The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-02
AVOIDING DISPUTES
New Regulations to Eliminate Trouble With Trolley
 Passengers

New Haven, May Zone of the most perplexing difficulties that a public service official has to deal with Is the continually arising dispute or misunderstanding between the pa irons of a corporation and it's repre- sentatives. In large number of cases the patron who makes a. ''kick' has just provocation for doing so, but the employee is generally equally right in the stand he takes. He must, however, as he is indirectly a servant of the public, accept the wrath and sometimes abuse of the patron with the best grace possible and at the same time uphold the rules and regulations of the company employing him.
 In the operation of a. trolley system it is necessary that strict rules and regulations shall be observed by the employees, and that in order to make the system as safe as possible, these rules shall be- uniform, with heavy penalties for noncompliance. The officials of the company who make such rules do so largely from the ex perience and study acquired from years of service. In some cases it has been found that certain rules are unnecessary or even obnoxious, but as a general proposition this is far from true.
 The development of trolley lines brought about many new r economic problems, some of which took years to solve while others are yet in the ex- perimental stage. One lesson that learned, however, is that the success full and satisfactory operation of q trolley line or system depends as much upon, the cooperation of the public as upon the skill or knowledge that is required in the management of the property. Rules are made to be en- forced and it is in assisting in the en- forcement of them that the public CO., operation is sought IA greatly irn- proved trolley service would be the inevitable result of such cooperation
 The safety of passenger is the first consideration of a trolley com pany, and with this idea in view the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company has just issued re- vised rules and regulations for the government, guidance and informa- tion of the employees of the trolley lines owned and operated by it, in which the safety first rule is repeated Iy emphasized. Several pages of the book of rules are devoted to this sub ject, and the various reguIations~a ~are devised to prevent accidents of all kinds. The importance of exercising constant care to prevent injuries and in all cases of doubt to take the safe course, is impressed upon the cna- ployees above all other considerations.
 Two other rules and regulations upon which great stress is laid are politeness and the personal habits and appearance of the employees. Con- ductors and notormen are ordered to treat all passengers with politeness, to avoid difficulty and to exercise pa tience, forbearance and self-control under all conditions. They must not make threatening gestures, or use loud, .uncivil or profane language, ev- en under the greatest proVocation- Their uniforms must be kept clean and neat in appearance. They are prohibited from drinking intoxicating liquors while on duty or to excess at any time. There are several other minor rules regarding personal hab- it's, and ignorance of these rules is not accepted as an excuse for non compliance with them. In fact each employee is required to sign a. state ment to the effect that he has read the rules and regulations and that he agrees to abide by the same and to submit to the penalties prescribed for theirs violation. Employees are con sidered in line for promotion accord ing to their faithful discAarge of du- ties assigned, and any violation of rules is deemed sufficient cause for suspension or dismissal