The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-07
MUST FILL THE CARS.
Conductors Compelled to Obey the
Orders to 0vercrowd.
" The Evening World" Gets Letters
on This Important Subject
One Correspondent Suggests Munich
pal Ownership as q Remedy.

The tight which THE Evening
World" has begun in behalf OF the
people for the purpose of securing for
them better accommodations and
greater comfort upos the strect-car lines
Of the city is bringing out a large corre-
spondence.
That is right. Readers OF 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 II was
not intended to create such an impress
| sion. Those who are responsible for this
| state of affairs are the officers and
| managers of the corporations, who in
| their greed for excessive profits pay no
| regard whatever to the wishes or feel
They send spies and spoilers out upon
| the cars To- watch the conductors ana
| drivers. and II II 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 "A iOoth"ld, he IL reported at
AMI his place is soon supplied by another
| who will carry out the Ideas of the COM
pany. or he is fined for neglecting the
| interests of his employers.
| so fur as his personal Feelings arc 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 manifests in helping to
fill 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
them. All they get is their wages, to
which they are entitled, no matter
| whether the car takes in 81 or 81 on the
| trip.
Another correspondent suggests that
| 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, we
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
| power and rights from the State, and il
IL the state which ought to compel them
70 exercise those rights with due con-
sideration Tor the interests OF the pub
lie which they are intended to serve.