New-York tribune., 1903-02-14
NO FARE IF NO SEAT.
Charter of EleUdted So Provides for
Non Bush Hour.

The West Side Citizens Transit Reform Com
mittee of One Hundred yesterday sent TO At
torney General Cunneen a report from it's COM
mittee on law and legislation. severely arraign-
ing the Manhattan Railway Company. In
letter the Committee of One Hundred requests
that the Attorney General take some action
against the company, and suggests that he has
the discretion of either bringing action to
annul the charter of the company. or beginning
mandamus proceedings to compel the road to
perform it's duties. The report of the sub-com
nittee calls attention TO provision OF the
conlpany's charter compelling it to carry pas
sengers free who do not have seats in non-rush
hours 1t recalls the manner in which the rail-
road built it's third track ''surreptitiously, and
how it has encroached on public property in ex-
tending it's stations. 1t also criticises the man
ner in which the capital of the company was in
creased. The report follows:
Your committee law and Hesitation through ,I
pany have carei examined the expedlency OF
taking legal proceedings against that company on
lic and to fulfil the objects of its Incorporation
ion that the attention of the Attorney General
should be called TO the matter and his 9ld f9ncf9 lei &
formed of certain rights which are not generaiiIy
known or appreciated. and which can be easily
tested and enforced in the courts by private ctl-
zeHs; We suggest therefore. that communication be
at once addressed to the Attorney General calling
The Manhattan Railway Company has been en-
deavoring to pay dividends. in addition TO interest
coo of of Which at least S$0a coo IS Vel known to have
been issued without adequate consideration ana
represents practically expenditure OF capital
This has long since been established in legal pro
pany agt. Manhattan Railway Company, IA Abb,
To accomplish this corporate feat. it has been
found as an expert has recently expressed IT. ] Ihas
nda ran9rn anG n9t ed seats beTsaTe a
though a. contrary to law and to the r pTof b
modern corporate management is called an lmperl-
The charter of the company provides (Article
VIII, Section 81 among other things. that "a seat in
during the hours above Indicated ne provided for
every passenger upon any tram VINO desires i ana
such hours, such passenger shall be entitled to
1re w Wlnoq1 IN paymemt qf og Of tb Article are
between $50 and 7:90 a. M and between ana
Whether the remedy. here given ths eitizsE Of f
the FH Exclusive fusf WRsn he to Is which f9S pn6c @
entitled Is question We a 2eneSf Tn9uld sr 1e at
in an appropriate proceeding behalf Of q long
outraged and suffering public
NO FARE IF NO SEAT
Had this provision been enforced heretofore. and
Seats in order to Increase rs revenue there
question but that more adequate acconi9oa 1l99 }I
would have been furnished the public and s1ould
measures now be taken in the direction Of en-
forcing not the exclusion no 31 bt H gin m
them to ride free. there would be a material m
tion to the nroper authorities by the road for in
creased tracks and other taci1les at crossings 70
enable them to provide more uaihs ana 50 more
Tniustifiable economies have been and are Icing
practsed by the company in other matters ard IN IN
direct violation of those expressly enJ0Ined by law
among other things provides in Article VII thereof
Sec. 43. stations shalt be so aIranseu dS 10
be convenient of access from the street -
Sec. IS Each station snail IL II hdNe @npIe e space
under cover to accommodate the passengers. ,,
known Your committee have procured photographs
that station. taken when S tne sun ~, lis7dri.
traffic IL existed IasI Ny t,tio 1atforr, ax
ceRt RRbare m ie n" adequate accommodation for pas
sengers and the crowd upon N Inc bd fri y riI
The rush hours without being crushed Az certain
1 otber ~ % stations without being exposed to dis
agreeable physical contact VIZ Wlt1 it p, p , o
has condemned no property for a station; although
they are authorized by law so TO 90 ana the S ruSn
the intending paaeoTmnsiIed 10 look over the heads
train tnat he IS rpI hundred people While MS
train comes into the station and leaves 1t without
eiaing him an opportunity to board it, although
ttra NAV he room and empty seats his
train.
PEOPLES REMARKABLE PATIENCE.
The most remarkable fact about this condition
of affairs IS that . IL h9s so onS yoic M tS
protest from the p"o"'' reS1l'iiis :" "''io' III ''
~ is true that the road at various times has
,eEed for privileges hereafter he referred to-
from the Rap1 Transit Commission. and as early
addifionai franchises provided they built additional
terminal facilities and improved their accomnloda-
necessitatsd the condemnation Of land for sta
tions and the road rejected the oner OF adalIlona
franchises upon the conditions naneG as aPPeaI9 '
by the minutes of the present Rapid Transit com
Continued fourth PAGE
WHEN THE MAN OF AFFAIRS TRAVELS
he rses the Pennsylvania Limited. because u oHefs