New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-17
STREETCAR RULES.

Few men care to take such trouble to protect
themselves against the impudence and oppres-
sion OF streetcar corporations and their employees
as Mr. William NJ. WINS took and he deserves
the thanks OF the community for refusing 10
be imposed upon even ut the cost OF personal
Inconvenience II Is to be regretted that the
car men did not appear in time to press for
judicial determination Of the right OF the com
pany to enforce rules OF conduct upon passeh-
gers which It disObcys at It's own convenience
We hope Mr.. WINS will test the case by bringing
action against the company because of his ar
rest.
1t Is perfectly notorious fact that the Metro
pOlitan Traction Company not only PERMITS ou'
joyously encourages the crowding Of It's cars
until seats. aises. platforms and even DnHers
are occupied No matter how full car may
be- new passenger Is welcomed ana HIS rare
collected with enthusiasm One may ride cling
ing to any part of a crowded car without worn
of warning or remonstrance. but let him step
on the platform Of a car not already Jamheu
to OVERLOOKING and he will be told 10 move III
side with an insOlcnce quite i'll contrast 10 'n'
good-naturcd appeal for his fare while he Is
struggling for foothold and likely to drop OF
before he can pay for his ride. The rule against
riding on platforms Is either necessary or IL IL
not If II Is not necessary the company mas 10
right to impose il on passengers IN any case IL
it is necessary the company Is crlminaily wrong
In disoheying 1t for the sake OF extra hicheis'
Mr.. Vreeland. the president OF the company
makes most grotesQue defence. lie says
"We have q wall-defned rule winch prohlpis
"passengers from riding on the front PLATFORM
,when there Is room inside the car. ana ADDS:
at Is not question Of one man riding on me
front platform. for there might be little GROUND
"for n grlpman on our cars to complain or III
terfercncc. bu, il is a question OF one man
.leoding a dozen others to join him.. In other
words. Il will not do for one man to be OUT
side lest he by example collect dozen ana IN
terfere with the gripman. but 1t Is periec'!
proper for the company 10 crowd twenty upon
the PLATFORM until the grpman cannot move.
when by 80 doing It con get more fares our oi
the trip than the proper capacity OF the cars
permits
We do not I'm the least object to the rule OF
clear n,otforms. On the contrary, gripmen
should have free space for their trying WORK
II would be an excellent thing II In TINS GU!
the universal European rule could be enforced
limiting the number Of passengers to the seat
ing capacity Of the vehicle but that Is evidently
impossible so long as transit facilities are so
inadequate at the rush hours. But 1t Is GER
tainly possible for the railroads to refuse 10
carry Rnore passengers than can he taken with
safety, and Mr.. Vreeand's own claim Is 'ha'
safety requires the clear platform He says
the crowdlng is beyond his control. The front
platform ia not beyond his control lie can
close the gates. and proven; all encroachnenfs
much more effectively than by having passeh-
gers hustled inside the moment the interior OF
the car is not as crowded as sardln' can
But II he did that trip in the crowded hours
would be less remunerat!"e: so. while protest
ing that he canno. give conductors discretion
about not stopping crowded cars. he gives them
discretion to make traffic dangerous by taxing
fares from people on the FROM platform one
minute and pushing them through the doorS
against other people the next