Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-09

ating a bureau of transportation as
branch of the city government is, of
course, not for me to discuss.
THE second portion, however, of this
recommendation, which refers to the
speed of cars and the speed ordin-
anceS, compels me to say that compar-
atively very few of the accidents which
we have had the misfortune to have
occur on our lines have been caused
by high speed. If the commission had
taken each death case by itself and
analyzed the same 1 am satisfied that
in at least nine out of every ten cases
the speed of the cars would not have
been a serious factor among the causes
of death. In short, in more than 80
per cent of our accidents the accident
would have occurred whether the car
was running eight or sixteen miles an
hour
"Our companies must and will obey
any laws passed by the authorities
upon the subject of speed, or upon any
subject properly the subject of legisla-
ton and connected with the operation
of the roads.
IT especially desire, however, at this
point to suggest that in these matters
hasty action be not taken and that in
legislating upon questions of this
character, the Legislators consider all
sides of the question and among 9TH
Z d
panies are more vitality interested than
any one else in operating the road in
such manner as to have the fewest
possible accidents. This position is
both humane and economical.
Upon the recommendations as to
marking, lettering and lighting cars
we shall be glad to take advantage
mission as it is feasible to adopt.
To Stop on Near Side
1.-THE recommendation of the commits
sion upon the subject of stopping cars
on the near side of the street demands
at our hands particular attention. This
has been a mooted question among
street railway men for many years, and
in many instances the plan has been
adopted and abandoned. 1 have con-
cluded, pursuant to the recommends
ton of the commission, to instruct our
superintendent to stop the cars on tie
near side of the street and give the sys-
tenn a thorough trial. We shall put the
rule into effect within a few weeks,
and will give ample notice before so
doing.
"I would suggest at this time that
the adoption of this rule should, how
ever, be accompanied by the passage
of an ordinance as recommended by
to give the right of way to cars, as
such an ordinance will be a positive
necessity In case the cars are stopped
to let off and take on passengers oil
the near side of the street. One of the
greatest objections to this heretofore
has been that teamsters, knowing the
car would stop on the near side of the
street, have had no hestancy about
driving on to the intersection and
checking traffic in such l..anner as ia
make 1t almost impossible to operate in
congested portions of the city. Signs
should be posted on all street corners
calling the attention of the public to
the point where cars will stop to re-
ceive and discharge passengers, and the
police department of the city should be
required to give its attention and as
sistance i'm directing the public TO the
proper stopping and starting points.
Others Receive Attention
"The recommendations OF the COM
mission numbered from to 20, inclu-
sive, have been referred by me to the
proper heads Of departments and will
receive attention. l particularly wish,
however, to speak OF the criticism of
the commission upon wages and hours
of work:
1.-The commission seems, Il believe
through error, to have drawn a dis
tinetion as TO responsibility between
mOtormen and conductors. They have,
believe, fallen into this error through
the fact that such distinction is made
in steam railway operation. and TO
have lost sight OF the fact that IN the
operation Of an electric car the respon-