Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
EMPLOYEES DEPENDED UPON
Proposals for Physical Tests of Sky
scraper Elevator Men.
EXAMINATION OF CHAUFFEURs
To Reduce Automobile Accidents.
Certificates Provided for, Sue
cessful Competitors

NEW YORK. August q, 1907
Fully nifty persons are injured or killed
each day in New York It is estimated as
The result of carelessness on the part Of
employers in choosing their workmen.
Reckless driving in the street bad manage
ment OF cars disregard of precautions by
chauffeurs and ignorance I'm handling ele-
vators are responsible for the ma jority of
| these accidents, though blasting, unprotect-
ed street openings and crossed electric
wires also claim their share of ambulance
calls.
OF late elevator accidents have had a
high percentage In the city of skyscrapers,
and the public is beginning to realize that
the man who runs an elevator in a twenty
or thrty-story building during the rush
hours must be, physically fit. In one sky
scraper alone nearly 10000 persons are car
rfed In the elevators on an average day.
One of the coroners who investigated a
number of elevator tumbles gave as his
verdict that they were due for the most
part to the ignorance of the elevator opera
tors. who. In a time of emergency, could
not think quickly. and when they did think,
didn't know what to do. This coroner has
announced that he will try to get passed q
state law which shall prohibit any one
from running an elevator until he has
passed an examination and secured a state
license as elevator operator which testifes
to his mental and physical qualifications for
of persons. %
Other people are beginning to demand
that the handling of trolley cars. driving
OF horses and the use of high explosives
shall be limited to men who intelligent
enough and have good enough eyesight to
carry on their work without danger to the
people on the streets. The matter of high
! explosives is particularly important in Man
haitian. with its rocky backbone out of
which foundation space for the tall build
ings has to be blasted with dynamite.
Shortcomings of Sight.
The most recent movement for protection
Of the public through the examination into
the fitness Of employees is that among own
ers of automobiles and those who operate
schools for training chauffeurs. The large
number of automobile accidents has started
car owners thinking, as in many instances
such accidents have proved to be very cost
ly. even IL the owner escaped the remorse
of having manned or killed a fellow human
being. Investigation of many of these ac-
cidents established that they were attrib-
utable not to carelessness, but to some
physical shortening such as shortsighted-
ness or other eye defect on the part of the
man at the steering wheel.
AS result many of the weather.
owners are convinced that it is extremely
hazardous to employ a chauffeur whose
eyesight is not perfect and who, in addi-
ton, is not in such good physical condition
| that he is in danger of collapsing sud
denly from heart failure in time OF
emergency.
The idea of physical test for a driver--at
least as far eyesight is concerned-is
gaining hearty support from Automobiles
who returning from tours in Germany.
In that country many or the leaders OF the
medical profession and a number of prom
inent government officers advocating
the requirement of a thorough eye test as a
preliminary to the issuance of a chauf-
feurs license by the government They
point out that such examination is re-
CURED of railway operatives. and that.
while the chauffeur pay not need to read
as important to pilot car through a
crowded street among pedestrians as 1t Is
to run a train over a fixed track which 10
not promenade.
Valuable Asset.
No official action as to the chaufreurs
has yet been discussed in America, but
many individual owners for their own pro-
lection having their physicians
pass upon applicants AS a consequence
chauffeurs are beginning to realize that a
physical certificate, as well as one testify
ing to mechanical skill. is a valuable asset
In order to meet this demand of owners
the largest school in the world for the In
struction of chauffeurs and motorists con-
Quoted by the West Side Young Mems
Christian Association of this city has made
arrangements to give a complete physical
examination as to sight, hearing. lungs and
neart 10 It's students. beginning with the
fall term, which opens September 4. The
school will issue to those who pass the test
a certificate, signed by the physical di->
rector reading as follows:
This is to certify that has
passed satisfactory test for sight, hearing
and other senses: that he is sound physf-
caly and is free from any nervous dis
order that would unfit him for the Office Of
a chauffeur"
While no student who objects need take
the physical examination-and this will
have no direct connection with the proper
work of the school-it is believed that the
men who show their physical certifi-
Gates will be most in demand. AS the Y. NJ.
c. A. automobile school had S17 students
last year, 1t will be interesting to see. how
many of the men will take the tests and
what proportion will pass. Many owners
contend that in issuing this certificate az a
result of optional examination the school is
but anticipating by a few years a condition
which will be required by the employers of
chauffeurs. and possibly by the state, for
all motor car operators