The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-17
A BILL To
PROTECT
M0T0RMEN.

A hearing was given before the senate
committee on special legislation today
upon the bill for the better protection or
motormen in cold weather. The bin pro-
vides that all electric cars operated within
the state between Nov. and April snail
be equipped with vestibules and that COM
panies who violate the casts shall be fined
not more than 500 and not less than 800
for each offence.
Senator Young appeared In behalf OF the
act. He said that the practice on the
Hope-Crompton was very good example
OF the sufferings OF motormen who were
exposed TO the inclemency OF cold weather
while In the performance OF their duties
Ha told OF a petition which had been
drawn up by clergyman ana sisheu py
the greater part of the business men III
the Pawtuxet valley. The petition, he salu'
had been presented TO the Rhode lslai,,,
company. but no attention haa Deeh piio
10 II. -
Mr. Kenvon asked II any OF the cars
an that line were vestibuled He was
,rformea that none OF the regular cars
ware yestibuled, but that when ~ WAS
necessary to put on extra cars 'he piS
RIverpoint cars were sometimes used
Senator Cushing thought the act was
a necessary one and thought IL shouiu
be passed. No one he knew OF, he SAID
was opposed TO the passage or the act
except those who had pecuniary inter
est In the matter. He said that on the
lines which operated In his town, North
providence. Il was sometimes almost
torture 90 watch the discomfort or the
notormen. He called the attention or
the committee 10 the fact that a motor
man who was numbed by cold was not
in condition to act as quickly as possible
in case OF emergency when such action
was necessary for the preservation Oh
life.
For the company Col Frank Thing
hast appeared In opposition 10 ,he pns.
| He called attention 10 the fact that put
a few years ago horse cars had been
used and that when the change was
made cars were built similarly TO the oio
horse cars and that no vestibuled cars
| were built at that time.
| Now. he said. only vestibuled cars were
| being manufactured for use in northerr
cities The motormen, he asserted pre-
ferred the open cars and after looked II
derlsion as the vestibuled cars passet
4 them.
He said that in New YORK. Boston ant
| other large cities the resort 10 sucf
| drastic measures as the passage OF suci
| law.
Lawyer Angel then stated that the ben
| efits OF vestibule car was an open question
| and that many companies had positivel'
| declined TO use them as they were consN'
| cred a menace TO life and property. il
| said that the policy OF the company wa
10 get its equipment into the shape o
| vestibule cars as soon as possible an
| raised the question OF whether or not tn
use OF vestibule was an Improvement 8
far as public service was concerned, bu
that the use OF the vestibule was soei
for the comfort OF the employe.
He said that the big cars could not b
taken up College hill, but that as far a
possible the open platform cars were ru
on the short lines He said IL made tn
small cars "end heavy" TO vestibule them
There was some discussion In regard
the matter Mr. Angel said a man Nigh
freeze In vestibule.
Some one also said he guessed not !
this climate.
81 don't know about that. the passer
gers pretty nearly freeze in closed car
up my way" remarked Senator White.
Senator Gushing stated that he had In
troduced the bill because Of the constar
complaint on the part OF the men on tn
lines on which he travelled, who sal
they suffered intensely because of I'll
cold TO which they were exposed.
Chairman Kenyon asked what was Tn
longest run on which the open cars wer
used
"Forty-eight hours up my way som
times" remarked Senator White.
After n few more remarks on the mai
ter by various persons the hearing wa