Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-09-10
VINCENT
KNOWS HOW
TO "KICK''
ASKS THE RAILROAD COMMIs-
SION TO COMPEL THE p. l.. &
p. co. TO GIVE PASSENGERS
AS DECENT TREATMENT AS 1T
GIVES TO HOGS, SHEEP AND
CATTLE.

Objeting to being subjected to
crowded conditions in travelling, to
which "even livestock" is entitled to
and is accorded more respect, and to
being jammed into space that would
smother a sardine, and with his feet
in his neighbors lunch basket, v.
Vincent Jones, of Portland, has filed a
complaint with the Railroad Com
mission against the service provided
by the Portland Railway, Light G
Power Company over its Portland to
Cazadero line, in Portland, and de-
mands relief from the conditions al
legged to have prevailed j the past at
the hands of the commission. The
letter of complaint, which is worded
in a unique and characteristic man
ner, follows
1--WE desire to lay before your hon
orable body complaint as to the ut
ter disregard of the publics comfort
and welfare displayed by the Port
land Railway, Light & Power Com
pany in the operation of their trains
upon the Springwater division run
ming from Portland to Cazadero.
There is not 25 per cent of the time
this company runs enough cars to ac-
ccmmodate all the passengers riding
I,A 1nfn oct
specific instance of this, upon Satur-
day, September g, the undersigned
boarded their train at East Water
street and East Morrison streets, in
the city of Portland at 2:45 p. m.
with tickets for Deep Creek Gulch
Junction. Passengers for points be-
yond Gresham We're directed to one
car and passengers to Gresham and
points west were directed to another
car. The car designated for passeng-
ers beyond Gresham was jammed full
to overflowing, and 20 people were
unable to get seats.
Against the protest of the con-
ductor in charge of the train, we
took seats in the Gresham car, and
upon reaching Gresham were given
transfers to the car ahead, where we
had no seats for the rest of the jour
ney. There We're many others in a
similar plight, and the preceding Sun
day Mr.. Sam Jones had a similar ex-
perience going to the same point up
on the train which left Portland at
S.45 a. m, accompanied by his wife
and father. He attempted to find .
seats, and after struggle of football |
intensity succeeded in securing seats |
for his wife and father, but, with
over 80 others, he was forced to stand .
for the whole journey. We cannot
recall when we have had a seat upon
an outgoing train on this line.
"Now, we respectfully submit that
a passenger having paid his fare, and
holding ticket, is entitled to a seat,
1t is bad enough that this company
does not run sufficient cars to take
care of the traffic in the city of Port
land, so that the countless people are
forced to ride to and fro without
seats, but when boards a train for
long journey lasting from an hour
and a half to two hours, and laden
down with picnic baskets and fishing
paraphernalia, it makes him swallow
hard to be jammed in crowd like
sardine with his neighbors sticking
their feet into his lunch basket and
tramping over him and his, when he
has paid his way, and is entitled to
peaceful possession of a seat where
he can ride in comfort and security.
Upon both of these occasions there
were tTailers lying upon the side
track on East Water street, right at
the starting point of the train, and
the conductor, when respectfully
asked why he did not hitch on an
extra car! replied in a brusque and
naughty manner that he had no or
ders and that he was running this
car, anyhow, and needed no sugges-
tionss
I'VE trust that your honorable
body will see fit to look into this abuse
to the end that the citizens who are
forced to be patrons of this line may
receive at least the same treatment
that is afforded 10 livestock. Rail-
road companies are not allowed to
crowd stock cars. as we understand
It, each animal is at least given room
enough TO stand and breathe, which
is more than can be said with respect
to human beings.
Every truly yours.
"(Signed) V, VINCENT JONES"