New-York tribune., 1907-08-19
opposing 4 GRE1r REFORM.

Much surprise and regret are felt at the an
nouncenent that the travelling pubic objects
10 the new style of trolley car which Is beng
introduced on the Second avenue line in this
borough We Ind hoped that the appearance
of those vehicles would be hailed with wide
spread joy as marking a great step forward
in not only the physical hut also the social ana
moral welfare Of the community by rddlhG
fhe public of one of the most demoralizing and
desolatfnc causes of strife which ever issued
from paudora's box The reform is one III
which The Tribune has long taken deep
and active interest. and although the trolley
car managers may not have tried TO achieve IL
in precisely the way that seemed best 10 lis we
are prepared 10 concede that any achievement
of it is better than none
The controversy 10 which we refer is that
concerning the ear window, whether on trolley
limos or steam railroads. Who shall deter
mine whether il shall be open or shut? The
person who sits next to it, or the one in the
othe- end Of the seat or the one behind, who
.,ats most Of the draft and dirt in his face?
ar * the matter 10 be determined not by any
ore but by a CONSENSUS Of opinion Of all who
are concerned: Realizing the social and moral
devastation which the problem was causing,
and Iamentnc the broken friendships family
fevss. shattered constitutions aud wrecked
moral characters which were its innlllperdblc
results The Tribune years ag" gave up many
columns of its space to public discussion aud
,xpprt ANALYSIS of the matter. hoping thus 70
ind q way of abating the monstrous evii, Our
homo was strengthened some tine ago when
rho trolley roads in Brooklyn and the elevated
roods. too. adopted their greatly admired dead
omen or shut type of car. In those vehicles
fba window controversy was settled Or,
rather. it was abolished. For every window In
the car was made so that it could be opened
only f,y removing Ii altogether-an operation
recurring the services of carpenter-and,
when IL was thus removed, of course 1t could
not be closed save by taking the car back TO
tie barns and having the carpenter get the
sash out of storage and replace it--an opera
lion which could not readily be performed every
time a sudden shower came up or the wind
grew chilly SO. for part Of the year every
window In every car was immOvably closed,
and for the rest of the year every one was ana
mad to remain wide open. Thus was the great
controversy disposed Of, and thus were social
peace. domestic happiness and personal prob
ity restored 10 Brooklyn.
n is we say, deplorabie and dishear:ening TO
SEQ that the East Side of Manhattan objects
70 having the same benefcent work done for
that part os the city All the more because
hero II was proposed TO DO the work by degrees
instead or al in huddle, as i were. The
second avcff.e cars have. we understand. ten
windows at each side. Of which only six are per-
rnanently fixed. the otiler folr being, for thc
present left movable in order not 100 suddenly
% deprive chronic wranglers Of their accus-
toned topic of contention. The plan doubtless
was 10 leave them thus for a time, and then
10 reduce the number % movable windows on
each Sid. 10 three. teen after another interval
30 two then Ia one, and at last 10 none at al
-affcr the manner q the reduction OF doses
Of onilin or ~. histori: disappearance OF the
zen little niger boys sitting n fire sun And
10 think hat soIse Denls:ted Nan'iattanese os-