The San Francisco call., 1910-12-08
3-CENT FARE IS
DISCUSSED BY
SUPERVISORS
"More Cars" Sole Aim of Board
Members; United Railroads
Chief Makes Excuses
Company Shows Bad Faith in
Dealing With School Chill
dren Is Charged

Taking up the proposed 3 cent street
public utilities committee yesterday
listened to General Manager Blacks
excuses for the United Railroads after
first hearing three hours of denuncia-
sion from citizens and societies from
every section of the city against the
character Of the present service.
The committee took the measure un-
der advisement merely, as Chairman
Herget and other members were care
ful TO explain: TO ascertain how the
ordinance could be enforced in prac-
tice"
More cars" was the one solution
advanced for the present conditions by
the petitioners. More cars" was the
goal admittedly sought by the super
visors in considering the cut rate. And
more cars" were in some sort prom
ised by Black
we viii begin putting on so new
cars after next February. said he.
We viii receive 10 cars a week. As
for the service IN this city during the
rush hours, we must admit that some
OF the things said have grounds for the
saying. But the problem of handling
the crowds is the same here as in every
other large and growing city. We are
IN no different case from New York or
any other large American city"
The streetcar service Of San Fran
cisco is shame and a disgrace that
would not be tolerated in any other
American city declared Barclay Hen
lev. speaking for the Good Govern
ment league LAS for stopping to in
vestigate the bad conditions set forth
in our report praying for relief, every
body knows these conditions obtain. 1t
would be q screaming absurdity TO in
vestigate them. The supervisors not
only have the power 10 enact a bill
enforcing a cent fare for straphang-
ers. but also one declaring No seat, no
fare
You talk about dirty cars" said
George II. ROundey for the University
Mound district Improvement associa-
tion. Why. our cars have never been
washed The windows are washed
when it rains. We are treated with
about all the contempt possible
Mrs Elizabeth Gerberding, for the
Women's civil league. said the United
Railroads professed TO want sugges-
tions. but when It received them treat
ed them with disdain.
In most OF the great cities Of the
civilized world I have observed the
character Of the car service, and I re-
sent my own city having 10 put up
with q service fourth class"
Dr. G. W. Merritt. president of the
civic league. charged that the COM
psny was reducing the number Of cars
20 the beach and that the Fillmore
street cars were particularly filthy.
Supervisor Bancroft showed photo
graphs OF Market street taken at five
minute intervals between 4 p. m. and
s p. M, disposing Of Blacks assertion
that more cars could not well be placed
on that thOroUghfare during the rush
hours.
1t was also brought out that the COM
pany was reducing the car service on
Valencia street and that more with
drawals were rumored among the car
men.
The bad faith OF the streetcar COM
pany in dealing with the school chill
dren was brought out by Miss Haw-
kfns. representing the civic league. She
said:
The company demands that the
children come 10 the carbarns at the
end Of the runs 10 get the tickets
charging fun fares 10 the child and its
mother when the latter does not care to
let year old youngsters go to these
places alone. A single clerk waits or
the children. The company requires
the child to sign the cards and every
body knows that most 6 year old chill
dren can not write. Then only 20 trips
are sold at one time. It all counts ur
IN the end for the company"