The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-08
PUBLIC BUNCOED
BY CAR COMPANY
SAYSLNINGSTON
City Attorney Informs Judge
Mccall Skip-StOp System
Has Not Saved One Minute
on Schedules,

That the Memphis Street Railway
company has been buncoing the public
ever since the skip-stop system was ia-
stituted was the charge made by CITY
Attorney Henry Livingston before
Judge Mccall, of the federal court, Sat
+ urday, In presenting the citys rea-
sons for making mandatory immediate
abolition of the practice.
In view of the controversy raised py
Attorney Livingston relative to fran
chise requirements of the car COM
pany, Judge Mccall took the matter
under consideration.
], Striking a parallel between running
time schedules Of cars before the, skip
stop system was Instituted and the
schedules now in operation, Attorney
Livingston showed, by the eompanys s
own schedule sheets, that in not one
single instance has, the running time OF
the cars been shortened by as much as
a minute under the skip-stop system,
The schedules of June, 1918, before the
skip-stop system went into effect are,
Mr. Livingston showed, identical with
present schedules, minute for minute
hour for hour.
THAT is surprise to me-" re-
marked Judge Mccall. 'I thought the
cars seemed to run faster"
so did l. your honor but they
dSp W haS sssn Suneed As6ednGH into SeieVns
that they did"
Explodes Contention.
"rhe car companys petition sets
forth that the system appeals strongly
in that It increases dispatch" said At
torney Livingstone "that the company
gets more mileage from given car,
under given crew and given dls-
tance because the time consumed in
making stops can be applied to the run
ming time, and that the danger OF acci-
dent is lessened, That is the companys
sole justification for the Inconvenience
ii has placed upon the public by virtue
~ stop elininations, Let us see what
"The miles per hour per given car in
January of this year was 9,32. IN
September, 1917, II was 924. In Sep
ternber, 1915, It was s32, and in 1915 1t
was 9.53. In other words, the distance
per car per hour was actually greater IN
1915 than now, and the same three
years ago when the cars made stops at
every street intersection as is now un-
der the skipt-stop system
1t is apparent on its face, declared the
city attorney that ,t either no one or,nSo eI 5MU
Street Railway company can not op-
I. crate its cars quicker under, the SKID
Ktop system or that 1t Is willfully de-
cliEthg TO do so,
New Mental Attitude.
Answering that portion. Of the com.
pany's petition which sets forth that
the company has not sufficient crews
and equipment to make every stop, the
city attorney sought to show by ordi-
nance franchises under which ,onas,oS the com q
make these stops, and that further the
oity city has the right to demand compli-
ance. He further announced that in
the event the court held to the contrary
the city is prepared to file legal pro-
ceedings to test the case.
Mr.. Livingston charged that the com
nany showed bad faith in that the
company, after the city agreed to per.
NIT skip-stops as 2 . temporary po Wa Tsl
measure, and there being no war ne
oessity for the systems continuance
should oppose restoration Of previous
schedules. o, so AZ,
I, car company, denied that the company
il bound by any franchise requirements
TO make stops at all street intersections
or as the city may direct, and It is on
this phase OF the controversy that thf
question hinges.