The evening world., 1894-09-07
MUST FILL THE CARS.
Conduct1e Compelled to Obey the
frders to Overcrowd.
" The Evening World" Gets Letters
on This Important Subject.
One Correspondent Suggests Munici-
pal Ownership US u Remedy.

The fight which 1.-The Evening
World' has begun In behalf of the
people for the purpose of securing for
them better accommodations and
greater comfort upon the street-car lines
of the city is bringing out a large corre-
spondence.
That is right. Readers OF 1.-THE Even
Ing World" who have anything to say
upon the subject whatever in the way
Of suggesting a remedy for the evil, or
the relating Of some incident which has
come within their own experience,
showing to what extent the abuse OF
overcrowding the cars had been carried
on, and how they have been treated by
officials or employees OF the companies,
are invited to contribute to the dis
cussion.
One correspondent seems to think that
THE Evening World" has cast the blame
for the overcrowding OF the cars upon
the conductors and drivers or gripmen
who stop to allow passengers to get on
after the cars are already filled.
This. however, is a mistake, as 1t was
not intended to create such an impress
sion. Those who are responsible for this
state OF affairs are the officers and
UldlluStTS OF the CDTDOTdllOIlf, WHO III
their greed for excessive profits pay no
regard whatever to the wishes or feel
ms Of the public.
They send spies and spoilers out upon
| the cars to watch the conductors and
| drivers, and II 1t Is found that the latter
| do no, stop for every passenger who halls
| the car, or that the conductor does not
squeeze aboard every, one who can posi-
| bly, obtain n foothold, he is reported at
| he3 dquarters as an incompetent man.
and his place is soon supplied by, another
pany or he Is fined for neglecting the
| interests of his employers,
| So far as his personal feelings are con-
cerned the conductor has no interest in
| filling the car of which he has charge
| to overlooking, as 1t only gives him
| more work and greater responsibility.
But as his position depends upon the
zeal which he mapifests I'm helping to
iii the Golfers of the corporation he Is
| compelled to corral every passenger In
sight no matter how much discomfort
and annoyance may result.
In return for this watchfulness for his
employers interest the conductor, driver
and gripman do not even get the thanks
of their superiors. It Is expected Of
which they are entitled. no matter
whether the car takes in 81 or sl2 on the
trip.
the only remedy for the existing state
of affairs Is to be found in the munic-
ipal ownership of the street-car sys-
tens.
Under that SYSTEM" he says, I'VE
could not only furnish all the cars nee
essary, and a seat for every passenger.
but We could also employ an immense
amount OF labor which Is now in idle
ness, by reducing the working time on
the street,car service to eight hours a
day for all employees"
Under the present system of private
| ownership of the railroads. the corpora
tons which control the lines are no
doubt enabled to conduct their business
without much direct supervision from
| the public authorities. But this results
| from the fact that the public is too
| complaisant.
All these corporations derive their
liower and rights from the State. and il
- the state which ought to compel them
to exercise those rights with due con-
slderation for the interests of the pub
| lie which they are intended to serve