The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-25
the shape of check for 100000. A very
pretty custom indeed, but one hardly
likely to come into popular vogue.
THREE MEN TO A CAR.


A bill has been introduced In the New
York legislature. the main provision of
which ought to commend itself to the
people of these two cities as a reason
able regulation for their safety and COM
fort. Briefly stated, that measure pro-
vides that the large cars now in use In
street passenger traffic shall be manned
by three instead of two men during
rush" hours. One of the men Is to de-
vote himself entirely to running the car,
another to collecting the fares, and the
third is to give his attention to super
vising and assisting the entrance and
exit of passengers
Every citizen knows that there arc
hours during the day when the need OF
an additional man is imperative on our
larger street cars. On the main inter-
urban line, for instance, during the hours
of heavy traffic, when the cars are
crowded and the conductor Is busily en-
gagged in collecting fares. the passengers
are left wholly to their own resources
There can be and there Is no aid extend
ed to them in getting on or off the car.
Were 1t not for the spirit Of co-opera-
ton among the passengers any one de-
string to get on or off would be at an
utter disadvantage. AS it Is, the con-
inner consciousness, and that Is to get
every fare that comes on the car. The
onnipresent "spotter" admits Of no ex-
cuses. The fares must be collected ana
''rung up or that conductors days are
numbered.
There should always be man at the
rear end of these great cars to assist
women and children and all infirm per-
sons to enter and alight. The height OF
| the steps and the rapid movement OF
the car make 1t a positively dangerous
undertaking on the part of such persons
to enter or adght While inside the cal
the conductor. In giving the signal to &c
ahead, especially at night, is at an utter
| disadvantage, and needs to exercise the
utmost caution If he Is to avoid acct
! dent The contingency Of carrying g
passenger block out Of his or her way
is not of enough moment in the mind OF
either conductor or company ordinarily
| to cut much figure. But the conditions
attending travel on these huge and fast
| moving motors are so entirely different
from those which attended travel on the
horse car, or still attend travel on the
ordinary sized vehicle, that entirely diff
ferent and better provision should be
made for the convenience and safety Of
those who travel in them.
There are very pressing occasions, we
believe, when the street car concern finds
itself compelled to bring the services of
two men, In stead of one, into requisi-
ton in the body Of the car. But they
are rare, and the act is entirely optional.
1t Is not An unreasonable requirement
that between the hours of and all the
heavy cars should have a conductor, as
well as a collector. No woman, child or
old or infirm person should be asked at
any time to get on board one Of these
cars without assistance That assistance
is regularly offered by either friends or
fellow passengers, and where the con-
ductor has not a crowded car to look
after he usually finds 1t entirely con-
yenient to go to the back platform when
lady prepares to enter the car. But
the precaution should not be left to
option or accident If there was any
reason to expect anything whatever from
the council but the most touching tender
ness in its treatment Of the street car
concern, doubtless the necessity which
urges itself on the people Of New York
at the very outset among them Of this
kind Of traffic would long ago have
forced itself on the attention Of that
body. The Clio b makes the sugges-
| ton, of course, without any but the
slightest belief that even a single Re-
| publican councilman will deem it OF
enough Importance to give it mo-
ment's consideration.
1