The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1904-07-01
POOR OLD
TRACTION

ed a committee to investigate the af-
fairs of the street railway company,
with view to ascertaining if it would
be wise or polite to enact siX-for-
a-quarter fare ordinance.
During all the months intervening
the aforesaid councilmanic committee
ostensibly labored. and at the meet
ing of the council last Monday night
it brought forth-a mouse.
The report OF the committee Is just
what was expected of council motor
iously controlled by the traction com
pany interests. and which manifests
eagerness to do traction company bid
ding at every turn of the road. The
Lincoln Traction company has it's ten
tacles fastened in just the right
places. 1t is in politics up to its cor
poration eyebrows. and it never fails
to have it's plant tools on guard when
ever there is the least danger that
traction company interests will be an
ignored the public. subjected its pa
irons TO annoyances that only Lin
coin public-accustomed to corpora
tion domination-woulde endure, and on
last Tuesday it gave an exhibition OF
how il could take city council by the
tail and swing it around its general
Offices like schoolboy swings dead
rat ct the end OF string.
The report of the committee looks
good on the surface. 1t asserts that
President Scudder showed it the
books. and that study CT the figures
satisfied it that the traction company
could not stand a six-for-a-quarter
ordinance In the classic and elegant
dictioa of the "Tenderloin" district:
Rats"
or course President Scudder showed
the honorable committee a set of
books. Undoubtedly he told it that
the books were a full and complete
showing. And undoubtedly the COM
mittss believed it. Ii was that kind OF
committee. Trust the Gentlemanly
and oily management of the traction
company for that. When man wants
20 be hypnotized By corporation it
requires only few passes to put the
man to sleep.
The Lincoln Traction company owes
this town blamed sight more than
a six-for-a-quarter fare ordinance, and
If the people of Lincoln had any sand
in their craws they would get what IS
coming to them without any further
loss OF time. What does the Lincoln
Traction company owe this city be-
sides a reasonable fare?
1t owes the city 100000 in unpaid
taxes
L: owes the city a decent service.
1t owes the city cars that do not re-
semhle the dilapidated cowsheds of a
rack-rented Irish tenant.
II owes the city lines that do not
give patrons kidney disease and jolt
the internal economy of the passen-
gers into a chaotic state OF disar-
rargement.
1t owes the city conductor on ev-
cry car, instead of compelling patrons
to submit to the annoyance OF car
hopping and ringing the bell for
themselves when they want to get OF
And the Lincoln Traction company
owes its employees decent wages in
stead of the paltry stipend that it
pays. backed up by promise of in
creased pay at the end of 4 stated
term of service. only TO find some ex-
cuse for letting the men out just
about the time the end OF tnat term is
at hand.
If the people of Lincoln had the
nerve to demand their just rights they
would take such action as would force
the traction company 70 beg on Its
bended knees for the privilege of put
ting q six-for-aquarter fare into effect.
Think of it for moment. A single
track to the union depot and weary
wait at Tenth and p streets every
time car happens to be down ON the
union depot stub How often have
you reen compelled to hop from the
waiting car and tear down the P
street incline like bullet shot out OF
gun, only to reach the depot plat
form in time to see your traiI sailing
Z away around the curve?
How often have you felt the tor
lures of the damned souls of Inferno
when riding in those fiat-wheeled,
leaking-roofed, germ-infested and ioul
smelling relics of ancientry that the
traction company calls motor cars?
Think OF city OF $4,000 people hav-
ing a street railway service that quits
running cars at 11:2o p. m, and starts
its first cars out at $3.50 on Sunday
morning, Just about the time you
begin to wake up and enjoy yourself
al a social function you have to grab