New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-18
ORDER ON THE STREET CARS.
EFFICIENCY or AUTHORIZING CONDUCTORS 10 A

ENpEDiENCl OF AUTHORIZING CONDOClOkS ~ All
AS SPECIAL POLICEMEN.
The frequent disturbances to the comfort of
passengers in the street carsespecaly those who
them in the evening-from drunken or disordery In
truders the liberal scope afforded the operations Of
pickpockets and the not uncommon ARRAYS which
without let or hnderance from drivers conductors
give reason in the public mind for impatient expecta
ton OF aiming at reef. bill introduced in
tne Assembly by Mr.. Bennett proposes 10 accomplish
this by authorizing every conductor 10 act as
special policeman while duty, and requiring his
appointment such special policeman by the police
authorities. provided be is Of good character. To
find out how such law that proposed would DO
received by the companies a TRIBUNE reporter
yesterday obtained the views OF several leading officers
OF the principal lines. These found 10 he consider
ably at variance officers were willing 10 welcome
step which offered reasonable hope of better
lection 70 Wedisposed passengers their while
the evils " Others made light of the present state Of
things argued that Mr. Benefits plan could do no
good
Robert sluires President Of the Third-aye lIne de-
clared that in his opinion, the Police Department could
fulfil its duties and the railway do not
60 interfere with them while he could not what adj
vantage Mr.. Benefits plan would effect, eve re-
quire conductors" he, to keep order on the
cars, and If they do MT do it discharge them. We
do MT want them to have any more powers than they
have now OF 10 be controlled by the police authorities
with whom might in that way be brought IN
nct. DO MT think that special pOlceman's authority
would help conductor 10 dsorderly persons, and
n he should arrest them, who would take charge bis
ear willis he looked after them9 When James 0'Brien
Shtrif. many Of conductors got appointments
special deputy sherfs but do MT think thor shields
scared drunken people or rOwdes. and those Who APP
piled for those appointments were generally worst
men, whom we soon had 70 put away"
Treasurer Tborne OF the SeeOndaye. line the other
hand thought such "a measure as that proposed would
OF much benefit. He thought that conductors
lie opposed. however, any control by the Police
Department Of the appointment OF conductors. Pres
dent Butler OF the sxth-ave. road also said that the
conductors need more authority 70 order. II
they had the power to make arrests they would be-
more respected bY the ldspOsed. Under the present
unsatisfactory law conductor may have 20 ridc half
mile before ne finds policeman TO coll upon repress
disorder IN his Disorder is far prevalent
the cars. and the conductors shrink from putting OFF
drunken and offensive persons, because such people
bring suits for damages on account Of pretended
injuries, great Is the popular hostility the city
railroads that the plaintiffs likely TO win in such
smt Mr. Butler thought that ,the authority Of special
superintendent Wilson Of the Eighthave. line said
tha, conductors would be very apt TO oyerstep the
proper bounds OF such authority They are so often
changed that they would have little time to learn thor
OrOnghly their additional duties and there would he
difficulty giving them authority for their short terms
@ : conductors. He could not prospect OF much
advantage in the working Of the proposed dill. On the
Eghth-avc lne he claimed that order secured by
allowing policemen IN uniform TO ride free In this way
tendent Leadbetter OF the Broadway and seventhave
said that conductors have all they can attend 10
already They could not leave the car 10 turn over
persons whom they might arrest and they already have
officer. The President of the Belt line was
inclined favor the bill but said that q provision
would be necessary for limiting the appointments as
special police 10 those conductors who should be recon-
meDded ny the railway officers.