New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-01
TROLLEY AND CABLE CAR TENDERS


The prescntmcnt of the Kings County Grand
Jury calling upon the Legislature To pass an ac
compelling The Brooklyn trolley companies to
equip their ears with proper Tenders for the
protection Of human life gives expression 10 Il
just popular demand Such an act ought Il
be adopted AT once and vigorously enforced and
ii ought to apply to cable companies in this city
as well rs to the trolley companies of Brook
Ign There is not a doubt that the new meth
DDS Of sircetcar propulsion are employed with
far too little regard for the safety Of the public
No such horrible record Of slaughter has been
made in this city as that which almost daily Is
added 10 in brooklyn. but there have been here
nevertheless. numerous distressing accidents
some of them fatal which were not unavoidable
The law should interfere to prevent an unncccS
sary extension of the melancholy list. Across
the East River the need Of mandatory lcsisla
ton To stop the worst consequences of careless
ness and brutality is tcnfold greater. The troll
lcy-car in populous settlements is dangerous at
best. II is heavy, II moves suddenly ana swift
". and for It's proper control requires inccsSant
watchfuncss. nerve and skill on the part Of the
man in charge Of II. Put 1t the disposal of Il
reckless. rasciblc. ignorant man. il is certain I"
work havoc The men employed by the Brook
lyn trolley roads seem 10 be- IN general. men OF
that sort II they are not. then the duty of
cu,iipping The ears with safety appliances APP
pears all the more clear and Imperative In
that case the trolley is an even more dangerous
vehicle than has been supposed.
The Brooklyn 'rollcys have caused the death
of 1oj persons. and have inflicted serious in
made gradually. and therefore is real cnormty
may not he fully realized hut We are glad to see
that popular Indignation is rising II is not a
question Of a balance of advantages -complra-
lively quick and comfortable transportation on
the one hand. grcaI and inevitable danger on
the other The danger in anything like the de
gree in which it now exists i not inevitable"
II is well known that there j. a type Of fender
which in practical use elsewhere i constantly
proving its efficiency. Its merits have been oili
caly proclaimed with direct rcf"rrnc" 10 In"
requirements of Brooklyn. Some other design
equally good or better might perhaps ho invent
ed If the BROOKLYN trolley managers earnestly
desired To stop the slaughter with which they
are justly chargcablr Bur II they were really
alive 10 their duty. they would not wait for som"
future possibility. They would do what they
are able to do at once. We are compelled to be-
licvc that their neglect j. inspired 10y The same
policy Of dcicStablr avaricc which Characterized
their financial vaccinations and their dealings
with their employees. They seem 20 think 'hIt
+, j. cheaper in the long run 10 destroy than 10
preserve human life.
Since This j. their policy. or sine" their collr.'"
is precisely that which such policy would dc
tate. il j. The duty of The Legislature 20 inter
vcnc In behalf If he people who have bestowed
immensely valuable privileges upon thc.. cor
p0raiions only To h" continuity exposed =" need
less danger in return The public WAS drirlud
ed when luCratiy" franchises wcr" given away
That was prongaic surrender. hut ~" people
retain an inalicnlblc right ia supcryi~" The
operations ~ the companies they hay" enriched
and their most urgent demand has been suit
ably expressed by the Grand Jury The L"gl>
lature should compel the adop' Il safety
Tenders /; Brooklyn ana Ncw-Nork on trolley
and cable lines.