New-York tribune., 1907-01-22
THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY.
City FED" Committee VigiIant as
CiUic HOuSeWiUeS.

While thousands OF Staten Islanders have en-
joyed the better conditions that have lately pre-
vailed the Staten Island side of the municipal
ferry few know that the improvement is directly
due TO a suggestion of Mrs. Harry Hastings. chair
man Of the public safety committee Of the City
Federation Of Women's Clubs and now candidate
for the presidency OF that body.
Conditions have been very disagreeable for the
people using that platform" said Mrs Hastings.
speaking recently OF the committees work Every
stormy day the planks were flooded with water
went there one day when had almost to wade
from the ferryboat and the only thing that had
occurred 10 The authorities seemed TO be to sweep.
Why not bore holes in the plankng and let the
water top through into the water under
meath? said TO myself. 1 wrote 10 the Mayor,
making the suggestion. I received no reply. but
the next time 1 used the municipal ferry found
the holes had been bored"
The sanitary conditions of the elevated trains.
especially those on the East Side. have also en-
gaged the interest Of the COMMITTEES. which wrote
complaining of the disgusting state OF filth or many
They likely TO be filthy at in the
morning as AT at night said Mrs. Hastings. 1t
complained about 1t to Commissioner Darlington.
who issued order TO the company to keep the
hoors IN a decent condltlon DAY ana nlshts ana
you never saw anything like the magic of that
dirt you now is the result Of ordinary travel
What a cooperation will do when forced TO is
vice-president of the City Federation Mrs. Has
tib9ng Of The Manhattan ears before 10 Joint meet
ing of the Senate-AsSemb bly, committees cities.
The representatives OF the street railways de-
tons absolutely forbade; collisions and casualties
would be sure TO follow, etc. But, all the same.
bung began in Brooklyn and as yet no casualty
has been reported because of it,
The activity of the public safety committee in
pushing, in cooperation with other influential
agencies. the case for the removal OF the New
York Centrals tracks in Twelfth has been
told but the committee does rot consider that its
work will be finished till the tracks are removed
from the grade.
mo work for our committee IS possible said
Mrs Hastings, IN this connection. that does not
mean federation with other agencies. This much
can be said. however: respectful consideration IS
always given 70 the complaints OF the committee
To make their reform efforts effective
must have a definite cause OF complaint present
authorities"
While the speeding Of automobiles has long been
a subject OF anxiety 10 the committee public
safety, the members admit that il is very difficult
to suppress or control 1t, because Mrs. Hastings
SAID, me automobile is IN itself means or escape
from justice. Take large automobile, driven by
an expert chauffeur and il beat everything.
We have the laws, but where the proprietor and
most impossible 10 enforce the laws The hopeful
sign in the situation, Mrs. Hastings thinks. lies in
certain members OF which have got themselves
sworn in special policemen for the enforcement
Of the speed laws.
The next offences against public safety TO enlist
the committee are the nuisance Of the blind beg
gars who stand at the foot Of the IL stations
and make practice OF expectorating all around
OF the stairways leading TO the stations. In the
spring the committee intends agitate for the re-
adjustment of the running boards streetcars, so
that women and children at least can get and
off without discomfort and often danger. Last
summer the committee wrote 10 the Department Of
Commerce and Labor 70 see II the excursion boats
and informed that they were. This summer
the will write again.