The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01
AN ALrsnED srnErr RA1DnoAD.
A Conductors Explanation or Changed Cendt-
tiops-Rheumnttsrn or the EIbow.


Many Of tho old patrons of the Madison ave-
nue. cars regretted the lease OF that line to the
Metropolitan Street Railway Company, be-
cause they disliked to think of the mctamor-
phosis which "a cy knew would como with the
change of control. 1t was not the prospective
replacing of the horses by mechanical power
which they had in mind. 1t was tho charge
which they felt certain would come over tho
dcmeanor OF the employees chiefly, and, to a
less degree, the different patronage which was
bound to come with the many transfers to and
from other lines which under the new manage.
mcnt were TO be granted. Tho last named
objection, inevitable under the conditions Of
life in the metropolis, they could easily over
come by "a nero mental effort along the line nf
sfoicism. Not SO with the other. They were
accustomed "a. respectful treatment from tho
conductors and drivers, to n reasonable degree
OF neatncss about the cars, to an absence of
hurly-burly and .grutf requests for fare, grufr
answers to tnqutring passengers, gruff orders
tickets.
There were persons who said that the solicit
tudc. of these persons. for their own future
comfort, at tho time of the change of control.
was u bit of needless worry, that passengers
new regime without loss Of any kind. That the
optimists were deceivers or were dcluded, on
one who habitually used the cars under the
ODD direction and has continued to do 50 under
the new need DO told. The subject has been
talked of often enough among the, regular and
otCdSlDnhl. DhbnenkeTb. lneTC Is HUG NlIIeT-
ence of opinion any more as to the change that
has been effected. A reporter the other even,
ing learned without asking why these changed
conditions have come to govern the operation
OF the line. His informant was II conductor of
an observing and reasoning nature.
The conductor directed the reporters atten-
ton to the suggestive caresscs a young loafer
was b%estowing upon his female companion in
the car. TIL two belonged to u party Of five.
1t was about IL o'clock in the evening. Tho
reporter was the only other passenger. The
conductor said that the road formerly had very
few such patrons. He remarked also that the
change OF control had made a marked differ
ence in tho conditions under which the en-
ployees worked.
This road used to be very exclusive" said
elusive people, and II used to be run accord
ingly. The men who worked on IT had to look
sharp. II a man kicked a floor grating crooked
he had to come down the first thing in the morn
ing to tho superintendcnt's Office and explain.
The least little thing had to be explained: III tho
lamps were not trimmed and burning the con-
ductor had to come down and see the superin-
tendent and. give an account of himself.
Every complaint received or report made by
tho patrons Of tho road received attention:
That was the Arrangements way. Instead or
that, now when a complaint comes In 1t Is
crumpled In the hand and goes into the waste
rheumatism in his elbow this company doesp
care
The conductor explained that rheumatism
Of the elbow stood for forgetting to ring up fares
and pocketing the money instead. He added as
an afterthought: This company believes in
giving its employees a show. 1t stands by the
men-instead Of the public"