The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-14

Street Cars In st. Loufs-Tho Directors Al.
tempt to RRfao tho Fnrs to SIX CcntB-Ctti-
hrrestcd, &c.
LF+om the 81. Losis Democrat Of 7nesdayl
Tho war between tho citizens and tho managers
Of the Peoples md Tower Grove and Lafayette
horse railroad is rapidly approaching crisis. In
day or two, if both parties remain stubborn We
msy look for something moro serious than sim
pie assault and battery case. Such n result is
deeply to be dcplored and wo tako this occasion
to warn tho conservators of tho peace and tho
directors Of tho elk cent railroads to bo their
guard. we think wo can observe in tho rcsolute
determination OF tho people indications clearly
showing. that they will not much longer DO toler-
ated. L tho railroad managers arc right in tho
position they have taken let them satisfy tho pon-
pie Of tho fact by the proauction OF law and eyi-
dence, aud we have no doubt that tho well dis
posed citzens will MD thom in maintaining their
rights. That q vast majority of tho citizens
regard tho advance in tho ratio of faro by theso
companies as illegal and unwarranted-in direct
violation Of tho terms OF their charters, and ns an
attempt to extort money from tho poor people who
arc compelled to ride in the cars, wo firmly be-
lieve. We done, pretend to decide Tho legal Gues-
ton, but we .hink o decision by tho proper tribu-
nalB would sottle' tho whole matter i'll day. Wo
believe that it any respectable court should decide
that the road managers had the legnl right to in
crease the car fare to six cents, the pcoplo would
submit to it without O murmur. It would certain
ly be good policy for the companies to obtain such
decision md to reGstablisl the old ratio until il
is obtained. There is but ono way in which the
people OF this country can be fought successfully
and that ia with tho weapons OF truth. law and
measurs which they believe to be iliesai is sure
to end in disaster. No corporation, however pow
erful, can override the multitude especially whore
that corporation ia wholly dependent upon the
masses for support, in pecuniary sense Even
when clearly in tho right, it will not do for any
body Of men to run counter to tho wishes of tho
people, who arc their patrons.
We know that tho managers OF tho horse roads
are fully satisfied that they have tho law on their
side; but still their modo Of enforcing their de-
mand is very unpopular, and, in our humble opin-
ion impolitic. It displays stubborneas that can
not fail to lead to dsagrccable results and end dis.
astrously to themselves.
tho limo Of Fourth street rOad, and o number of
pitched battles wcro fought between the citizens
and the conductors Sometimes tho citizens wero
PITCHED out, and sometimes the conductor was
pitched into On the wholo tho six -contors got the
worst OF 1t, although nobody WAS seriously hurt.
a number Or arrests rest wore made by. consta-
had four cases against conductors on his docket,
JnAtioe Lawrence ono and there wcro aoveral
others before other Justices. Tho Chief Of Police
made an arrest in person of q conductor and ciu-
zen who we're trying to put each other out. A
Main street merchant, on being overpoworcd BY
numbers, cooLy laid down on the seat, and was
country oificlal who ia opposed to tho advance in
fare, but q friend to tho conductors, WIS ordered
from car by citzon who mistook him for ono OF
the shoulder-strikors of the car, and ho resented
the indignity by vigorous blow with his fist Ho
was arrested but subsequently released.
M Constable Berge5 was kept on the trot hunting
battery. he gobbled John North, Fred. H. Reed,
Robert r. Ksrsteven, and another conductor, all
OF whom will .be tried before Justice Jecko.
citizen appeared before Justice Lawrence and
complained that ho was riding in Fourth street
car, when the conductor demanded ak cenls fare
on five ss G Ga0
was sitting in tho car among tho pnssengors and
pointing 70 the citizen, said: .."Do your duty"
him with as much case as Hercules raised An,
teaus conveyed him bodily from tho car, and
dropped him on tho ground, From his description
Ssd dnfs hsg giant u Was inferred that gang Of bravos
necessary to employ hrc-cating constable to
arrest him Constable Berger, the Samson of tho
sna Tsy 0i Inc CITY, belonged TO nnot: ward
millinery store on Morgan street. The next boat
man was % ssnt for aud Constable Anderson was on
terrible bully. he found him near LAFAYETTE marx
and brought him mp aliye, tho man having sub,
ms'oa owan when aina hS saw Jaw who he had to oa with
ageo against tho Fourth street road: "A'"'
Albert O. Sheldon Us. Peoples Railway Company
before Justice Lawrence. Tho plaintiff states
owning and operating limo OF horse railroad cnys
in the city OF 81 Louis that their cars arc public
conyeyanets for for passengers; that on tho 5tii day
said defcndants' limo, paid hrs ogaI fare re- OF fiyo
cents, but before reaching his destination, and
while ne was quietly occupying his place MS q pas.
elected from said car by tho conductor cmploycd
by defendants, assisted by another poraan i'm.
known 10 plaintiff. Wherefore no claims jameros
OF tfty dollars, for which ho brings suit, with Ria
eosH. TIIOS. 8. ESPY,
Attorney for Plaintiff.
In tho morning tlloro WIS blockade uT cars
near Fourth and Chestnut streets, on account ora
passenger refusing to pay moro than fiyo centa 4
crowd OF four or five hundred pcoDlo coootcj 10
W1tnoss the fun, and half dozen or mora cors
were delayed by tho imbroglo, Mayor Thomas
went on tho car TO SEQ what was going on. bnt diJ
not interfore: Tho passengers in tl.e car ioot n
good naturedly, and 30 did tho Conductor Hftor
laughing and talking ovor tho mattcr Tho oon
duotor concluded TO sacrifice copper FOR tho snLa
OF peace, and the blockade was raised. o '"Ao
German merchant was put ont later IN tbo
day, and he had tho conductor arrested Tor nsaauM
aud battery. va assault
These squabbles from day to div nre uett;no ~
be very annoying. Wo understand that Tho Street
hailroad Commissioner intonds prosecuting Tho
Fourth;street company for FILLING to fuihll tho
regulations requiring tho cars to DO run at reun
iar intervals. We noticed that few passoDrors
travelled on tho Fourth-streot and Tower Groyo
cars yesterday, and 1t Is but reasonable to pre.
snme that tho number Will grow "smal]er. and
beautifully less" until tho conGuctors ara in.
sTncted to receivo ffvo cents for single fares.
IN thi8 one cont war tho conductors arc n]aced
between two fres. II thoy disobey orders tbou
Ee liable 70 bo. discharged; and II tbcyy
oo9y orders, they arc arrested for assault and
P.s. The difficulty has slnce boon oa,nsta5
the public having carried thor point against Tho
Railroad Company. n1 ~ - '''