The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-22

IN HEARING ON
ONE-MANC CARS
Questions of Safety. Time Loss and
Wages Raised at Final.
Hearing.

Holding that the loss of time
entailed in the operation OF one
man cars rebounds to the bene-
fit of the passengers in the form OF
additional safety. the Trl-City Kali
way Co. this morning concluded It's
arguments in favor OF the one-man
car at the hearing before Commis-
sioner James r. Clark of the III
Dois commerce commission at
the courthouse.
A tabuIation of $50 readings TAX
en- by f. V. Sicily, superintendent
OF the Tri-City Railway Co., over
period of eight half days, showed
that the average time, required for
handling one passenger on a one
man car was about twice as long
as required on a woman car. Mr.
Kkelly stated that this represented
an average Of averages, taking into
consideration that the larger num-
Der of passengers taken on at one
time the smaller the time lost for
each passenger.
Mr.. Sicily declared that the time
was lost in opening and closing the
ioor after the car stopped, and this
loss, he said, meant safety for the
passengers.
John K Scott, city attorney for
Rock Island, at this point inter
posed to ask whether it was not
rule that the doors of two-man cars
must remain closed while the cars
are in motion. There is such
rule" said Mr.. Skelly, "but the
conductors" he added, make a
practice of taking on and discharg-
ing passengers while the cars are
in motion
Assuming then that the conduc
tors on the two-man cars are OBJ
served" said Mr.. Scott, docs it
take any longer to open the doors
on the two-man cars than it does
the doors of the one-man cars''
Blocks Trafficl
| The reply was that it did not In
stressing the question of time lost
the DIRECTORS attempted to show
that the service of the Tri-City
Railway company would not be i'm
proved by the installation of one
man cars. with special reference TO
the blocking of traffic
In support of their contention
that the service is less efficient
with the one-man ear, the DIRECTORS
introduced several witnesses who
had made observations of the
Bridge line service.
Jane Anderson. a professional
nurse, related circumstances at
tending the accident of Mrs. Jean
Estes, whose hip was broken when
a bridge line car started up while
she was standing in the vestible
and before she had paid her fare.
Representative Harry NJ. Nc
Caskrin was permitted to introduce
as evidence the monthly reports of
the company for the fiscal year of
1921. The point raised by MIR. Nc
Caskrin had to do with the cause
for cutting down the operating eX-
pense. The accounts showed that
the transportation expense had
been reduced some $4,000 while
the operating expense was cut
some $4,000 for the first eight
months of 1921 as compared with
the corresponding period of 1920.
Mr. McCaskrin took the position
that other expenses had not been
cut in proportion to expenses rep
resenting wages.
Payroll Increases IS Per Cent.
A tabulation of the payroll fig
ures for 191S-1921 inclusive, intro
duced by Thomas Roderick, show
ed, however. that the payroll for
motormen and conductors had in
creased from 50 10 3S per cent in
the four-year period.
Mr.. ROderick declared that the
number of revenue passengers for
the first eight months of 1921 was
100000 less than for the CORES
ponding period of 1920. He stated
also that the company had cut
down its expense as mulch as it !
possibly could. yet vas operating at
q loss.
Commissioner Clark will report |
his findings to the state commerce |
commission. which will make the |
final decision.