The San Francisco call., 1898-02-03
VICTORY IN SIGHT.

JICTORY is in sight for the people in the battle l N against the fenderless street Public sen
 timent, reused at last to the point of determined
 nsstence, has had its effect. As was announced yes
 erday by The Call exclusively the directors of the Market Street Company have resolved to wait nc longer for action by the Board of Supervisors, bu, will once equip their with safeguards for the | protection of the public.
 William F. Herrin, in speaking of the conclusion reached by the directors of the Market street system said to representative of The Call "We propose to exercise best judgment in applying device to human life and will equip cars with lenders Should the Board of Supervisors hereafter pass an ordinance requiring company to put on some otker fender device will go into court and fight the proposition its merits. The Supervisors will be compelled to prove they have found something better than we introduced"
 There can be no question that the decision reached by the Market Street Company is fully justified by the delay of the Supervisors As pointed out by Mir. Vining in his statement to The Call, the com paay has been waiting for action by the Supervisors ever since 1895. During the psriod that has elapsed the company has made tests of thirty safety devices, but has never been able to get the Supervisors to approve of any of them. Patience under these cir cumstances has ceased to be virtue It is time to act The Supervisors waiting too long. There have been too many deaths
 The announcement of this decision of the Market Street Company the most important item of local published yesterday It was received with grat- hcaton by the public, but not with entire satisfac- ton. There remains the question:: Since the com pany IS to act at last without the sanction of the Su- pervisors why has 1t waited long before doing SO? Why did not the corporation act promptly in the public interests without waiting until repeated namlngs and killings had reused public indignation almost to the verge of popular outbreak?
 The long delay of nearly three years in the settle ment of an issue comparatively simple as that of equipping with safety appliances similar to those in use in other cities is matter of grave public con- cern. It remains issue demanding investigation even after the railway company has decided to adopt lenders without further waiting It is a common runor the streets that majority of the Super vsors refused to select any particular device because of them demanded $500 each as the price of their approval. They have held out all these years it is said in order to get that much coin.
 Common rumor is good authority, but in this case all the crcumstantial evidence tends to justify the report that the delay in the adoption of lenders campaign of rascally inactivity for the sake of poodle. Recent disclosures in connection with the management of the pound and the issue of per mits for prize fights confirm it. Did the railroad companies know that the Supervisors were holding out for money? That is question the Grand Jury would do well to ask and investigate
 Victory Is in sight for the people, but it will not be complete victory unless the who are respon- sbe for the deaths by trolley accidents in the last three years exposed. To have gained the desired safety appliances the is good, but the battle should be kept up until not one guilty rascal es- capes unwhpped of justice.