The New York herald., 1872-05-24
The Board OF Health and the street
Car Question.

Vor question:
When the public were startled few weeks
ago by the publication of a code of regulations
intended to effect revolution in the trimming
and general getting up of the street convey
ances some sharp people shook their heads
suggestlvely They had become SO used to
be let severely alone by the Health Commits
sioners that they had almost forgotten such
Board existed. 1t was, however, shrewdly sur
missed that there was something behind that
did not meet the public eye For though poll
ticans of oil shades are known to be trimmers
on occasion there seemed to be no good
reason to suspect them of knowing anything
about upholstery. Unkind people have been
Offering all kinds of unsatisfactory explanations
for the decree of the Board. Enthusiastic re-
formers pointed to it as another proof of our
rapid return to republican simplicity since the
ever-to-be-remembered overthrow of Tammany.
Less credulous people touched their noses sig
nificantly and murmured something about
jobs, inquiring feelingly if there was any green
in the Commissioners eyes. Rumor with her
thousand evil tongues whispered that there
was in existence q certain cute Yankee, not in
terested in upholstery, but who has some
notion about a. new style of car seat. 1t is
admitted on all hands, however, that the
Health Board never heard of this invention.
It is merely one of those condolences that s'no
fellah can understand" The time selected
for the issuing Of the orders relative to the car
cushions displays a creditable considerateness
for the opinions and purses of the railroad
companies. Simple people might imagine
that some loss would have been incurred by
these corporations, but care has been taken to
guard against anything Of the kind. For the
most part the upholstery Of the street cars is
in such state that Of necessity it would have
to be removed or replaced, and, as the former
is much the cheaper it will be to the advan-
tage Of the corporations to adopt it. 1t is
therefore evident that the change is not alto
gether in the interest Of the people. TO say
the least, it is very lucky for the Yankee
inventor that the change takes place
at this moment. He will have
much better chance Of improving his
fortune, and, we hope, our comfort, than
otherwise would have been his lot. The fact
that he has no friends among the Commission
ers will also be strong recommendation for
him with the car companies. This reflection
will, doubtless, tend to mitigate our feelings
while we suffer the pangs Of the bare-board
experiment, and look forward with longing
for some benefactor Of mankind to come forth
and save us from the inhumanity of Health
Commissioners and railroad corporations. We
hope that no bashfulness will prevent the Yam
kee gentleman to whom we have alluded COM
ing forward boldly with his invention. Let
there be no delay. We want to be saved from
sinking into barbarsm. We might have
looked for conservatism from O Board Of
Health, but the tendencies Of the present body
are so subversive of what we have been accus-
toned to regard as evidences of civilization
and progress that there is no knowing where
their rage for republican simplicity may end;
for the argument brought against cushions
will apply with equal force against coats or
other superfuous habiliments Hence we look
forward with some apprehension lest we may
some of these mornings find ourselves COM
PEELED to adopt the fig leaf or other severely
primitive mode Of dress in obedience to an
ulzase Of our Health Commissioners