The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-08
ENFORCE THE RULE {.
 FURNISH ENOUGH CARS

| FONlN1OI1 E1NOOO11 NlA1AO ] The public. represented by certain public spirited members of the troll 1 leymen's union, has made fight and
 won it?
 The Public Utilities Commission has issued an order that passengers shall not be permitted to ride on. the run ming boards of open cars.
 The companies desires to put as many passengers into a car as they can.
 A trolley monopoly is not particular 1 ly concerned with the lives of it's con- ductors, who are endangered by crowded running boards It is not greatly concerned with the comfort of it's passengers. What it wants is profits. with which l to pay dividends upon it's millione of inflated securities, rentals, leases and sub leases.
 The new rule has been in operation put LeW QdyS. 2 This morning there appeared, in cer-
 tain newspapers about the state, sig nificant items. to the general effect that passengers are disgusted" with the unobstructed running boards (which give the conductor 8 chance l for his life.
 It seems that the monopoly, in its greed for profits. is taking as many as it can of the persons who used to ride on the running boards and thrusting them between the crowded seats, to the inconvenience of every body
 l Other persons are left standing be- side the highways. until one, two or perhaps three cars pass. The idea behind this gentle method of persuasion is. that the newspapers shall conveniently print tales. of dis gusted passengers praying for g re- turn of running boards as revenue
 producers, to warrant an appeal to the public utilities commission, in the name of the public, for the abro- gation of the rule:- and a return to the fat, profit taking days of the pub lie be damned
 1 The public utilities commission. hay- ing laid down in the Manchester case. l that it is not for reduced rates, but 1 for better service on trolley lines, has simple duty. when the question of riding on running boards comes before it again.
 Let it say to the trolley companies, ''Gentlemen, you are not obliged to crowd into your cars the people you l used to carry on running boards. "Your duty is to furnish cars enough to carry your passengers. Your duty is to furnish seats to your passengers. Do it.'' I Crowded cars are danger to. pas- sengers If anything happens to a crowded car,-and things often do happen-the number of passengers who will be killed, or maimed. is certain
 to be greater
 Is it not the duty of the public util- ities commission to demand of it's own Initiative safe conditions. of opera
 tion. and seats for passengers?
 In the meantime the trolley unions should csee to it that their members
 enforce the rule that there shall be
 no riding on running boards. I It is their duty to themselves and
 to the public to do this
 Passengers will be doing a patriotic
 public duty if they refuse to submit
 to oyercrowding, and make things dis
 agreeable as possible when effort is made to put passengers between the
 seats.
 Passengers should not board cars in
 which there are no seats, but write
 immediately to the public utilities
 commission, complaining of the lack
 of service.
 In this way the public will at last
 get some portion of it's rights. |