New-York tribune., 1905-04-16
THE STRIKE PROBLEM.
Public Should BE Safeguarded
against EuiLs of Tie-up.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: While have high regard individually for
the members Of the Rapid Transit Commission, yet
I do not think that as at present constituted, II
is in touch with the demands and requirements
OF the people OF this city. and believe that the
thing to be done IS to provide for change In
the commission which will make it body really
representative of feelings and the needs OF the
people OF the city Of New-York. The recent defeat
of the Elsberg bill aud the attitude Of the Rapid
Transit Commission toward that bill are points in
Illustration.
I also think that there should be- some provision
which would prevent any such discomfort to the
public suffered during the subway ana
elevated railroad strike It should be possible Tor
the city to take a hand In questions between en-
ployers and employed. Whether this can be pro-
l should hope that il might be found practicable
in granting any further franchises to make co1di-
tons which would prevent such loss ana olscol'o''
to the pubic by reason OF STRIKE ..
Here is another suggestion; one OIL or the ne n, nTSS 81
Committee of one Hundred. OF wnicn l have the
the elevated railroad that cars should be fitted
with doors in the centre This is desirable in the
of CONSTRUCTION would reduce the seating capacity
of eacn individual car and the CARRYING SapaGMity NY
of each Individual train IL would also reduce IEe
length of stoppage at stations at the crowded
headway and by their greater frequency 20 aCCoIn -
modate considerably larger number OF passehserSS
to control both centre and the ends OF the cars
so that the passengers might be made 70 so IN at
I think that smoking should be absolutely prohib-
tied in subway stations. and for that matter on
elevated stations also. Although myself smoker,
1 have never been abe to regard with decent de-
gree Of tOleratiOn the man who has so little con-
sideraton for the comfort of others that in crowd
ed places, where people, and especially women,
cannot escape he viii pun cigar or cigarette smoke
into their faces and / am always filled with a
sense of disgust when | see man get into a car
with a burning stump in his hand. which pollutes
the who4e atmosphere of the car Common de-
cency and consideration of the comfort of others
should prevent such swnishness; but. inasmuch as
The race of two legged hogs does exist and cannot
be induced by mere consideration for the rights
and comforts OF others to deSist from these ana
other similar self-indugences like splitting in pub
lie Il seems desirable that there should not only
be rigid rules preventing all smoking on platforms
OF elevated railroads, and still more on platforms
OF subway stations, where conditions of good ven
tilation and fresh air must be more carefully
guarded but also that these rules should in some
way be enforced, they not enforced at the
present moment, by the officials OF the companies
in cases where rules exist.
trust that all future franchises will absolutely
prohibit advertising, both in the cars and on the
stations or along the roadways also the vending
OF anything except perhaps, the daily and weekly
papers and magazines. This will diminish the prof
it's and hence the value of the franchise. but what
the city gains in other ways is worth this loss
think.
There should be provision In future subways.
fancy (but such matters 1 am no eXpert), for a
roadbed which be flushed and provision for
flushing It, JOHN 2. PETERS.
New York, April Z. 1896.