New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-16
PASSENGERS LIVES JEOPARDIzED.

lewis Elder an engineer who has been employed
on the Harlem Railroad for about twenty years;
eopardized the lives OF the passengers Oh ooa1 r
OF two trains i'll most unaccountable manner on
Tuesday last. The paymaster5 car Went UP inc
road on Tuesday morning, aud on arriving al alto
Plains shortly before 10 o'clock, was switched OH To
n side track so as not to interfere with the move
neut of expected passenger trains sWlGGn was
Left omen whether caTelessy Intentionally was
not learned. The Chatham express tram down, que
at White Plains at 9:5S a. m., came along icw
minutes behind time and ran over tue SWITCH 10
the up track. Alter leaving and receiving passen-
gers il proceeded down the road on the up track 10
point a short distance north of Scarsdale station,
about four miles, at speed OF aeout tlu,y vi
thirty-fve miles an hour. There an upward Douhu
train which left the Grand Central Depot at 9;Io,
and was over due, came in sight ana then the
engineer Tor the first time to have discovered
that he was on the wrong track. At the same mo-
ment passenger asked the conductor, Chafles
Hammond, what was the matter ana why tne Iraln
was running down Oh the up track. Conductor
Hammond, who was busly engaged collecting
tickets and fares in the cars looked OUT anu per
ceived that the train on the wrong track, ana
Instantly sprang to the bell cord TO stop the tra,
when ne found that the engineer was applying t1e
natent brakes. Conductor Hammond immediately
sent out a lagmaD to stop the approaching tIain.
The engineer reversed the engine. ana packed Ine
train as rapidly as possible TO Whlte Rams Inc
way train followed. Had the latter not Decn
few minutes behind its schedule time. there is no
doubt that a collision and loss OF lie wouu MaNe
occurred at a curve in he road. Engineer tIder
and his fireman were Doth promptly uiscn"lsou'
MERCANTILE INTERESTS DISCUSSED.
AT the monthly meeting of the Board of Trade
and Transportation yesterday Alnor In" Tho ="
presiding, several new members were elected; r.
b. Thurber, the part of the COMMITTEE on hall-
roads, made report on legislation IN winch IL was
asserted that there was no d0nDt OF Dill Deing
pasSed by the Legislature providing Tor board OF
railroad commissioners. A. u. Miller called atten-
ton 10 the bill which he said had been smugsieq
into the Legislature for the cooperation OF the
Terminal Warehouse Elevatlng ana DOCK ON
many of New-York. He characterized the bill as
TOO sweeping and too absolute and added that IN
q
obtain absolute and full possession OF the water
front to the exclusion OF commerce. resOtu nrI
uncaled for by any existing requirements or the
city but that the powers 1t conferred enuangeTeG
In the highest degree the value OF real estate ana
the best interests of the city generally resolution
offered by Mr. Thurher adopted declaring that III
H. not desirable at this time that Congress shOnld
make a sweeping reduction In the revenue on 10,
bacco and spirits Another resolution was adopted
20 the effect that the prOpoS ton to reduce the lax
nm manufactured tobacco tended to demOrallze
trade and that in of the passage of the bill the
excess of tax paid on stock now on hand should DC
refunded resolution iavoring the DilI now
pending in Congress providing for the reco'nage OF
tradeb dollars into standard" dollars was
adopted A petition to Congress in favor OF the
Lowell bill to establish "A unlfOlm system OF BANK
ruptcy was also adopted
EXCISE LAW ENFORCED IN BROOKLYN
The strict enforcement OF the Excise law in
Brooklyn is the subject OF wide comment IN the city
Richard Lauer and his colleagues In the Excise
Board appointed by Mayor Low have succeeded III
shutting up the places which sold liquor on Sunday,
and IN enforcing the early closing section of the
law. The liquor men now roll up their curtains
aud leave the lighted interiors of their
places open 10 the inspection of the
ppolicP. This is novelty in Brooklyn,
and the contrast of the system with that which pre-
walls in New-York is striking. In this city there is
hardly any attempt at cOncealment; " drinks" may
he had al day Sunday and far into the night with
ont the slightest trouble. III Brooklyn the eiiec-
tiyencss Of the law lit is enforced by the new
Commissioners drives the sunday topeTs TO despair
A TMBUNE reporter meeting Commissioner Lauer
YESTERDAY. inquired of hun how many penadiiles
the Board had been compelled TO mhlct
Mr. Lauer "since we took hold of the work, SIX
months ago; but we have placed q good many
hon.es under police surveillance We have sue
ceeded better than we expected 10 do in so short
tIne i'm checking the liquor traffic, and We mean to
keep Oh. This ~ no new broom business ~ ID
certain that Brooklyn is quieter now on sunday
than IL has ever before been.