The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-03
SSERTED THEMSELVES.

A recent curious occurrence on the Morris
and Essex Railroad is significant rs sug-
costing the question whether. after all, the
travelling public may not have some rights
that transportation companies are bound
to respect.
1t was on local train. and so many
passengers in the two rear ears were COM
PEELED TO stand that an irate German, Just as
The train was pulling cut, stopped it, by
pulling the bell-cord, and demanded that an
empty coach, that stood on a side-track, be
attached To the train. Other passengers
joined in the demand, but their protests
were UNDECIDED. and the train again started
1t was at once stopped again by the Ger
man, who declared his intention of pulling
the cord and stopping the train as often as
it started until the car was attached, The
other passengers echoed his determination,
and finally. after a great deal of talk, the
train was backed down. the car was at
tachei and the victorious passengers were
given the accommodations for which their
money had been taken.
There is something almost humorous in
the spectacle OF the people of this monopoly
ridden land Of the free thus publicly assert
ing themselves i'll order to obtain their
moneys worth from the concern that had
taken their money. An American crowd is
proverb.ally a good-natured one and the
American people are pr0yerbially lOngsui-
fering. We have so long heard that we
have the best Government in the world,
that we are a free, independent people, that
we have come honestly to believe it. and
are. for the most part, contented accord
ingly; but once these same people become
convinced that they are being imposed upon
and decide that they will no longer submit
they are prone to act with a promptness
aptly designated by q subtle Americanism
as previous"
The irate German referred to as leading
the rebeiiOus passengers on the Morris and
Essex is easily explained. In his own
country he would never see such a condi-
ton as the one he so practically resented
here. We are apt to regard the Fatherland
as an easygoing nation, somewhat behind
its fellows in the march of improvements
but we have much 10 learn from the man
agement by that Government of its rail-
ways. Aside from the superior considera-
ton shown for the comfort Of passengers
on the State controlled roads in Germany,
we are far behind that country in appli-
ances for safety on our roads. The proper
ton Of railway accidents here by which
passengers are killed or injured is, COM
pared with those in Germany. about to l.
There four times as many men are en-
ployed to look after the safety Of passen-
gers; there are no unguardei crossings to
menace the public; no crossing of tracks at
stations to reach out going trains. Fifty
miles an hour is the schedule time for very
many trains. By the cheap zone or belt
system about to be opened in Berlin work
men are encouraged to live in the suburbs,
thus relieving the Capitalization Of popula =
| ton with its attendant evils. Fares and
! freights are much cheaper there than here,
| even considered in connection with the rela-
| lively smaller earnings and incomes of the
mass Of the population. The freight ser
vice is pronounced by American travellers
equal to our express service. a trunk may
be safely and conveniently sent all over
| Germany for a trifle, while few cents
extra will insure it and few cents more
guarantee its delivery at certain hour.
Familiar with such system in his own
country, it is small wonder that the Ger
man grew irate at private imposition, and,
with his fell0w-passengers, instituted a re-
! beilion on learning that by such means only
| could they obtain the seats for which they
had paid.