New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-11
VOLUME IX.--NO. 26
THE STATE HOUSE.
Senate.

senate.
The first regular business taken up was
apeti.ion or memorial from city premium
bondholde,s, which was handed over to the
Committee on Finance after it was read.
Considerable routine business was At
tended TO-
Mr. Masicot gave notice tha. he intended
70 introduce bill to repeal the act chang
ing the name Of Brashear to Morgan City
Mr. Young pleaded for one Of his little
local bills. one of no particular account
and which was about short railroad in his
parish.
Mr.. Allains bill to regulate street rail
roads in New Orleans was read. The bill
provides tha. each car shall have person
to collect fares and to LOOK after the protec
ton OF passengers generally, and to allow
no more than twenty four passengers in a
car at one time.
Mr.. Wharton said tina. the committee had
carefully looked into the matter, and the
conclusion reached was that the bill is
good one. The car companies are abun-
dainty able to pay tor conductors, and
Mr.. White objected to the bill for many
reasons, one reason being that he considered
the Legislature had no right to interfere
with the companies' rights. He expressed
a belief .ha. there are fewer accidents on
the lines OF this city than any other city in
this country. Overcrowding cars in other
cities exists the same as it does here. He
hc no sHo for
this bill.
MIR Ogden said that his experience taught
him that the majority OF accidents on the
several lines was owing to the unfortunate
persons themselves besides, there are bu.
two lines in this city which declare divi-
dends Add this expense 20 the companies,
ard most of them will be compel ed 20 sus-
perd operations. He disapproved Of the
bill alto gether.
Mr.. Burch said that the principal obiec-
ton made by the opposition was that OF
poverty-a very slim excuse. He thought
there was no. other city in this Union where
car drivers are compelled to be conductors,
drivers and clerks. The drivers have
enough to do 10 attend to their mules. He
recently read about some rowdies entering
an Annunciation street car and driving all
the passengers forth, and Of another in
stance where drunken passenger shot
driver because the poor fellow asked ior
the fare The car lines have taken actual
possession OF many Of the streets, and come
cemeteries can scarcely be approached oy
funerals because of the obs.ructing tracks.
II occasionally happens that strangers ride
in our cars, and being used to seeing con-
ductors on cars in their own cities, wait for
that person 10 call for the nickel. bu: his
ears are quickly assailed by mulish driver,
who yelIs out Say. you, pay your fare
rIll put you out Then the stranger
tributes h!s mite Had we conductors there
would be LEES rowdysm in the cars and
less vile language. The evidence, in his
n nd favored the bill
Mr.. Stamps said that he could scarcely
pick up newspaper that he DID not read
Of accidents on the car Lines, and usually
the driver is not able TO prevent the mis-
fortunes He thought the companies
abundantly able to pay for conductors, and
the peoples rights demand them; the blood
of numerous victims calls for conductors,
and common sense teaches us that such
person should have entire charge OF cars
Drivers are compelled to work sixteen or
eighteen hours each day which ls too much
for anybody. He was glad that there were
LAWYERS on this floor, and when one of them
is employed, for his legal knowledge, by a
car company he lie not to be blamed for ad-
vocating the company's interests. de was
glad TO be able to vote for the bill.
Mr. Wharton responded to Mr.. Whites
objections, saying that it were better that
every share of stock should be quite worth
less rather than see single person crushed
to death. The managers work their poor
drivers almos: 20 death, and demand allo-
pether TOO much from them. Supposlng
victim has the courts open for redress, as
Mr.. White saws, but can a court give BACK
a mashed leg or render to mourning
mother the life of her loved child
Mr. White declared that he WAS 10. an
attorney for any car company, but deneo
that the Legislature had right to inter-
fere with CITY affairs like this. Conductors
on cars in Northern cities are exceedingly
rough men. and in sections where conduc
tors are employed persons are killed and IN
ured. Cars in New Orleans are better KEPT
and managed than elsewhere.
Mr., SvpEer asked Mr.. White if he says
that the people of New Orleans speak
through their representatives; does the
Senator claim tina. he is the special pro-
tector of the lives OF the people OF this CITY,
and mas no voice or desire to protect other
people. or does he pretend to say that
citizen living outside of New Orleans mas
10. the right or privilege to protect life.
Mr.. White said be hurled the interroga-
tory back to the Senator, and intlma'eo
thu, his oues.ioner was unable to oompre'
bend the meaning Of ordinary sentences.
Mr.. Stamps remarked that if We had con-
ductors on our cars there would be few &C.
cidents. LIE: the experiment be trled, anu
if the law is unconstitutional the car cor
porations will soon remedy it.
Mr.. Burch asked Mr.. White if the cars
were started at regular intervals, as the
!: charter calls for. Of course they are not,
by long shot. He also asked the Senator
how twas tha. when drivers are tried tor
mangling or killing somebody, that they
a,uns, ,nr.riahlv plead that they were