The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-08
SERVICE.

STREET-CAR SERVICE.
The present character of the street railway sery-
ice is the result of the company's efforts, as stimu-
lated by the periodical awakening of public opinion.
in connection with the financial interests of the cor
porations. Perhaps the service would be very far
from satisfactory had not the Municipal Assembly,
upon recommendation of Mayor Wells, enacted a
regulation ordinance about a year ago.
The special message of Mayor Wells and the new
law effected an immediate Improvement, which has
been fairly wei maintained. although there has been
comparatively no additional betterment. But the i'm
prOvement is not so much due to the passage of a
new and really good law as it is to the impact Of
public opinion, as compressed in the Mayors mes
sage. Good as it is. the new law cannot be ade-
quately eficacious unless it be vigorously enforced;
and it cannot be enforced properly and effectively
unless some official lie specifically charged with re-
sponsibility.
AS The Republic has frequently contended during
the past year and a half. the citizens of st. Louis.
who are the patrons of the railways. should not be
dependent for accommodations entirely on the good
will of the corporations. 1t is natural to presume
that these corporations. which exist for the benefit
Of their stockholders and bundllolders, should not
expend any more money than they must on the serv-
ice; they will, presumably, do only what is neces-
sary. or possibly compulsory, In order to keep tneir
pdlIOIS ltAdllNts tiSLt HIS may bt dCttIitH
as the corporation attitude, with the further argu-
ment that tolerable service. which is pot necessarily
efficient service, is mandatory for holding adverse
public opinion in Il state of pacifcation.
The street railway service is not any less impor-
tant to the public than the maintenance of the
streets. sewers. parks, whaFves and other genuinely
public Institutions; it is undoubtedly more vital in
the everyday affairs of the great majority of tile
people than are the parks and the wharf. The city
has a Street Commissioner, a Sewer Commissioner,
a Harbor and Wharf Commissioner and n Park Com
missioner, but it has no official to represent its citi-
zens in the supervision of street railways. Here IS
one of the paradoxes of municipal government.
The whole population comprises the patrons OF
the railways. In a year almost every adult in the
city rides in the cars. At least twice daily thou
sands of persons ride back and forth on the various
divisions. The annual passenger business of the
companies goes far into the millions. in patronage
figures. For the convenience of these millions of pas
sengers the franchises were granted and the roads
are operated. This is the primary intention of the
franchises And. nevertheless, the city makes no eff
fort to enforce il.
We have a law TO regulate the running of cars.
containing provisions for violations. The law evil
IDENTIFY is substantially good. But what is the use of
a law which no one is required 10 enforce: Citi-
zens cannot grOpe in the dark to the City Attorney
with their complaints, for the City Attorney, at best.
can do no more than prosecute. Patrolmen and de-
tectives cannot devote their time TO watching the
cars, unless some are specially detailed TO this work.
Even should p%atrolnen. detectives and citizens OBJ
tain information and the City Attorney prosecute,
nothing more can be done than to stir public opinion
periodically and TO obtain temporary redress.
The Municipal Assembly should create an officer
whose duty would be to supervise the management
of the street railways and cause steady betterment
in the service. If necessary, this official should have
fifty, or even a hundred, assistants in vigilance work.
for the street-car accommodations are a daily matter
VI concern to virtually all citizens.
As n matter of fact. the street railway supervisor
should he a member of the Board of Public Improve
ments and the office should be established by char
ter. But. pending charter revision, the office should
be created by ordinance. 1t must be obvious that Il
responsible officer. representing the public and liable
for the character of the s%treet-car service, would
have it in his power to achieve surprisingly crafty
ing results. 1t appears to be the city's duty to act in
this direction. Money spent for improving the street.
ear service and maintaining efficient service would
be well spent.