The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
LEAGUE POINTS
OUT The EVILS
OF CAR SYSTEM
Good Government Organization
Asks the Supervisors to
Compel Reforms
Petition Says United Railroads
Service Drives People
From Metropolis


From Metropolis
Relief rom the intoIerable conditions
of street railway transportation as
conducted in San Francisco by the
United Railroads is the aim of a peti-
ton fled yesterday with the board of
supervisors by the Good Government
leag gue Barclay Henley being attorney
for the petitioner. The passage of a
resolution by the board declaring its
purpose to adopt an ordinance requiring
the United Railroads to provide proper
transportation facilities is the demand
Of the petition.
IN the Indictment against the United
Railroads II is charged that the United
Railroads is not only menace to the
life and limb and health Of its patrons,
but is q deterrent TO the growth of the
city. The point is made that persons
can travel out Of the city TO transbay
and suburban points with less incon-
Tenience than they can travel about the
city during the rush hours of the day.
CHARTER INsURES RELIEF
The relief for the patrons of the line,
1t is asserted in the petition. is 10 be
found in the power granted the super
Vssors by chapter ,, section 27 of the
charter Of San Francisco. which pro-
vtdes that the supervisors shall have
power
To regulate railroad tracks and ears
To regulate rates of speed and
10 pass ordinances TO protect the public
from danger and Inconvenience in the
operation Of such roads.
There are seven counts contained in
the bill of the Good Government league
against the United Railroads. and they
are all predicated on the inadequacy Of
the service in the matter of the number
of cars operated and the length Of the
headway between cars.
PASSENGERS ISIPERILED
IT is asserted that between The hours
OF and $50 o'clock in the afternoon
the cars are Invariably crowded to such
an extent that the passengers are in a
state Of discomfort, are Inconvenience
and imperiled. The complaint and pc
tition continues 70 enumerate the dan
gers 10 which passengers are subjected,
and recites that in European cities 1t is
a misdemeanor for a railroad corpora
tion TO fail to provide seats for pas
sengers-
The petition follows:
Petition to the honorable board of supervisors Of
The city and county Of san Francisco:
Your petitioners respectfully pray that under
tho provisions of chapter >. section -. Of the
charter Of this city and county appropriate or
dinances may be- enacted providing for the relief
Of the travelling public and protection from the
dangers and inconvenience now existing and
arising from The operation Of the streetcars Of
The Tinted Railroads Of the city and county Of
san Francisco.
IN support OF this petition your honorable
board Is respectfully requested 70 consider the
following facts. facts which are within the
knowledge Uf every member Of your board and
likewise well known to probably every resident
~ ihc CITY whose business or inclination renders
u necessary 10 take passage upOn the Streetcars
of the United Railroads The facts referred to
may be- briefly stated follows;
First During certain hours Of the day. and
particularly between O'Clock and $3.50 p. M,
an0 also during morning hours when business
men W0rkmcu and employees generally are seek
ing their places of employment. the in
yariab.y crowded 10 such an extent as TO be a
source rf discomfort. serious Inconvenience and
danger 10 passengers on said cars
second Passengers frequently during these
hours are unable 90 gain footing said cars.
much less an entrance thereto. and il is daily
occurrence for them TO be obliged to stand ON
steps and 90 retain such fOOthOld by grasping a
stsnchlon or other appurtenance TO the car. all
Of which is ineonvenient and. unless great
vigilance IS observed. dangerous 10 life and limb.
Ihird--Ihe crowding together of 50 many peo-
PIE n the limited space Of streetcar. in addi-
tlon 10 being inconyeuent and uncomfortable TO
me last degree, must neccssarliy De unwhole-
some. insanirary aud by reason Of rhe unavoid-
able generation Of impure atmospheric conditions
must Tend 70 the dissemination OF disease.
Fourth-rhese methods Of conducting the
United Railroads are notorious the sun In the
sky. and infolerahle. but the hardship Of il
hears most cruelty upon shopgirls and other en-
rloyes. We'll upon the mechanics and la
boring mea. who worn out and exhausted with
The days toll. may be forced TO stand in an
oVercrowded car and uftentimes to wait At street
corners OF other stopping places until car after
car passes. thus wasting time and in bad wealth
er entaling serious consequences to health.
Fifth-lt is a well attested fact that the an
uorances above yeferred 10 have been a serious
detrimenr 10 this efy-in fact have driven citi.
ZenS to seeking homes for themselves and fsmi.
lies across the hay and elsewhere. it being less
lnconNehient ~ Jhese particulars than residence
IN this city. The trip from the business portion
Of our city ~ the close Of the day can be made
70 various OF our ifalslfaA citles with much less
discomfort than 10 the residence section Of tho
Sixth-The people of this city are patient and
lonC suffering. but their patience has beer
stretched until the point of fracture is reached
such hagrhnt violations OF a plain duty by 8
public service corporation is unknown 10 youI
petitioners anywhere else in the confines al
Civilization In European cities it is a misde
neanor not 10 give passenger A seat: It is 8
mlsdemeanor 10 even permit passenger to enter
esf unless there IS = seat ready for occupancy
the effect Of which is 10 compel the compan es
10 Increase the number Of vehicles for conveying
passengers.
ny operatives in fatories and their families anr
--@adents Of suburban districts owing to the
length OF intervals or headwsy between cars
This tends 10 prevent such residents from doing
their shopping in the department stores Of bust
ness centers.
Under the section and chapter of the charter
above cited your honorable board is vested with
ample authority to compel this corporation Il
furnish seats 10 IFS patrons.
The hrst paragraph Of section !. chapter ,
reads follows.
subject 60 the provisions. limitations and re
strictioRs coniained. the board Of supervisor,
shall have power Then. omitting the inter
Fening section. the pertinent language reads a,
follows. To regulate railroad tracks and cars
8 10 regulate rates Of speed and to pass
ordinances TO protect the public from danger n
inconvenience in the operation Of such ros ds
In view Of the facts your honorable board II
respectfully asked TO pass the following resolu
1ion
Whereas. Il IS a matter of general publt
knowledge that. the sfree;car facilities Of th,
United Railroads Of san Francisco arc grossly
INADEQUATE 10 accommodate fbe travelling Dubli,
81 certain hours Of the day: and
Whereas power exists IN the charter of tn,
city and county of San Francisco to compel ssis
company 10 conduct its transportation business
be free from danger or Inconvenience e
the travelling public; now. therefore. be II
Resolved. that il is the sense Of this hoart
that an appropriate ordinance he enacted withou
delay compelling said company 10 provide trans
portatiou facilities conforming TO the provision
Of section p. chapter >, Of the charter Of thi
city.
And your petitioners viii ever pray.
GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE.
BY Barclay Henley. attorney for petitioners