The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-21
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1906.
MELLEN NOW IN CONTROL.

Marsden !. Perry's management of the local
street railway lines ceased yesterday. To say his
retirement has caused regret would be as absurd as
nanifestly untrue. On the other hand, it can be
asserted without hazard of contradiction that the
feeling in the community is one of extreme salts
faction a change that il is confidently expected
will operate TO the advantage of the city and its
citizens
Mr.. Perrys management was distinctly un-
satisfactory to the public. However successful it
may have been from the viewpoint of the stock
holders, it emphatically failure in the direc-
ton OF meeting the reasonable demands OF the
people from whom franchises that make the opera
ton of street railways possible were obtained and
whose patronage render those lines highly profit
able
The Perry policy has been autocratic It's at
titude toward the public has been one of hostility
IL was based upon the fatuous theory that street
railway company is the master rather than the ser
want OF the public Acting upon such mistaken
and mischevous conception of its functions, it is
not surprising this narrow minded management in
stead OF endeavoring by broad and liberal treat
ment to win the good will and confidence of the
people, constantly melted them to resentment and
indignation by refusing reasonable petitions for
the betterment of the service and by subjecting
them to irritating annoyances, discomforts and dis
ordinations
But an end has come to that sort of manage
ment or mismanagement, and citizens of this city
and state are grati6ed over its passing.
New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad
company establishes an absolute monopoly in
transportation in this state. Under some conditions
the situation presented would be viewed as
inimical to public interests.
That there exists neither excitement nor per-
turbaon in the face of this far-reaching merger of
steam and electric railways is signal and convnc-
ing evidence of strong popular belief that under
the enlightened and progressive management of
President Mellen of the New Haven company, the
people of Providence and of Rhode Island will be
given a efficient, adequate and satisfactory
service than they ever before enjoyed.
Mr.. Meen has made the big steam railway sys-
tenn of which he is the executive head increasingly
profitable by giving the public the best service pos
sible, and there is every reason 10 believe he
will pursue the same liberal and progressive policy
with regard to the street railway system that has
Just come under his management.
In selecting Mr.. +. G. Buckland as his repre-
sentative to take charge of the local electric lines,
President Mellen has made admirable choice.
Mr.. Buckand knows the people of Rhode Island
and they know and respect him.. He knows also
their needs in the way OF better street car service
and they cheered by the conviction that such
reasonable requests they may make will be given
careful and respectful consideration and that they
will be granted refused purely on their merits
and not because of personal prejudice petty
spite, too often has been the under the Perry
management, which now, happily, has come to an
unregretted end