Year: 1876

The sum total of all the arguments against
compelling the horse car companies to fur
nish seating accommodation for the travelling
public is that the public does not care to see
it enforced. This is all the horse car COM
panies have to say on behalf of the over
crowding, which benefits only themselves.
The real point of the question they leave
ntouched-namely, that every passenger
who pays for a ride has right to a seat.
Since the HERALD has taken up this
question we have had letters in shoals
Not one of the writers-even those obviously
in the interest of the companies-has dared
to say that people who pay fares should be
compelled to stand or should submit to being
crowded like hogs. They have dropped into
such side issues as to what would happen if
the reform was suddenly enforced with the
present accommodation. The picture of the
working man and the working girl who would
be compelled to walk if they did not consent
to stand in the cars will not deceive any
body The reform must be carried out be-
cause of these hard worked classes, as we'll
as because of the richer. They have the best
right to seats. To represent the poor as
those who should be thankful to be let stand
while paying as much as others is infamous.
1t all returns to the one point, that the COM
panies will not respect the publics right in
this matter unless they are compelled, and
compelled they shall be. If the reform en-
tails extra expense to them they are able to
stand it, or, if they cannot, their charters
must pass into the hands of those who can.


In the course of the HERALD's inquiries it
has been discovered that many of the COM
panies have not paid their license fees to the
city. They are derelict to the extent of
half million dollars, and while these
companies are huddling the people together
and squeezing the last cent for their disgrace
full conveyances from the public they have
been forcing the taxpayers to pay this large
deficiency for them, and dividing the money
withheld and the product of their over
crowding in enormous dividends among
themselves. 1t is the Corporation At
torneys duty to press the suits for these
derelictions. 1t is somewhat surprising
that the members of the. Legislature
from this city SnOulu acknowledge the
power of the companies to such an
extent as to have failed to introduce bill
covering this reform. They have shown that
they could hurry through bill to let few
French and German pleasure seekers enjoy
the privilege of dancing with masks on, but
they have done nothing to let their constitu-
ents enjoy ride in horse car without
standing like hogs in pen, breathing q
sitting atmosphere, amid continual scenes
of discourtesy, indecency and discomfort.
We have had lots of indignation in letters
from the people. Let us now see their indig-
nation take a more positive shape. Let them
organize and bring their pressure to bear
upon the Legislature and upon the compa-
MES The former must be held to the letter of
their duty to New York, and the latter to the
letter of their charters and the law No abuse
which has grown up like this can be de-
stroyed without little trouble. Let the re-
form be sweeping and the attack be from all
sides. Let us have more and better cars,
comfortably seated and with seats on top
double deckers), and strict penal rsle Of
no seat no fare.