The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-31
TO KEEP RUNNING
 BOARDS CLEARED
TroIIeymen Ask Public Utfli- ties Commission to Pass A
 New Order.
. NOT VALID, SAYS STOCK
Declares Act Passed by the Legislature Is of No Effect
 Legally.

Hartford, Oct 31-The public util1- ties commission held a hearing yes terday on the petition of the A1nalga- mated Association of Street and Elec- tric Employes of America for a nodi- fcation of the order passed June 26, 1912, requiring the company to make a rule to prevent the riding on run ming boards, so that the order of the commission shall be directed against the public and passengers The commissioners reserved their decis- ion.
 Attorney Arthur B. O'Keefe of New Haven appeared for the petitioners and Attorney B. l. Spock for the com- pany.
 Martin E. Breen, the president of the association; Charles Minn1Xs a trolley conductor and William D. Boy Ian, all of New Haven, spoke in sup port of the petition.
 Mr Rreen stated that there was a test case brought before Judge Bry- ant in the town of Orange a year ago last summer. A man was prosecuted for riding on a running board. The man was discharged, and it. was on the advice of the trial justice, Judge Bryant, that the petition was brought for a modification of the order.
 General Manager Punderford stated that since January 1 no action has been reported resulting from the riding on running boards.
 eEould it disrupt the service to have a conductor stop his car to have a person arrested?'' asked MT. Spock.
 Absolutely so. It would tie up the entire line,'' replied MT. Punderford.
 Chairman Higgins asked what dirni- mutton of riding on runn1ng-board there has been since the order was issued
 He was told there was no difference in the busy hours. During rain storm, there was no dininution.
 Mir Punderford said there was a dead head car running into the car l barn on Grand avenue and he was in | formed that the conductor fell off the l car It is the practice of people to crowd into the first car when there are two or more other cars running behind and bound for the same place.
 Have you enforced the order of the commissfon?" asked MT. O'Keefe.
 we have
 Don't you know that MT. Judge, your superintendent. has told the con- ductors not to enforce the rule based on the order?
 T do not
 Don't you think it is impracticable to enforce the rule?''
 'T know it."
 MT. Punderford said he had seen persons riding on running boards in | New York The number of people ! has been so great that he was not |
  or forty-dve can be accommodated in | a closed car and about ninety in an open car.
 General Manager Reynolds of the Hartford and Springfield Street Rail- way company said there was not an accident on his road during the past summer from passengers riding on running boards
 MT Punderford said that the order of the commission against riding on TeI1h1 l cars, but further than that the com pany did nothing to compel the pub He to observe the order.
 Attorney O'Keefe asked the com to pass order in accord ance with the request of the petition ers-
 Chairman Higgins replied it was serious question if the commission has the power to issue an order against the general public.
 MT. O'Keefe said the commission could issue an order to the com pany that his friend, Mr. Punderford, would enforce
 Chairman Higgins asked if it would not infict a hardship on the public to prohibit on all occasions the riding pm running boards.
 MT. OKeefe replied that he did not think so- The company accommodat- ed the public when closed cars are used, though a closed car has only the capacity of an open car. The commission has made an order that riding on running boards is dan ] gerous. (
 MT -Spock said that the only per { sons who have appeared in favor of , this petition are the three men who are active in the trolleymen's union, and who appeared at the first hearing z where the matter was initiated With | t all due respect to the commission, it's | order would have validity.
 What was the law passed for?" t 3 sked Commissioner Hale. Just because the legislature thought J that some sort of a law had to be s passed. the same as other laws are | ( passed" replied MT. Spock. s
 Mir O'Keefe said that Governor g Baldwin had told him that the law ( gainst the riding on running boards I could be enforced re