up to the public again, and if the
people decide against the jitneys we
are willing to get off the streets."
According to the bus association
president, the jitneys are having no
difficulty in handling Bridgeport's
transportation problem. Factory and
shop employes are carried to and
from their work more rapidly than
ever before, and up to the present
time not a single accident has occur
red to mar the work of the jitneurs.
In order to relieve the congestion
in buses during the rush hours, the
jitneymen have suggested that local
stores close their business for the day
shortly before 5 o'clock. Shoppers
and store employes could then be
transported to their respective desti
nations with a greater degree of com
fort, and the buses could return in
time for the factory closings at 5
o'clock.
Despite the fact, however, that the
factories and stores for the most part
are closing at the same time, the jit
neys are not falling down on the job
of carrying the workers. The earlier
closing of stores has been recom
mended merely as a suggestion for re
lieving the somewhat crowded condi
tions during the rush hours.
Although there are enough ma
chines in Bridgeport at the present
time to handle the situation in an
adequate manner, more jitneys from
outside the state are needed. Most
of the cars which haye arrived here
since last Sunday night are from
nearby Connecticut cities and towns,,
and their migration to Bridgeport has
resulted in a shortage of jitneys ii
some places. As soon as more cars
are secured the Connecticut machines
will undoubtedly return to their home
cities.
Practically all of the new drivers
who have arrived here since the sus
pension of trolley service are mem
bers of the Connecticut Bus Own
ers' association, of which the Park
City and Bridgeport associations are
branches. These men conform with
the rulings of the local associations
working under the direction of the
state organization. Four new ma
chines arrived in Bridgeport from
New Haven this morning, and none
of the drivers were members of the
association. They were promptly
informed that they would have to ad
here to the requirements of the two
local branches if they wished to op
erate in this-tjity.
A movement is now on foot to incor
porate the 'bus owners of the state
into one large company, which would
bring the members of the state asso
ciation into a single corporation. Plans
for this project are only tentative as
yet, but it is the belief of the jitney
men that such a consolidation would
work out for the best interests of both
the drivers and the public. It is the
intention to have uniformed men on
all 'buses if such a company is formed.
Jitneymen from New York and other
cities outside the state are complain
ing albout the rigid enforcement of
state and city public service rulings.
New Yorkers claim they have no
rhance in Bridgeport,, but stick to
their jobs nevertheless. More ma
chines are reported to be on the way
despite the alleged rigid laws.
At the Traffic division
headquarters i1? was said
at police
today that
no complaints have been received as j
yet regarding jitney mishaps. Traffic j
policemen are handling the extra ;
amount of automobile traffic in ex
ceptionally good style, and all streets
are kept free from blockades even
during the rush hours of early morn
ing and between 5 and 7 o'clock at
night.
In the absence of W. Chapman,
officials at the Motor Vehicle depart
ment office were unable to state this
morning, the exact number of new
public service registrations and
(Continued on Page Eight.)
W LL
WORD SLOGAN
SHOULD BRING
PARTY VICTORY
Washington, July 29 The Demo
cratic party's campaign war chest is
open to contributions of any amount
George White, chairman of the Na
tiona! Committee announced here tc
day. Party leaders, he said, wouK
examine the source rather than the
amounts of all contributions.
'Peace, progress, prosperity," will
be the slogan of the Democratic cam
paigners, White said. With this
slogan, he added, the party should be
"coxsure" of victory.
LOSES WIFE
AT THEATER,
BEGS FARE
Has anyone in Bridgeport seen a
woman 0 years old, wearing a big
black picture hat, white shoes and a
black silk taffeta dress? She was last
seen in Poli's theatre yesterday after
noon where she attended the matinee
with her husband. In some myster
ious way the couple sot separated and
the husband is worried to death for
fear that his better half has been kid
napped or spirited away.
But listen to the whole story as told
by Otto Bondi of 5622 Fourth avenue
Brooklyn. N. Y., as told by him to
Assistant Superintendent of Chariti:
Alex Morrissey in the Welfare build
ing this morning.
"Yesterday morning," said Bondi,
' "my wife and I left Beacon Falls,
where we have been living for the
past two weeks, and where I was em
ployed as a rubber worker in one of
the factories. We arrived in Bridge
port about noon, stopping off here so
that we could beat the high cost of
Railroad travelling and take the night
boat to New York, "going from there
to Brooklyn, where my mother lies
sick in bed. After reaching Bridge
port we went to Poli's to see the show.
I got seperated from my wife after
we got inside the theatre but did not
worry at the time, believing that I
would meet her outside after the
show was over. I waited in the lobby
after the performance was over but
she did not come out. Before we went
into the place I gave her all the
money I had, amounting to about $35,
and I haven't seen her since."
Continuing his story with tears in
his eyes Bondy said: "After hunting
around for a time I reported the mat
ter to the pc lice and they put me up
at the station house for the night as
I was broke and this morning they
to'd ne to come up here to see you.
want to get car fare back to
Beacon
Falls."
Genial Alex refused to listen to the
nan's plea for the fare to Beacon
Falls but gave him the price of a
tioket to Brooklyn and put him on the
next train out after wishing him luek
in the search for his better half. Bondy
told Mr. Morrissey that he was mar
ried to Mrs. Bondy by a justice of the I
peace in Brooklyn in 1919 and had the
marriage ceremony repeated by a priest
of the Catholic church on May 11 of
this year. Bondy was dressed in an
outing costume and sported a pair of
white shoes.
