The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-09-20
AN INTERESTING HEARING
ON PETITION TO LICENSE TROL-
 LEY MEN.

man DOnOvan's Petition Hearing
 Last NIght-Mr. Punderford Speaks
 for the ROad-Other Petitions Heard . The meeting of the committee on or dinances last night in city hall proved to be an interesting one. The principal business was the hearing on the petition of Jeremiah F. Donovan and others for the enactment of an ordinance requiring the licensing of motormen and conduc- tors employed on street railroad cars As was expected there were several speakers during the evening and their views on the matter were interesting.
 The first speaker in favor of the pe- tition was MT. Donovan, who said that he was chairman of a committee ap- pointed at a mass meeting during the trolley strike to put through an enact ment as spoken of above. Ex-Alder- man Walsh said that he heartily ap- proved of the scheme and that it was no more than right that the men should be licensed as they have the lives of the public in their hands. He said that the men should be intelligent and competent and that if they were exam ined more rigidly there would be fewer accidents.
 Alderman Walsh, whose resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of five by the mayor to ex- anime applicants for work was read, said that motorman should learn ev- cry switch and curve on the road be- fore allowed to take out a car and that the conductors should be obliged to learn all of the streets and places of transfer before taking charge of a car. He said that it was essential that none but competent men be given charge of the cars and suggested that fee of fifty cents be charged every applicant for position in order to defray the ex- penses of a committee or board if one should be appointed
 Philip Daley, who was prominent in
 the strike of the Fair Haven and Vest vile road employees, said that he thought the men ought to be licensed and if they were it would tend to keep out that don't care" spirit that, he said, was sometimes noticed in the con- OuCtOiS anu
 w. A. Stevens, a representative of the Trades Council, was of the opinion that the public would feel safer if the men were licensed. In answer to a question by Alderman Wheeler he said that three weeks would be little enough in which to break in a man and that it would have no effect on non-union man. Andrew O'Cennor, also of the Trades Council, also spoke and favored the movement and hoped that the com | mittee would recommend the enactment of such an order.
 Chairman A. A. filling of the com
 mittee then called upon those who were | opposed to the resolution and John K | Punderford, the engineer of the Fair
 Haven and Westville road, took the floor. MT. Punderford said that he
 didn't think motorman or conductor
 would be bit more qualified to handle 1 a car if he had a license in his pocket | than he would under the present sys- l tenn of examination. He further said that the road did not think an ordi. nance necessary. "The road is about
 as much interested as anybody in this | plan," continued MT. Punderford, "anC | they have given it as much time and study as anybody. They have formu. l lated plan that they consider perfect. l ly safe and from a selfish reason if none other, they would license mot ormen and
 conductors if they thought it necessary | How could we break in men as has l been suggested here tonight? WC couldn't send a member of a committee over the route with an applicant, fol we are breaking candidates in almost
 every day. Furthermore I don't believe you could get body of men together who would give up their good time tc ride on the cars with notormen ant l conductor showing them the different ropes.'
 | MT. Punderford said that he believed 1 the common council had no authorit. to recommend such an ordinance ant | that it would not be wise to exercis, | the power they had. Here MT. Punder | ford explained the system of breal1in, | in motormen and conductors, going int
 all the details.
 | Bernard M. Hope, James Keegan, ex Alderman Miller, James Monahan, ant others spoke on the resolution
 The resolution of Alderman OhKeefe
 prohibiting persons from being on drav
 bridges while open for passage of yes sels was then taken up. John Powers the draw tender at the Tomlinsol
 bridge made an interesting statemen
 as to why the petition was good one He said, among other things, that ever,
 day and night in the summer hundred of men, women and children got on tn | two ends of the draw and rode on it a it swung to let boats go through. Tn mechanism is delicate and the bridg
 has been injured to no little extent b, this practice. Lives are endangeret greatly, MT. Powers said. Alderman OKeefe spoke on the petition, favorin, it.
 The petition of Police Sergeant Have
 for an amendment in the ordinance pre- | scribing fire limits was next taken ur
 Sergeant Hayes said that he wanted tn fire limits pushed in" some so as no to affect the residents of Mill Rive | street.
 In the executive session that folloWe