The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-09-13
OPEN LETTER TO UNITED STATES
SENATOR NELSON w. ALDRICH.

the people generously or stingiiy. Ihus
again, sir. you may find your company
In position far from Independent Oh the
people They cannot only demand more
pay than they are now getting LOT the
general franchise. but they can impose
practically wnat conditions they please
so long as these are not impossible TOR
the railway to perform, In return for
the additional privileges which II from
time to time seeks at the hands OF the
city.
In other words, II the people of Provi-
dence want free transfers, and they are
organizing ward clubs for the expression
OF their desire upon that point, they can
make you grant them whether you like
II or not.
What amounted TO a recognition OF this
power OF the people was contained in the
action of the legislature of 1897, where
your influence. political and business. was
not exerted against the passage of an act
empowering the Providence city council
to grant. IL IL so saw fit, a site of land in
the heart OF the business district on which
the company could build a transfer sta
ton ''for the cars to 60 through" This
plan served a purpose-it added to the
gayety of the season: but no citizen in
the enjoyment of ordinary intellect ever
expected tho city council to ALLEVIATE
American territory for transfer station
for the cars 10 60 through" AS a matter
of fact, no city council ever did vote so.
Still the company, through you. as Its
representatives. placed in tie position OF
admitting that free transfers ought TO be
given.
Since that time the picture OF your emil
nont self which has been impressed upon
the public mind represents you as wear
Ing cross between a worried look and
martyr smile, as you sigh. We'll, we
have done what we could. IL an ungrate-
full people wouldn't let us do 1t our way.
II is their fault, not ours"
You will pardon the vigor as well as
the personality OF my language IL 1 sug-
gest that this attitude is one OF pious
fraud. 1t won't go. The way to give free
transfers is to give free transfers. Not
fngress and egress through a building on
Market Square. but tickets-uttle, thin,
punched tickets-handed out by the con-
as he was about TO leave the car or board
the one outgoing; or handed out by q
man standing at the curb.
The young men in The News office fig-
ured out that with transfer stations at
Market Square. Dorrance street. Turks
Head and Mathewson street, two men on
each side OF the curb. and two shifts,
your already over-burdened salary list
would undergo the addition of sixteen
men at something like two dollars a day.
But you would also have to pay for the
tickets and the punchers. So that alto
gether this boon the people ask would
cut cruelty into your profits.
Fortunately there is a bright side TO
the alarming picture. III you grant free
transfers you will carry anywhere from
100 to 200 per cent. more passengers In the
heart of the city during the day than at
present; people who have TO do short
errands involving a run across the non-
transferring functions. and who would
usually pay five cents without grumbling,
where, rather than pay ten, they walk.
\ assure you, sir. that the people would
rather have free transfers granted volun-
tarily, than rise and take them, but free
transfers the people want and II one way
does not bring 1t about they will try an
other.
Very truly yours.
TORREY r. WARDNER,
Editor The News.