South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-14
DEMAND BETTER
SERVICE ON CARS
Mass Meeting Likely to Result
in Placing Matter Be-
fore City Council.

That immediate steps be taken TO
secure better street a service. and
that the sanitary condition Of the
cars be improved at once. was the
substance OF the mass meeting held
Sunday afternoon at the Central
Trade and Labor hail on s. Michigan
ST., before 100 interested workers.
John a. Dinsmore called the meet
ing 10 order at 2:45 p. IN. and asked
hat a chairman be appointed for
he meeting. Charles Miller. secre-
tary Of the Central Trade and Labor
union took the chair, while Mr..
Dinsmore explained the purpose OF
ne meeting.
For some time. he said. we
have been putting up with ineni-
cient service on the part Of the rail-
way company. men at the various
factories are complaining bitterly OF
The long delays that confront them
while going to and from their work.
There is but one way to remedy this.
and that is 10 organize and appoint
a committee OF working men 10 wait
ON the city council. the public ser
vice commission, or some enc who
viii meet our demands. ] would like
TO hear others express their views Of
the situation"
Former Railway EmplOye Speaks.
A former street car employee
stated that it would be useless 20
zee Mr.. Hollar, superintendent Of
transportation. inasmuch as he haG
nee visited frequently by various
other committees, none Of whom
ever got any satisfactory results
from the complaints registered. he
said. He claimed that Mr.. HOllar
avoided at every opportunity, the
chance 10 confer with these com
mittees. Ee also stated that the
public could not expect much from
men who r paid az the rate Of 3
cents an hour, and gave this as the
reason that the crews on street cars
were changed SO frequently. "a
man doesn't stay on the Job long
enough 20 pay for his uniform he
said. People residing along sam
pie ST. line are not getting any
where near the service they should
get"
Another man claimed hat tho
residents of the Portage line We're
being held up for twenty minutes at
q time for no apparent reason. Nari-
Gus other men registered specific
complaints. these men living on the
Washington. Lincolnway, River
Park and Michigan 81. lines.
Freycrmuth Declares Cars Filthy.
DIR. r. G. Freyermuth. health in
spector. then called attention to the
extremely unsanitary condition of
street cars. They are full of sweep
inss and filth. the windows are dirty
and the v%entilators for the most part
closed. have called the attention
of the conductor 20 this condition
repeatedly during the recent 'iu'
epidemic. but was met only with
abuse. Then ] tried to ta1k 10 the
officials OF tine railway company,
and even while 1 was in their offices
talking TO them. I pointed out some
cars that stood outside without =
single ventilator open. Both Mr..
Hollar and Mr.. smith promised To
remedy this state of affairs, but
failed TO do SO. I am seriously con-
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY OF having
the city attorney draw up an ordin-
ance to the effect that street cars
must be kept clean"
a motion was made and unani-
mously carried that a committee be
elected 10 visit the city council al
their meeting'a week from Monday,
Jan. 20. with their demands for bet
ter street "a service. The following
committee was elected. Messrs. Grei-
der, Dinsmore. Stoddard. Krych,
Porter. Freyermuth. Avery and
Schanbooek.
We are going the limit with his
thing" said a member Of the COM
mittee, after the meeting. We shall
employ the best leeal talent and
take our case up 10 the highest court
If needs be, 10 get the street car
service 10 which we are entitled"
Every citizen OF south Bend is
asked 20 attend the meeting of Jan.
20. in the council chamber of the
city hall.