Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-08-29
RAPID TRANSIT
DENIES CHARGES
OF MOTORMAN
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Bulletin in the following letter: =,
Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. p, 1913,
:, Editor Honolulu Star Bulletin,
! Sir: / write this for the informa-
/ ton of the public as to conditions ex-
listing on the Rapid Transit & Land
Cos street car lines and what | re-
late can be substantiated by inspec-
ton CT cars on their lines. Il will be
found that about one-half the cars
now being used are not in condition
for public safety and quite a number
are in very dangerous condition, viz:
car No. 80 being run on King street,
has the reputation among motormen
of the lines at its best to be a bad
slider, and just now the wheels will
lcck with very small amount Of air
and the air can be thrown off and
/ tie brakes still hang and refuse to let
loose the wheels, making it very dan
gerous for passengers as we'll as for
wagons or other vehicles that might
be in near proximity to it. will
state that last night / was running
car 80 and had the misfortune of APP
plying air and the wheels locked ana
could not be released-and in conse-
quence slid for almost two blocks
i from Richards st. to near Bishop st.
across Alakea, before control could
be obtained, and inquiry reveals the
fact that other motormen had more
or less trouble of the1 same character
with that car as well as No. 4, No. 5
and No. on the Punahou line. AS an
accident occurred on that line recent
ly due to the fact that the car was
practically in the same condition as
No. SO, related before, and the condi-
. ton of these cars has been reported
repeatedly with memorandum report
turned into the office and also on car
report book upstairs in the waiting
room of the carmen. A perusal of
same would make quite interesting
! reading for the public, and Is is sur
prising how little notice is given the
car, on complaint. j will also state
that i was discharged for this mishap
with car No. SO and constant reporting
Of condition of cars. / will say / have
no ak to grind fol. myself. I care not
1 for any defense OF my abilities as
motorman, but solely for the public
safety and other motormen who might
be affected financially should they
have similar trouble. | challenge a
reply to this and promise to substan-
tate more facts of other nature, If re-
/, quired.
Very respectfully,
J. w. GO0DSoN,
Ex-Motorman.
investigation Is Made.
The Star-Bulletin Immediately took
the charges up with Manager C. Ct.
Ballentyne of the Rapid Transit CO.
Mr.. Ballentyne was not personally
conversant with all the facts of Good
sons discharge, and called in Super
intendent Pratt. Mr.. Pratt explained
that Goodson had failed to make
good" as motorman, that he could
not run his car properly, though when
employed and broken in he had
done satisfactory work In actual
operation of the car ols his own re-
sponslbility he could not work it pro-
/ perly, said Mr.. Pratt, and after he
had run the car from Richards to
Bishop street, unable to come to a
stop, he had been discharged
The superintendent also stated that
Goodson had mishandled other cars,
resulting in "flatting'' three sets of
wheels; that every chance had been
gwen him, but that he could not do
| the work
He does not seem able to handle
the air-brakes properly" said Pratt,
and other motormen and conductors
will tell you the same"
Employees Make Statements.
Independent inquiry as to the con-
dltion of the cars charged by Good
son to be unsafe, substantiated the
superintendent statement The Star
Bulletin yesterday afternoon secured
statement from l.. Pierce, who ran
Car 80 on the day that Goodson ran
it. Pierce was motornlan of the car
on the day-run, and was relieved by
Goodson.
There is nothing the matter with
the car. in fact. it is easier to handle
than some of the heavier cars" de-
clares Pierce THE brakes work all
hiSnI II luey uluH WOuIu nave
turned the car in. Mr.. Balientyne's
first instructions to us are Take no
chances He and Superintendent
Pratt give orders that as soon as
car shows defect that might make it
in the slightest degree unsafe, it
should be turned in, as a matter of
duty we turn it in. Car 80 is all
right, perfectly safe, and Goodson is
mistaken, that's all, if he believes
there's anything wrong with it,
Statement Confirmed
III. J. Grindell is the motorman who
ran tho orr IN tho day, oftnr Hoodcon