The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-08
BILL To PROTECT
THE MOTORMEN
Cars Must be VestibuIed in
Winter.
IN UMANlIYS NAME
Street Railway Companies Argue
Against the Bill.
THE HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
Mr.. R. [. Gray Presents The Opposition Side
and Mr. Whitaker, Of Forsyth, De-
fends ris Bill With Much
S rength.

The bill introduced by Mr.. Whitaker,
Of Forsyth. requiring all street railway
companies to have yestibules on their
cars during the months from November
to April, and tenders on all passenger
cars, was considered by the House Com
mittee on Railroads and Railroad Com
missions yesterday afternoon, and after
much discussion on both sides of the
question, was referred to a sub-com-
mittee consisting of Mr.. Whitaker and
Mr.. Shannonhouse, of Mecklenburg, for
investigation and re-drafting.
This is a measure that motormen in
different parts of the State are begging
for, and which for the sake of human
ity North Cardinals lawmakers cannot
afford to kin. Everyone who has talk
ed with the motormen of Raleigh knows
how they suffer from the keen winds
in winter, and how earnestly they want
the protection the vestibuled platform
would afford them.
At the committee meeting yesterday
afternoon, there We're present in the
interest of Street Railway Companies
to fight the bill: Messrs. r. I. and r.
l.. Gray. of Raleigh, julius c. Martin.
of AsheVile, and A. Il. Shedding, of
Wilmington.
Mr. II. l.. GRAY presented the argu
ments against the bill. He read letters
from different street railway men in
northern cities, the purport of which
was that the vestibules were not in
general use in those cities except where
the runs were very long or extended in
to the country. 1t was said that the
rain. snow and frost upon the window
glass in front of the motorman prevent
ed him from seeing clearly and thus in
creased the danger to pedestrians; also
that the vestibule inDeded his hearing.
AS to the tenders, the argument was
that they We're menace to persons in
ne street. because in turning corners
ley projected considerably over the
'ack. This objection did not apply so
iuch to Raleigh as Asheville where
the streets are so much narrower. Mr..
Gray said that persons waiting for a
car on corner might overlook the fem
der and be tripped up and thrown under
the car He said there had been only
two accidents in Raleigh, one to a
drunken man. and the other to deaf
woman, and that the fender would not
have prevented either accident, as both
these people went against the car from
the side.
The speaker went on to say that the
bill applies to every city and company.
and the conditions, climate and sur
roundings are so different that no law
could be enacted that would apply
equally to all companies and cities. The
different boards of aldermen have full
power to adopt such measures as may
be necessary for the public safety.
The mild climate of Raleigh and Will
mington was urged as a reason for not
having vestibules.
In the course of the discussion, Rep
resentative Hood, of Wayne, asked Mr..
Shedding if he believed tenders We're a
protection to life and property. He re-
piled that he did not know.
Representative Whitaker, in defense
of his bill, spoke in part as follows:
Il have not one particle of personal
interest in this matter beyond the in
terest of q citizen. These street car
companies are represented by attorneys
and agents, and they submit very plaus-
ibe arguments against the measure. 1t
is their business to do it. If / could
have been in communication with the
motormen, and they had had money
enough to employ attorneys, their ar
guments would have been just as
strong.
II have seen men suffer on these cars
as no man should be made to suffer by
any corporation with spark of human
ity about it. We have laws to protect
animals, and yet here are men treated
as animals could not be treated under
the law. If necessary, / can bring
here representatives from the motor
men of my town to present their case.
I'VE have here strange contradic-