Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-05-14
WORKS BOARD
AND THE P. s.
APT TO CLASH
Former Against Near : Side
Stops, While Latter Says
They Must Prevail.

There is every possibility of a con-
/ fiict of authority between the Board
of Works and the Public Service Cor
poration over the enforcement of
! the new rule of the latter, calling for
trolley cars to make near-side stops
at the street crossings throughout
the city. Under the provisions of
the new traffic law, which was
passed by the recent Legislature, the
Public Service Railway Company
some few days ago, announced that.
beginning tomorrow. its cars would
stop on the near side of the streets,
while at yesterdays meetings of the
Board of Works the latter body
passed a resolution against near-side
stops, and instructing the Public
Service Company to continue the
practice of far-side stops.
In compliance with this latter reso-
luton the Board of Works immedi-
ately served notice on the Public Ser
vice Company of its action, but just
as promptly the Public Service Com
pany came back with the announce
ment that it would stand on it's orig
inal order for near-side stops, virtu-
ally ignoring the Board of Works
order. The Public Service side of the
case was made in a letter over the
signature of it's president, Thomas
N. McCartef, which asserted that the
company's legal department had in
formed nim that the law made near
side stops mandatory. MIR. McCarter s
letter is as follows:
Board of Street and Water Com
missioners of the city of Newark,
Dear Sirs:
81 acknowledge herewith letter
signed by the acting clerk of the
board, under date of May 10, 1915, in
forming me that it is the wish of the
Board of Street and Water Cemmis-
sioners that the far-side stops of the
street railway cars be continued until
further notice from the board ] am
advised by our legal department that
the obligation to make use of the near
side stop is mandatory upon the COM
pany under the law of the State, and
that the Board of Street and Water
Commissioners is without authority
to prescribe a general rule of this
character. Under these circum-
stances, the company is, of course,
obliged to obey the law as it finds It,.
Very truly yours,
'THOMAs N. McCARTER.
president"
Edward S. Hine, secretary OF the
Public Service Corporation had pre-
viously informed the board by letter
that on and after May 10 trolley cars
would be stopped at the near side of
intersecting streets. General Hine
said the action was in line with a law
passed at the last session of the leg
islature.
The action of the Board of Works
had the unanimous approval of the
three members present at yester-
days meeting. They were Commits
sioner Charles p. Gillen, William
Tries jr., and Patrick II. Ryan.
President Ryan urged that the mat
ter be laid over for a week. This was
objected to by Commissioner Gillen,
who brought out that In the event
of the matter being laid over the
proposed order of the traction COM
pany could be put into effect.
"The people of Newark are opposed
to near-side trolley car stops" said
Mr.. Gillen. This same matter was
brought before this board about two
years ago. While no vote was taken
on the matter, l asked those persons
in the room who favored far-side
stops to stand up. Everyone in the
room, with the exception of two rep
resentatives of the Public Service
| Corporation, arose.
THE principal objection to near
side stops" Commissioner Gillen con-
tinued, sis the fact that persons have
to enter cars by way of the rear plat
form, which is perhaps sixty or more
| feet back from the crosswalli when
the car stops on the near side. This
means that persons desiring to board
the car have to walk through mud
and slush on stormy days"
| Mr.. Gillen said he had consulted
with City Counsel Spaulding Frazer
on the matter and had been informed
| by him that the board was entirely
within it's rights in ordering far-side
stops continued in this city. AS Mr..
Frazer interpreted the law, Mr.. Gillen
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