New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-12
AFIGHT FOR TRANSFERS
TO BE WAGED At ONCE.
Association Formed to Protect Rights
of Travelling Public.

A, or-sntza.ion OF citizens is being formed IN
the city 10 protect the privileges OF 'he pu"ne
against any Illegal curtailment OF the rlsn' u
transfer
Il ie nronosed IN the case of public hear
ing before the Public Service Commission the Gov
ernor, Mayor any legislative booy' 10 $50
and present evidence iII opposition 10 "hat 1o
street railway attorneys are now DONG ~
a., -,~o,o~e5 - r,rorrre legal services OF Wen
known attorneys to defend in court any So
which may be taken TO cripple the street ia-'
service. .so,.
An informal association was perfected Ses.p go
and the name Street Railway Passenger fis La
Association agreed upon. 1t was u Ut,
letters should be written 10 candidates TOT p"'io
Office requesting them to take a s'a"u oH
question Of bills IT is proposed 10 lii' 49,
curing the railways within any oorousn Vi ~
CITY 70 give transfers for continuous rlde III one
direction, -, o.t~r
# was the belief of those present at the meeuhs
that business interests. such as the large oePai
n,ent stores could be relied upon lot C"-VPel o''
IN the matter of furnishing funds coininN'ee
was appointed to approach prominent men ""I
ask them to take active interest III lle ii"''ei an"
become officers IN the association
Israel Ludlow Of No 268s Broadway VINO De-
came known attorney for the horsema" a
ISOLATION at the time the rules OF the ROAD "ei7
adonted h, the Board of Aldermen in this city ana
also took prominent part in the race riot charges
elea AGAINST the police during Mayor Van Wyck s
term was elected secretary of the now orsanl1a-
ton and in speaking of the legal Posslbilltes OF
betterment of present conditions said:
Fxperience teaches with great force the fact that
conlete instce can had only If it is fought for
pubIic rights are always extremely difficult to OBJ
tain and the greatest legal fighters in the city the
street railways. are at present engaged in a con-
spiracv to do the people through the juggling OF
legal forms of procedure by means of recevershPs
"The difficulty about fighting this conspiracy be-
comes apparent when consider that the street
railways have millions at stake, while the incentive
on the publics side is only the extra cartare I'M
Justly imposed upon them, unless some men are
moved to themselves for the welfare of their
fellows TO direct of their energy to correction
Of abuse through their devotion the Ideals of So
ciety.
The men who are citizens of New York City ere
partners in what concerns the general good OF the
city and to urge the rights of the public in this
particular direction and 10 enforce vigorously the
remedies provided by law shall be the object OF
the Street Railway Passenger Rights Association.
THE folly of saying that such a movement as
here proposed is a fight vested interests may be
by the application Of the rules by which such
an attack be detected
We may presume that It IS the intention Of
the men who now throwing the various railway
companies into the hands of the receiver to take
away the right of the public TO a continuous ride
in one direction for fare, because such pre-
sumption a necessary consequence Of the deduc-
ton drawn the present situation
Mr.. Ludlow said that when corporations were
merged consolidated. and transfers came as a
result of such consolidation. the right OF the
public TO a transfer became vested, and that the
receiver could not of his own motion. take away
such transfers. for the rights of the public were
binding in the same manner other claims against
a corporation.
But he said. the rights OF the public cannot
be enforced unless the public acts The courts
like the gods. help those who help themselves, and
rights, unless fought for. viii become utterly
void. and the purposes OF the men who
back of the corporations will become the judg-
ment Of law