The New York herald., 1922-06-17
Getting on Trolleys Indecent,
Hazardous and Annoying
Say Many Women.
CASE TO TRANSIT BOARD
Brooklyn Delegation Makes
! Plea for Mothers, Sisters
and Wives.

At last the Transit Commission is
confronted by. a real issue. The
women Of Brooklyn demand that a
way be found to lower the steps or
running boards of the Brooklyn open
cars, which are described as "inde-
cent, hazardous and annoying" Other
Brooklyn cars were characterized as
horrible skirt cars"
The current hearing relating to serv-
ice and equipment of the Brooklyn
City Railroad Company was plodding
along methodically yesterday, with
James B. Walker. secretary of the
commission, presiding. when breezy
delegation of modish and determined
looking women entered the room. They
listened more or less patiently while
the commissions supervising inspec-
tor, Michael ]. Corcoran, presented the
conventional budget Of observations
concerning overcrowding. They smiled
almost as sweetly as did Mr.. S. Olney,
counsel for the company, when Mr..
with the compliment: Measured by
comparison with others, we would
never find fault with your standard of
service"
Then Secretary Walker announced
that the ladies had the floor Mrs.
Elizabeth Alexander, representing the
League of Women Voters of the Fourth
ACcs gt,fo - ILL
upon presented resolution adopted by
that body protesting against the height
of the ssteps on all open cars now
orera ting in the borough. Mrs Alex
ander said she had been instructed to
express the women's conviction that
'the high step is injurious to the life.
health and limbs of women and chill
dren."
Can't Lower Them.
Secretary Walker declared that de-
termined effort had bean made both by
certein CO panjes anj by previous conf
missions to get rid or this type of car.
But, unfortunately" he said. some
companies own a great many of them
which are in fairly serviccable condi-
tion and Ii was not felt that 1t would
lie just to ash that they he scrapped."
Mr.. Olrey, appearing for his company.
declared 1t would be impossible to lower
the running boards To attempt to
mix the low level, center entrance. or
So &c lied "horrible skirt cars," with the
oren cars. he said would mean reduced
seating capacity Open cars. lie said
have 35 per cent. more seats than
closed cars.
Mrs. Margaret Mcmahon. represent
ing similar league in the Twenty-first
Assembly district, made a special plea
for high step reform on the cars Of the
Flatbush avenue line. She said she was
a member of committee which al
ready had presented its protest to the
commission and that they had been in
formed that the company's finances
would not permit remedial action this
summer Her league associates found
this disappointing. New subways would
require years to build. she complained,
and It saddened her to contemplate the
same surface car imperfections being
tolerated indefinitely.
Different In Buffalo.
It was Mrs. Mcmahon who described
the high steps as indecent, hazardous
and annoying. Her colleagues seemed
to think" she purred, that inasmuch
as cities like Newark. Albany and Buff
falo had lowered the car steps, New
York might find some way to do like
wise"
1t was explained that the Transit
Commission lacked authority to issue
orders involving such expenditures az
would be confiscatory, requiring a COM
pany,to spend sums not justified by its
revenues. But. Secretary Walker de-
clared, there might be chance for re-
lief IL the commission succeeds In its
plan for unification of all city lines
under a centralized control.
II am so glad to hear thatv' smiled
Mrs. Mcmahon. II believe myself there
must be some way for the gentlemen
OF this commission to remedy this stu
alton. They all have mothers: they all
have sisters: they all have wives. and
while the men of this board are not
compelled to ride on these surface cars
they really cannot realize the incon-
venience tho women must endure"
When Mrs. Mcmahon ventured the
surmlse that the steps on the Brooklyn
summer cars were much higher than
those operated in Manhattan. Mr.. Olney
politely informed her that she was I'm
error, as the running boards are pre-
cisely the same height.
well. never measured one," ad-
mitted the league delegate. but I just
know / can get on Manhattan car
quicker and with less trouble than I
can on q Brooklyn car"