Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-08-02
CAR system IS
DISCUSSED BY
CITY ALDERMEN
Trades Council Committee
Complains Over Two Men
Placed on Front Platform.

Attention of the city council last
night was formally called to the fact
that the Pine Bluff company has
placed both motorman and conductor
on the front end of all it's street cars,
since the ordinance went back into eff
feet, requiring the company to en-
ploy two men on the cars.
W. B. Hicks, president Of the cen
trail trades council, heading a COM
mittee from that organization, made
the statement to the council, explain
ing that he knew the council was in
special session for other business, and
could not take action in the matter,
yet desired to state the case, that
members of the aldermanic body
might understand where the central
trades council stands on the question.
Mr. Hicks stressed the point that by
placing both carmen on the front of
the car, the Pine Bluff company has
done something that has never been
done by any other street car company
anywhere, before, so far as he knows.
The trades council asks, he says, that
the council have the company put the
conductor in his old position, where
he belongs, and where he has always
been, making it's request because it
believes that the public will then get
service and satisfaction. AS it is now,
he said, the two men not only get in
each others way, but, with the fare
box, almost effectually prevent any
one from getting into or out of the
cars, without jam an dstruggle.
Mayor Bloom made a short talk to
the council when Mr.. Hicks concluded,
saying that he has received many
complaints over the present street
car schedule and saying further that
the company's books are open to the
public, that all may see the company
is not making any money from its
street cars. He urged that the CEN
trail trades council find out if the gen
eral public will not be better pleased
with more one-man cars than few
two-men cars.
Alderman McGibbony said the COM
pany is making money from it's street
cars. He said last year there were
many merchants losing money, during
the hard times, but the council did not
go to their assistance, although it
helped the street car company. The
company ought to stand its losses with
it's gains, like every other business
man, he said. He promised to show
facts and figures at the next meeting
of the council, to substantiate his
statement that the company is max
ing money.
Alderman Bahlau said he also has
heard complaints against the present
street car service. He said he con-
siders the manner in which the cars
are now operated, with both men in
the front, something of joke, and
expressed the belief the company is
"not coming clean" with the city IN
that it is not making fair test OF
the matter.
Alderman McGibbony said he had
studied the matter also, and he had
found that most of the complaints are
being made by men who use auto
mobiles, and who do not ride in the
street cars more than once or twice
a week.
Alderman Simpson stated the COM
pany is trying to "bulldoze' the: city
council, and has enlisted the aid OF
the chamber of commerce Bulletin, to
"roast" and criticise the council. He
stated he is already sick and tired
of the manner in which corporations
try to "ride" over everything and
everybody. -,
Alderman McGibbony said he did
not want to criticize the newspapers,
but he himself knows of several acct
dents that never were reported in the
papers and which occurred while the
one-man crew was in effect, being
caused by the fact that the one-man
crew was busy doing something else
and could not guard against such &C
cidents. 49,,
There was general discussion Of the
matter, and it was agreed that in all
likelihood the regular session OF the
council, Monday night next, will de-
vote a lot of time and discussion to
the question.
Even the editor of comic paper
ought to take things seriously.