The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-20
P LATFORM M
TO BE KEPT
CLEAR
Board Of Works Car Inspect
or Causes Arrest of Five
COndnctOrs--P. S c. Aids.

Joseph Crawford, a trolley car inspect
or for the Board of Works, last night
began his crusade against the crowding
of the rear platforms of cars, with the
result that five conductors will be ar
raigned In First Criminal Court tomor-
row morning, charged with violating
the city ordinance, which states that
the rear platform of cars must be kept
clear.
Crawford Is out today again, together
with Policeman Ryan, of the First Pre-
cinct station, and will cause the arrest
of more offenders II they do not keep
the car passageway clear. He is work.
ing in the Clinton Hill section.
The North Jersey Street Railwoy
Company officials today gave additional
instructions to the conductors in regard
to this matter. They were ordered to
ask persons obstructing the back plat
form to step inside the car. and to re-
peat the request and explain the city
ordinance, and then If the passenger re-
main obdurate they were instructed TO
stop the car at the first place a police
man was sighted and cause the PERSONS
arrest IN a ~disorderly conduct charge.
1t is understood that there is an
understanding between the trolley
and the Board of Works by
which the company will not pay the
ines of conductors not enforcing the
ordinance. and, further, hat the con-
ductors will be discharged II they are
not firm in their requests.
Commissioner Augustus F. Eggers,
of the Board of Works, who brought
the boards attention to the enforce
ment of the ordinance several weeks
ago, said today that the ordinance will
be enforced in this city if the entire
police force has to be assigned to the
work.
hi various police captains have re-
ceived no complaints against their men
for refusing to arrest men crowding
the platforms when requested to do so
by conductors.
Yesterday Crawford was at Broad and
Market streets about 1880 o'clock,
watching the loading of IRIS bound
west on Market. which stop for pas
sengers a few rods from Broad. II was
just the time that a large portion Of the
traffic is made up of women returning
from shopping expeditions, and most of
them pretty well laden with packages.
A few who had just come from a de-
partment store, in front of which a
Kinney car had pulled up, tried to get
aboard, but some men on the platform
blocked the way.
Crawford noticed the incident and
told the men to get inside the car, but
the only satisfaction he got was a surly
injunction to seek a more torrid eli
mate. Then he ordered the conductor
to clear the platform, but only met. he
declares, a vigorous refusal.
Crawford was accompanied by Po-
liceman Thelin, Of the First Precinct
whom Acting Captain Caffrey had as
signed to assist the inspector, and to
gether they got on the car. They rod,
as far as the Tenth street carhouse
and then took the conductor off. H
was placed under arrest, n THEIR
called the Fourth Precinct patrol
wagon. In 1t he was taken to the Sew
enteenth avenue station, but Judge
Herr, who was holding court at the
time, sent him on to the First Pre-
cinct station, the offense having been
committed within it. The conductor,
who gave his name as John Bevense,
was paroled until tomorrow morning.
The penalty prescribed for violation
of the ordinance is So.