Evening star., 1922-10-03
0NE-MAN TROLLEY
HELD HUMAN TRAP
Public Hearing on Operation
of Cars Sought by Citi-
zens' Body.
WANTS D. C. SENTIMENT
Rhode Island Avenue Association
Behind Move for Open Meeting
Before Utilities Commission.

Z; A move to make operation of one
man cars in the District the subject
of a public hearing before the Public
rated at the next meeting of the
| Rhode Island Avenue Citizens Asso-
| citation. in the associations campaign
against this type of public carrier.
This was indicated last night by
William S. Torbert. former president
| of the association and editor of
Neighborhood News, official organ
! If the association.
This movement will be a pro-
gressive one. First. the matter will
be brought before the association at
Its next meeting, with a request that
delegates to the Federation of Citi-
! zens' Associations be instructed to
support the project for a public
! hearing. The next item will be the
interesting of the federation in the
movement, and it is hoped that the
conclusion will be a request by the
federation to the District Commits
sioners to hold such a public hear
ing, to allow public sentiment to
express itself regarding the opera
ton of street cars in the District of
Columbia which have one man in
control, combining the duties of con-
ductor. change vender, motorman and
transfer distributor.
Statement by Torberf.
Asked for an expression of opinion on
the one-man street car last night, Mr.
Torbert said:
ways the champion of the rights and
welfare of the people of the District,
take up the cudgel against the employ
ment OF one-man cars on the street rail-
ways of Washington and it's suburbs
1t goes without saying that the fed
eral territory should have in its railway
transportation facilities, as in every
thing else. the very best, and 1 feel
strongly that the use of one-man cars
IS retrograde movement that should
not be tolerated. 1 felt this way when
these cars were first introduced into
washington and 1 feel even more so
now The Rhode Island Avenue Citi-
zens' Association was, I believe, the
first civic organization to enter a pro-
test against their use. This action was
taken at the meeting held last January.
The protest then made was not, in my
judgment: . drastic enough: as it merely
opposed the operation of this type Of
car during rush hours. At the last meet
ing. however, after the use of such cars
had been tried out for more than nine
months and their undesirabilily mani
tested beyond doubt. the association, by
against
use at all.
THE only attempt to justify the use
of this type of car that l have heard
is on the ground of economy; an econ
omy that benefits the traction com
pany at the expense of the public If
there is any other excuse for their
use 1 have not heard of it. I must
confess l am not greatly impressed
with this economy plea. What the
railway may save In wages it will
| more than make up in the expenses
or lligation and damages recovered.
But economy or no economy, the safe
ty and comfort of the travelling pub
| lie should be the first consideration.
Cars Likened to Traps.
Passengers on these one-man cars
are virtually like rats in trap. They
are imprisoned and are dependent
! upon the Whim of one man for release
from durance. In case Of accident
they are placed practically beyond the
pale Of self-help. This was graphical
ly demonstrated on an occasion not
very long ago, when a panic, occa-
stoned by the blowing out of fuse
or some similar cause, resulted in in
jury to number of passengers.
Another great objection to this
type of car is the impossibility OF
properly ventilating it. With the
rear hermentically sealed. a small
space at the front open only while
the car is at a standstill, and win
dows closed, they present a veritable
Black Hole of Calcutta when filled
with passengers.
There are many other objectiona-
BILE features, notably the delay in
loading and unloading and the con-
sequent subsection to the elements
i of those who are forced to stand
aside while egress is in progress.
"The fact that such cars are in use
/ in other cities is no argument for
their liberation here. Traffic condi-
tions are very different here from
what they are in most places and, be-
sides, as I said before in substance,
the country is looking more and
more to Washington for a standard
of excellence, and, instead of retro
grading in our street railway facili-
ties we should have the most pro-
gressive system in the country"