Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-05
MUST HAVE vEsTIBULED CARS.
Mr.. FoIkes's Bill Reported Favorabiy
AFTER n Lively Discussion.

Mr.. r. c. Folkes won quite victory at
the meeting of the House Committee on
Labor and Poor yesterday afternoon IN
succeeding in having reported favoraoly
his bill requiring street railway compa-
MES to use vestibule fronts on their cars
during the months of December, January
February, and March.
He had to contend against great ODDS,
AS the railway officials and attorneys
were out in force. and made strong ar
etiments in opposition to the measure.
The Young Richmond delegate, however.
met them at every point and completely
overturned every objection raised. 1he
result was that the committee Noteu
unanimously in favor of the measure.
Mr.. Charles T. Bland, Of Portsmouth.
opened the argument in advocacy OF the
bill. The measure was opposed by MI
Alfred r. Thorn, counsel for the Nonoik
street Railway Company; Mr.. McRae, OF
petersburg; Captain Guigon. of the Rich
mond Railwaystlnd Electric Company, and
President Williams, Of the Richmond
Traction Company.
GROUNDS OF OPPOSITION.
One Of the arguments made in opposi-
ton TO the measure was that the use OF
vestibule fronts to cars would endanger
would not be able to see clearly through
the glass easements, particularly in bad
weather. when msts or frost would form
upon the windows. This would increase
the danger of accidents to pedestrians
and vehicles.
Mr. Folkes met this by stating that
vestibule fronts were now used on me
Seventh-Street Line. and two cars with
vestibules were being run on the Main
Street Line. The cable-cars in WashinS-
ton used them, and in New Jersey and
Missouri the street railway companies
were compelled by law to use vestibules
on the front Of their cars.
Another argument made in opposition
TO the measure was that in the end the
motormen would not be benefited by the
vestibules. as i'm bad weather the centre
window would have TO be lowered, and
the men would thus be exposed to a
draught, and after becoming accustomed
to the warmth of their sheltered position,
they would be more liable TO contract
colds.
Mr.. Folkes asked If any man would at
tempt TO argue that because it was me-
cessary to freeze one day. therefore, he
should be compelled to freeze the ie-
mainder of his life Many a man was
placed under the necessity of standing at
an open window on some occasions but
he did not care to remain in such po-
sltion every day in the year.
The same dust that would gather on The
panes of glass of the vestibule would, II
there were no such protection on the
cars. get in the motorman's eyes and
thus blind him. A little alcohol rubbed on
the glass would prevent the latter from
being made semi-transparent by moisture
In reply to a question from one of the
committee as 10 whether alcohol would
have that effect Mr.. Folkes replied hat
he deemed IL useless to answer that ques-
ton. certainly from his questioner, as he
thought the latter was always of the
opinion that alcohol would cure any evil.
A PLEA FOR HUMANITY.
In fact. Mr.. Folkes declared that even
Mr.. Guigon, at the bottom OF his heart,
was in favor Of the measure for who
was more prompt, 10 raise a, cry when
some unlucky cat, dog. or mouse came TO
an untimely end, than the representative
of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals? Certainly, therefore.
Mr.. Guigon entertained a feeling Of hui
mainly for the poor. frozen motormen
Captain Gulgon asked that the matter
be postponed until Colonel Cutshaw, The
city Engineer. could appear before the
committee That officer was not at pre-
sent I'm the city. The body refused TO con-
slider such a suggestion. however. and
went into executive session. The doors
aere opened In less than a minute and
II was ascertained that the committee had
decided unanimously to report the bill ia
v0rably.