Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-24

Revolts by the public against involuntary serv.
Ice as conductors for the bene1t and pront OF the
DOB tail car companies so often meet with success
because the Indignation OF the people can act d.
reetly in this matter and does not need 70 await
the slow movements OF legislative bodies TO be
given expression and effect. Every passenger Is
In position to take matters In his own
hands, TO refuse 10 work his own passage
as well as pay for IL, and to decline 70
labor for the company as conductor without fair
compensation And every successful movement OF
this kind breeds others. The public Is aroused
from Inertia and grows ashamed Of being i'm
posed upon When the wealthiest and most
powerful of the citys street railway corporations
was led last year by a movement OF citizens with
the Endorsement and active cooperation OF THE
STAR 20 provide conductors upon It's I4th-street
line, TEE STAR prophesied that this Improvement
would cause the citizens dependent upon other
lines for accommodation TO insist upon
their rights. IL was expected that the
bootails would be abolished next from the Metro
politan railway. which enjoys the most valuable
franchise and the greatest profits or the present
bootail companies; and that the reform would
then spread TO the Belt Line, the Columbia, and
other roads which earn smaller profits and occupy
streets along which there is less travel The Met
ropolitan has already substituted two-horse cars
for part OF It's oobtails and should place conduc-
tors on all the cars. Only the excuse OF dire pow
erty on the part Of the company and the danger to
the public OF fewer cars or Inconvenience in other
respects II the expense OF conductors is compelled
can justify a street railway in demanding or the
public In rendering gratuitouS and charitable ser
vice street-car conductors. But the evil OF con-
ductorless is not the greatest to be found In
Washington's streeJ-raiway system. The most
serious complaints even ofthe northeast Washing
ton petitioners are based upon the overcrowIing
which Is caused by the infrequency and irregu-
larity Of trips and upon the fact that no system
OF exchanges Is arranged with other roads. The
employment OF conductors will not prevent over
crOwding; and II road Is really poor
and Improbable the expense OF conductors
means retrenchment in some other direction and
the running of the larger cars. perhaps at even
longer intervals. The STAR, however, has steadily
opposed the principle Of ''every man his own con-
ductOr,r and believes that only good can come TO
the public from revolts against this principle along
whatever line in this city they may break out.
But the other evils OF the present system should
not be ignored washing on needs general I'm
prOvernent OF the conditions OF railway travel che
use OF the grOoved rail- the abolition OF cOb0lesJones
between the tracks the substitution OF electricity
or cable for the horse motive power; that cars
should run faster as well and more frequently to
prevent overcrowdi nx far as possible, and that
fair compensation should BE- made to the District
for street railway franchises and the occupation OF
the streets