BROKE ANKLE
IN BAD FALL
Falling from the top of a ladder j
while making repairs on some steam i
pipes at the plant of the American
Fabric Company on Connecticut ave
nue, a little after 7 o'clock this morn
ing, Dareo Bruno, 25 years old, of
No. 483 Ogden street. sustained a I
fracture of the left ankle and was
taken to the Bridgeport hospital in
the Emergency ambulance by Dr. J.
A .Maxwell after he had been given
first aid treatment.
George Sherr, 15 years old of No.
5 Sixth street was treated at the
Emergency hospital last night by Dr
Bruce J. Coyle for a lacerationfpf the
left leg sustained when he fell from
the step of an automobile.
Vincent Graham of 19 3 Lewis street
stepped on a clam shell yesterday af
ternoon, while in bathing and had the
wound on the sole of his foot dress
ed at the Emergency by Dr. Coyle.
Answering to a call for the ambu
lance at 8:30 o'clock last night, Dr.
i Maxwell removed Michael McDonald
j from the Second precinct police sta
tion to Hillside home for observa
tion. The man was found to be suffering-
from the effects of "hootch."
EXPLANATION DEMANDED
Paris, July 2 9 Explanations
were
demanded in the Senate today on
France's military policy in Syria.
After Premier Millerand said that the
policy was not one of domination but
of liberty and independence and that
France preferred diploma.cay to war,
the Senate approved the governments
Syrian policy 205 to 84.
ALL THE NEWS
THAT'S WORTH
P R I N T-I N G
Np. 5727
Company Representa
tives Also Say That If
The Seven Cent Fare
is Allowed and Does
Not Give Proper Fin
ancial Returns the
Company Will Ask a
10 Cent Flat Fare
Declare That the Jit
neys Must Be Regu
lated. (Special to The Times)
Hartford, July 29 President
Lucius Storrs of the Gonnec
ticuf Company, testifying be
fore the Public Utilities Com
mission this morning during
the course of the hearing on
the company's application for a
flatvseven cent fare in city lim
its with another three mile zone
on transfers, admitted that the
zone system had failed utterly
to bring in the increase in rev
enue anticipated by the Com
pany. It was also intimated that if
the seven cent flat fare were
granted and failed to bring in
the necessary money that the
next step would be to ask the
Public Utilities Commission to
permit the Company to charge
a flat fare of ten cents in the
areas formerly covered by the
old five cent rate.
Judge Noyes, chairman of the
board of trustees of the Con
necticut Company stated verv
boldly that the company must
shut down within two month's
time if it did not get the se' en
cent flat fare. "In fact." said
he, "I don't think we could last
more -than six weeks at the
present rate."
Judge Noyes further said that dur
ing the month of, June and up to the
15th of July, the treasurer's depart
ment showed a loss of $87,000 in op
erating expenses. Assistant Comp
troller McGreevy also testified and
stated that for the six months end
ing June 30, there had been a de
preciation of 29.7 per cent, in the
earnings of the road and that it
would take zv.' per cent, more to pay
the bills, to say nothing of interest
on bonds and notes outside of paying
anything on the stockholders' invest
ments. "For the month of June the loss
to the company wa8 $111,000 of
which $50,00"0 was lost in Bridge
port," said President Storrs. "With
out running cars, paying the wages of
the men during the stoppage of the
service and for keeping the tracks in
the city streets the cost to the com
pany is $20,000."
When asked if the cause of the
trouble in this city was not the jit
ney competition, President Storrs re
plie'd, "That is one item. There is
also the disinclination of the public
,to ride under the zone system and
this has played a considerable part."
Corporation Counsel for Stamford
asked him if it were not true that
the company intended to keep on
raising the rates until it had put the
jitneys out of business. Storrs re
plied: "We hope before long to have ar
rived at a satisfactory understanding
with the public in this matter."
Corporation Counsel Clark of Ham
den then asked Storrs, "Haven't you
changed your bpinion on the su
periority of the zne fare system over
the fiat, fare since your appearance
at the las thearing before the Public
Utilities Commission?"
"I have changed my mind," not be
cause I think the zone system is a
failure, but because the public
wouldn't use it. The only solution
for the Connecticut company .'is the
zone system but the public will not
use it." ,
The present application of the Con
necticut company is for a seven cent
flat fare in the city limits which usu-
i ally amounts to three miles with an
, other three mite zone which is rid
den through on transfers. It is the
purpose of the Connecticut com
pany If the increase is granted to pe
tition the right to decrease the zone
immediately, following from the 2A
named in the petition to 2.2, which
would give the company a revenue of
three cents a mile outside' the six
mile limit.
President Storrs then stated rh'it
this was the season of the year which
usually provided the money to run
the company,, in the winter mon'hs
when the riding was not so heavy.
Things had been g?tting worse since
last January and which the revenu?
for February show?d an increa.se of
16 er cent, over February of list
year, June showed a decrease of 2.8
per cent, over June of 1919.
This decrease he attributed to sev
eral factors, the jitney competition,
the zone fare system, and the failure
to use open cars. The people have
i been accustomed to use the open
cars for long pleasure trips in the
summer season. These cars were not
used this summer because they were
not adapted to the zone system.
Storrs continued, "The jitneys have
been tak::ig the patronage at the rush
hours, and it Is at these periods of
(Continued on Page Eight.)