BROOKLYN TRAMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 6

BROOKLYN TRAMS.

.— ANOTHER "HOLD-UP." The old-time gallantry or courtesy whicK prompted men to give up their seats to ladies is undergoing a species of strangulation as a result of the system now in< force on tho Brooklyn tramway section, unless a passenger secures a seat well down tho route, and holds firmly to it, he or gho is by no means certain, of going through to the terminus by that car. Of late many of tho conductors have been holding strictly to the letter of tha ■regulations as they understand them. Some apparently understand the regulations to read that the' car can carry only four persons in each scat; others, aa many as can be "comfortably seated" j and others again, as many as can ba "seated." Tho result js 'periodical holdsup at tho Aro Street junction whilst tha conductor adjusts the car-load according to his particular reading of ■ the regula- , tions. .

On Thursday night tho car which left ' the-Post Office at 11 o'clock was held up , for some time while a passenger and the : conductor adjusted a difference as to tho ; correct interpretation of the regulations. i Before leaving Aro Street, the conductor ■ went along (he car and turned off several who had make-shift teats, announcing that he could, not take mora . than eight; in a compartment. one ■ compartment four people were seated on ono seat and five 011 the other—the latter because of their size being, if anything, more comfortable than tho four, who wero all big men. Tho conductor insisted on'the fifth man leaving the car, but the passenger objected, and in rcplj; to the conductor's statement that only eight could bo carried, maintained that ten was the regulation number. After a. few, 1 minutes' delay, during which the conductor twice consulted with the niotorman or another the Tramway Depart-, ment, who wasViding on thefront of th» car, the tram resumed its journey, the passenger in the meantilne having given his namo and address to the conductor when it was demanded. In (mother compartment in which there were also 111110 people' 110 action was taken by tho con-i ductor, and another fact which'was commented 011 by tho passengers tfflS that tho tramway official who was riding on the front of tho car Was obviously not on *' council business, as 110 was in evening dress, and eventually, as the passengers observed, assisted, from tho car, and left at Ohiro Itoad with a lady in evening dress. »■ At tho end of tho little drama the "extra" ■passenger' had saved himself a walk up tho hill, and tho conductor had tho' satisfaction of having the passenger's name'to put in to : Both' apparently we'i'a fiatiefle'di'biit the'balanca of tlio ; passengers w*re delayed 011 th« , way, and wore still 110 nearer a solution of tho problem they have to face almost daily. • r '■ ' ■