Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-18
Street Car Evils.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:

To the Editor OF The EVENING STAR:
AS a citizen whose business makes him de-
pendent upon the street cars. l have taken
trouble to inquire carefully into the circum-
stances attending the suppression by Commits
sioner West of the iusolence of the transfer
agent at the corner OF 9th and streets and
find but one expression among those present
and our best citizens. ladies' Included who have
frequent occasion to transfer at that point. all
concur in the opinion that Gen. West performed
a public service; and "a he has not seen fit TO
make any explanation. l feel that common JUS
tice requires brief statement of the facts
1t is not true that Gen. West created any dis
turbance or requested the recall of the car for
his personal convenience. He found, however,
on alighting from his car, an angry and excited
group surrounding the petty magnate to whom
they We're forced to apply for transfers. that in
GVdual having started cars nearly empty in
different directions while the passengers were
waiting for tickets he was distributing in
leisurely and aggravating manner. Gen. West
quietly suggested that there was no reason for
such conduct; in return was Informed in q pro-
fame and insOlent manner that he proposed to
run the business his own way. Gen. West in
response to the suggestion of victim that such
fellow ought to be reported, remarked that
he proposed to take that course. and asked his
name. The only response was refusal. accom-
panied bv an additional volume of abuse.
respectfully suggest that Gen. West would have
such is the legal status of the Commissioners as
the successors of the police board-had he not
taken prompt measures to bring such a fellow
to sense of his position and respect for COM
mon decency.
That there's no necessity for the conduct of
this man is proved daily by the transfer agents
at the intersections of Pennsylvania and New
York avenues and Pennsylvania avenue and
7th street, who are prompt, courteous and
obliging.
The fact is that there is great need of
greater police supervision over street cars by
the police. The drivers and conductors are as
rule, polite, and as considerate as can be ex-
pected by men oTerwOrked and badly paid but
they cannot control the conduct of the hood
lums and loaiers who frequently make them
selves nuisance to legitimate patrons of the
road In the first place, they have no legal
authority to enforce their orders and compel
obedience with the rules. In the second place,
where they are compelled to interfere in order
to expel some nnbearable ruffan the generous
companies they serve impose upon them the
loss of each day they are required to give the
frequently find their place filled on their return
to duty. These should be remedad the COM
panIes compelled to maintain decency and order
in their cars or be compelled to surrender their
charters TO those who will If the Commits
siOner will persevere i'm the course he has I'M
dertaken and teach the companies and their
employees that peaceful and .aw-abidng citizens
have some rights that must be respected he
will earn the gratitude of all good citizens,
among others that of VICTIM.