The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-14

Mayor MCCARTHY HhesS S""Aee -
Rhode Island company with suffering
crowded cars at the rush hours. improper
ventilation aot using proper tenders etc,
in a message yesterday to the BOARD "a
aldermen. which was accompanied by
resolution directing the council commit
tee on railroads TO investigate and report
The matter was referred to the commit
tee on railroads.
Later Vice President Albert t. Pot'er'
General Manager A. L. Potter ana Zen
.ral Counsel N. w. Smith OF the Rhode
r.,.na comnany said that the company
,,,rst nIead not guilty to the charges, ana
axnleined the situation from the railroad
viewpoint. a. .ho hoard
meeting was as follows.
..Thaf the joint standing committee OF
railroads be and II Is herepy reques'o,.
s.,,ast,,ute and report TO either branch
srith,n 40 days. upon the necessity TOT
,s.tter street car service and accommo-
dation OF passengers
Mavor Mccarthy's letter, which accom-
psnied the resolution, follows:
ssIt In a matter OF common knowieuge
that the public has just cause OF COM
,,,aint arainst the street railway COM
nanv for neglect to provide reasonable
car service during the morning and eve
ninr 7l~h hours. also that conuuctors
osct the cars with passengers To an un-
comfortable degree and pay no attenuoh
20 ventilation. and that these conditions
sye OF long standing 10 the knowledge OF
tns council committees on railroads OF
previous years. Tho public Is entitled TO
your earnest consideration and, there
FORE thus bring tho matter TO your at
teution early In the municipal year ano
recommend the passage or the accom-
panying resolution"
The public has been complaining TOT
= long time regarding the overcrowdng
OF electric cars" the mayor said later
ssThe conductors aggravating orders OF
Move forward. please and Move up
are not liked by the public. There arc
not even straps enough In the cars, fo-
those people who are crowded into them.
10 hold on TO.
ssTha railroad company is fully aware
Of the conditions and OF the many COM
plaints that have been made, but, hav-
ing a monopoly OF the car service here,
they have paid no attention to them
They have imposed upon the public be-
cause the former railroad commissions
have not forced them to do their duty
by tho public The present committee on
railroads WILL l believe. do Its full duty.
There should be many moro cars dur
ing the rush hours. Heretofore the great
er number OF complaints have come from
persons travelling upon lines used prin-
cipally by the working classes. who arc
made 10 hang on to straps IL they can
get one, when going TO or from work.
Now. however, the better dressed class
are complaining that the same conditions
exist on other lines running through the
better sections OF the city.
/ have called attention to this lack
..l..t O.. 10Th.
and have been advocating a change for
several years, but nothing has been done.
Now however. I am quite sure that some
thing will be accomplished, and that tho
railroad company will be brought TO see
its duty TO Its passengers.
Another point wish to emphasize now
r. that the tenders on the cars OF the
Rhode Island company have been and
still are inadequate. They are simply
technical compliances with the laws.
Many Hives have been lost through lack
OF proper tenders on the cars. But still
the previous commissioners OF railroads
have not disturbed the railroad company
by requiring II to adopt a proper safety
fender. / would ask the public TO look
at the tenders for themselves now on our
cars. VIII they also look at the heavy
iron connecting rod sticking out In front
This alone will kill anything II hits even
before the car itself hits II. 1t IL
menace to the public and some way
shouN be found 10 have 1t placed under
the car"
COMPARED WITH NEW YORK
vice President A T. Potter said that
oars were crowded as badly In NV York
and Boston during the slack time OF
travel az they were IN Providence at rush
hours. and that II was correspondingly
WorUe In other cities. He continued:
why. few years ago. when Mr.. X.
i. Todd came here 20 be general man.
ago.. he said at once: You don't know
here what real crowd In. At this hour,
when you cali II that cars are crowded
merely because people are not seated. the
traffic = being carried ON the roofs and
hanging ON he edges OF tho platforms
in Ptttsburg.' 1t Is much that way In
almost any large city one goes into. The
evening travel II being cared for in
Provdence today better than few
years ago-better. in fact, than Is years
ago-despate the great growth OF travel
Tho ideal way In for a conductor 20
regulate his ventilators according TO his