The San Francisco call., 1896-05-02
Declare the Innovati on Furnished
Great Sport and Added
Profits.
DAMAGE SUIT IN PROSPECT
To Re Brought by a Lad Who Was
Refused Transfer for Legally
Obtained Check.

1t was great day for the newsboys who
make the corner OF Market and Powell
streets their stand yesterday. 1t was day
of triumph, fun ana increased profits for
them. For the employees of the
Market-street Railway which, by the
introduction of a new transfer system at
this point, hopes to circumvent the urcnins
in the manipulation of transfers as pre-
miums in the sale OF newspapers, it was a
day of tribulation, perspiration and over
whelming defeat. And as for the travel
ing public it occupied much the positio II
of the traditional lad who stood the blows
while two 9th ers fought. In short, the
new check-transfer system at this point
proved decided failure from whichever
side 1t can be viewed.
There was no augmentation of the news
boys forces, unless the increased sym-
pathy and cooperation of the public with
them could. be so called. On the other
hand the battle against the lads was waged
by special corps directly under orders of
the company or working in cooperation
with the company's cohorts. At this point
were massed five transfer agents, ten spot-
ters or r'assistants and from threa to half a
dozen officers during the busiest parts OF
the day, and not one ot these had a sine
cure.
The severest strain on them came in the
early morning hours between $50 and s,
and in the evening from to g. though at
no time, except late at night, was there
anything that approached slackening on
the strain.
At the height of the rush it was that
six transfer agents found themselves with
their hands literally full and their utmost
efforts failed to prevent serious obstruc-
ton of the sidewalks by the impatient
throngs waiting TO exchange their checks
Tor transfers. At these times Disguised
men swore, indignant women protested,
and scores and scores started to walk to
their destination or attempted to ride on
their transfer-looking checks, only to be
elected from the cars with the suggestion
to go back and secure transfer. So great
was the obstruction and so pandemonium-
like the demonstration observed that the
vicinity OF the corner where Eddy and
Powell streets debouch into Market ap-
peared TO be IN state OF threatening riot
from sunrise until long after dark.
Not only did the police endeayor, though
with but the poorest of success, to keep
a passageway on the sidewalk for pedes-
trians, but they amused themselves with
even more futile efforts to drive the news
boys from the field of contest.
1t was reported that IN addition to the
persons who were elected from cars for
falling to provide themselves with trans
fers, 70 any who had been seen to secure
their transfers from newsboys by spoilers
were put off cars on the ground that trans.
fers are not transferable.
But the most serious incident, SO far as
the railway company is concerned, was
the refusal of Transfer Agent Philpot to
exchange check for a weii-known news
boy. who had obtained it iegitimateIy.
This lad took ride to the Cliff. House and
left his car on his return at Powell street,
asking for and only obtaining check
but when he proffered it to have it t'ex-
changed fol-, transfer the agent named re-
fused to comply with his request, having
recognized him as a newsboy. The lad
awaited the return from the ferry of the
car on which he had ridden into town,
boarded it, asked the conductor if he rec
ognized him as having ridden on his car,
paid his fare and having obtained check
He not only secured all these admis-
sions, but got the conductor to indorse the
checK as having been legitimately obtained
by the lad.
The latter again presented the check fer
exchange, but the agent remained obdu-
rate. Then, on the suggestion cf a COM
rade, he at once put the matter in the
hands OF an attorney, and there is GER
tainty OF at least one suit resulting from
General Manager Winnings great coup.
AT Third and Market streets there was
less friction, as the system had been par
TALLY in practice for two months before.
The only unusual feature was the increase
OF the transfer agents to three during the
busy periods of the day.