Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-08

they roceixe snd the protection of the pub
lie Mr. Magee is here himself, and would
suggest that he address the committee on.
zhe subject"
Mr. Magee, being thus invited, arose and
said:
ssMr. Ianbie has already referred to the-
unfortunate accident at Oakland this morn
ing which resulted from collision between
a car belonging to the company OF whlch
am President and that of another company.
The consequences OF that accident no one
viii deplore any more than will the officials
of the two companies, and wish TO say that
any regulation you may make to prevent
1'cpeuitions OF that affair will be heartily
agreed TO by our company, at least. The car
license referred to is-a system now in opera
Tion in Philadelphia, and would suggest its
adoption here. Then every car In the sity Is
compelled 20 have. displayed in consplcu-
GUS part, a license plate, much after the plan
We have here for vehicle licenses. am told
shc license fee is $50 a car each year. That
amount is little enough: There are
hundreds of cars in this city now,
and there will never be any less,
hence the revenue derived from that
system II nut in operation here will be sufh-
cleuy believe TO pay for the police service
rendered by the city for the Denent on Lhe
railway companies. l would suggest that
this system be made part OF the ordinance
that has been proposed.
Nr Taggart-wh hat provision is there for
the p-ctectiun of the public in the mean
5iuc@ 1t viii require some time TO put sucl
q law into force.
Nr. AIagee Offers a Remedy.
Mir NuEee-As far As the DuQUesne line is
concerned we have issued orders to all our
men Tor the present to come to a full stop
just before reaching a crossing with another
line. ! believe if requested to do so by this
committee tle other lines would be willing
10 observe the same regulation until this
matter is adjusted. such a plan viii. in my
opinion. prevent any more accidents such as
that OF has morning.
Nj. lamhie at once offered a resolution
q {
on Public safety be certified Bv Chief Brown
and sent to- all the street railway companies
il the city in accordance with Mr.. Magee
suggestion. Tins resolution was adopted,
and Cnicf Brown was instructed TO follow
The Suggestions offered by Nj. Iambe in re
gard 10 an ordinance covering his present
After The meeting Mr.. Magee was seen and
sa "a that The street railway companies could
not afford TO pay for tiagmen. lie said the
rOTpoUatious were taxed by the city and had
IS much right to police protection as other
.aNplycTs he believed the vehicle tax to
be levied on cars would pay for the extra
police.
No Need of an Ordinances.
Navor Gourley-s opinion OF tle case is
very decided. He j. strongly in favor of
more rigid rules governing the running of
traction cars something should be Done"
said he. "tO prevent the frequent re
Curreucc OF such an accident as
the one this morning. Rapid transit
has become an unquestioned necessity iii
this Jit',. but there should he no unnecessary
loss al life simply to keep mp a fast schedule.
The accident this morning, as far as l
can learn. was the result Of great careless
ness Ou somebody's part, though ii may
never he shown Just who the blame should
Iall upon. am heartily in favor of requir-
ing an cars 10 come to Il dead halt at inter-
sections OF other lines. and remaining so un-
til ordered forward by the coTneIInan. Had
TINS plan been followed the Atwood street
collision could not have occurred. In fact
there would be little chance Tor accidents of
any kind were some regulations of this sort
in force. ON steam railway lines the rule Is
imperative about stopping before crossing
another line. 1t should be even more inn
perativc in regard to street railway lines,
where the chances for collisions are greatly
multiplied.
cit Is NY opinion; that Chief Brown has
TOvar to order this plan enforced without
amy action O1 Councils with reference to it
II Is reputation which he would be per
sectly .u-JlIia Die IN demanding. 1t is hardly |
90 hr believed that any traction company
would dare the public Indignation by rctus
5u- r0 obey such an order. However, if !
Councils viii take tine matter in hand so
much the better. - would then be beyond |
Against Magee's Police Scheme.
As TO the question of the city paying the |
officers who watch the crossings OF traction |
companies. 1 am very decidedly opposed to |
IT, These big corporations make money by |
occupying the streets OF the city for transit |
purposes. They pay nothing Tor their fran |
Cl1SeS and the city derives no benefit from |
Them at all. Yet the people are asked to |
pty rhvir money for the hiring of officers |
tn prevent accidents these lines. a |
varchman At each dangerous corner is part !
C1 the equipment OF street railway com
gauy. Just as much as mOtorman or grip
man. Ia all justice and equity the company |
should pay him. In this connection there is |
another more serious point 70 be observed. |
II an accident occurs on a corner as result |
OF -Le negligence OF the cornerman hired |
by the city. the latter is open to suits for |
damages on the part Of the persons injured. |
On she other hand. If the man was in the |
employ of the railway company the suit !
H5C5,id be brought against that company, as |
5r properly should. 1t is not right that the |
city should be thus laid open to additional |
expense and claims for damages. BY taxing |
the traction companies the first evil can be |
done away with, but the second cannot.
The Father Makes a Statement
John \. Hazlett stated last evening that |
he proposed to see that something be done |
with the men that caused the accident |
which his son was injured in yesterday. at |
Is time he said. that stop should be put |
20 the rapid manner i'll which motormen 4
run their cars and pay no attention to sig |
mails or anything else" The boy was still |
diving, but there is not much hope for his
recovery.