The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-04
CAPTAIN HODGES
ON STREET CAR LAWS

| To IN. Editor of The Republic
St Louis sept. 2-One Of the most difficult
problems ia connection with the Worlds Fsif
seemed TO lie that OF transportation to and
frvm the grounds In anticipation 81 The
feared consesti"n half a dozen or mJre bis
were introduced in toe Municipal Assembly, III
elevated street railways, all u which were '.fS
properly sluelcned. Happ.ly. uasrr the anl-
sU.~iiEtei!u-Hcy OF capJa.n SIC, u.IUch u IN,
lii-lisit Ioini-nJ and the extraordinary eHo.,s
Mace by boii. Soinvailir there i iso Isasvanie
cause ior complaint On that scors- W. na.'
.hiOukhvut Inc city a most .hcciie:at ana q
ncient street car s.TNice- The d-pIOsabic ias.
r.EiAirs. thai tneIe are many Iatii aee
e..tA. 'aLsrd ~ the SaTelc-sncas oil the ptVt'e
and by the failure O: InYturTn-n and o"ndue-
Tors ~ obey existing ordinance have n
doubt that they have explicit Instructions ..
confer 10 the requirement that -'vn-n-ver a
car Is about to pass another car going ia IN.
opIDsit. direction at point where IL Is per
ihisslbie iof passengers TO alisht from or 10
board a car. said "a. shall proceed at a rat.
81 sped o; not over thTe- miles an hour
kEow from my own observation that some
rletcrrnen comply with this ordinance. but the
iLaloTiiy Do not The trouble IS that (; IL no
ones duty TO see that the ordinance IS IN
forced A; the time l introduced the bill a
existing Law governing street railways. ] intro
duel another bin. creating the Office Of street
tinued In Office during the pleasure Of the
Mayo. whose duty should be the enforcement
Of the law. Th,s bill was defeated. As the
case now -cends. It i. entirely OPTIONAL with
me street Railway COMPANIES and their en-
not the siighios; effort Is made 10 enforce
obedience.
Under tn. provision. of the city Charter thu
police arc charged with the duty ~ seeing that
me ordinances for the protection Of life and
limb are enforced So far the police are
concerned this t. dead letter. on the con
trarv. every policeman Is In eject A PEN
SroSER on THE: BOUNTY OF THE STREET
RAILWAY COMPANIES. and In direct yio-
lat!oE OF tn. city Charter. which provides that
" afIv street railway company shall permit any
person other than officer employe TO ride
free It. CHARTER SHALL. BE FoRFEITiD.
In other words. the street railways submit;
loss IN revenue Of NJ least s7s0cD per annuin
In order that the officers. v hos. duty IL is TO
compel them TO obey the ias. shall be under
PERSONAL obligations 80 them The trainers q!
the Charter for-saw the danger II such n
difion OF thirEs. and sought hy the extreme
penalty TO prevent II. Vet the street railway
companies are willing TO tax. IN. chance. Of
the loss OF their charters and an enormous
revenue referred 90 aboy. 10 lie on friendly
terms with the polic. II IL firm conviction
that The Board Of Police Commissioners should
forbid their officers 10 ride fro. ia clear vio-
iatiUn Of the Law. and that IN addition they
should 10 made familiar with the ordinances
governing the running 81 street cars and n.
CHARGED with their enforcement ~ this w.r.
done the lives Of Cur guess aEi Ourselves
would bs mad. reasonably safe from the deadly
peril which constantly threatens.
". H. HODGES