Two Bells Claim Department Picnic
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m mu 11 nun mugginummi rm. I crir ItE4L.A.&) Patriotism We have just passed through a period of holidays that were designed to stimulate pa- triotism and loyalty, Memorial Day, May 30; Flag Day, June 14, and Independence Day, July 4. Each of these days has its significance. The Declaration of Independence, by which the United States became a separate and distinct nation, was signed July 4, 1776. The first American flag was adopted by Congress on June 14, 1777. Memorial Day was set apart to commemorate those soldiers of the Civil War who sacrificed their lives that the country might stand undivided. It has assumed broader aspects, because soldiers of other wars and civilians, too, are honored on that day. Anything that is designed to inspire devo- tion and loyalty to the nation and its institu- tions must command respect. 1 ( '1111 v■vilitt !MIL 4.N.N.XNW Nycs,.■■■•■■■ . _ ViNVAVOIII Vol. XV II JUNE, 1936 No. 6 imagination. Mr. Haskins Replies to Misstatements Standing upon the false structure of so-called "incontrovertible facts" In Local Newspaper erected by itself, your newspaper edi- torially indignantly condemns the street railway company for its "public In the Evening News of May 13th last, involved during 1935 in a total of 38,- be damned" attitude and sternly warns there appeared an editorial entitled "20,000 791 accidents and "incidents". This the Board of Public Utilities and accidents save $200,000 for the Los An- is only about a 50 per cent exaggera- Transportation as to its duty in face geles Ry." tion, the correct total being 20,791. of "these incontrovertible facts". The following letter was written to Man- Important in this connection is the The "incontrovertible facts" are in chester Boddy, Publisher of the Evening fact—brought out in the report but not the company's report. They are not News, by President S. M. Haskins in in the editorial—that of the total ac- quoted in your editorial. They are mis- answer to this editorial. cidents and "incidents" only 3,715 or quoted. The public has been misin- That every employe may be informed of 18 per cent were accidents, the re- formed and misled and the company the facts, we are publishing Mr. Haskins' mainder of 17,076 or 82 per cent being has been unjustly condemned. letter. "incidents". An "incident" as classified In one respect a newspaper is like in the railway report is not an acci- a public utility. It is impressed with May 16, 1936 dent but any happening or misadven- a public trust. No matter what causes it may espouse or what objectives it Mr. Manchester Boddy, ture not necessarily directly connected may seek to attain, is it not its public Publisher, Los Angeles Evening News with the railway in any manner, but of which a railway employe may be a duty in the presentation of ascertain- My dear Mr. Boddy: witness. For example, last year 1,238 able facts to present them accurately That you would not deliberately and automobile collisions and 163 automo- and truthfully? wilfully permit the use of your edi- biles driving into excavations were Self respect demands that this pro- torial columns for the purpose of mis- witnessed and reported. In these "inci- test be made. It is sent to you with leading the public, and as a conse- dents" the railway had no concern. acknowledgment of our own short- quence injuring others, I know. There- Also included in the "incidents" were comings, those both beyond and fore, without hesitation, I am calling 10,063 collisions of street cars or buses within our control. It is confidently to your attention certain glaringly er- with automobiles which were so slight hoped that it will appeal to your sense roneous statements made in the lead- however that no claim for damages of journalistic integrity. ing editorial in Los Angeles Evening arose from any of them. To be charged with a "public be News of May 13th on the 1935 acci- damned" attitude is not agreeable to Fifth: The editorial emphasizes the no dent record of Los Angeles Railway say the least. We are conscious of allegation that the company reluctant- such attitude. Perhaps in the circum- Corporation. ly made public the accident figures, stances it may not be regarded as in- The accident report in which the that "after a lengthy series of hearings conceivable that the thought might condemnatory editorial finds its source on the operation of one-man street spring into one's mind that, occasion- is a public document on file at the cars, the Commission finally prodded ally, even a newspaper may not be un- City Hall in the office of the Board of the street car company into producing deserving of a bit of damning. Public Utilities and Transportation. It the accident figures for 1935". This is Yours very truly, untrue. In the first place, the accident speaks for itself. The specifications S. M. HASKINS record is annually made a part of the of error in the editorial are these: President annual report of the company to the First: The editorial recites that Railroad Commission and a copy of "during 1935 one-man street cars were that report is filed with the Board of involved in 20,791 accidents or 'inci- Public Utilities and Transportation Thanks for Backing dents' ". The fact is, as the report of the City. In the next place, at the discloses, the correct figure is not hearings mentioned the company upon In behalf of the Baseball and Bas- 20,791 but 3,436. request segregated the figures as be- ketball Leagues we wish to express tween one and two man operation. our sincere appreciation for the won- Second: The editorial also states These figures were commented upon derful turnout at the benefit dance that "during the same period, two-man in the public press when produced. given on May 30th. cars operated by the company were in- The company did protest rather stren- It was quite evident everyone en- volved in 18,000 accidents or `inci- uously against the demand that the dents' ". The correct figure as re- joyed an evening of dancing and en- admitted figures be exhaustively ana- tertainment. ported is 15,757. A relatively inconse- lyzed so as to show the type of acci- quential error. As previously announced the pro- dent, the time of day it happened and ceeds of these affairs go to the up- other like data. The reasons for the Third: There follows the most dam- keep of these Leagues which are car- objections were, first, that all facts aging and erroneous statement of all, ried on for the pleasure and entertain. material for a decision in the one-man that "one-man cars were involved in ment of the sport loving fans of our car case were in evidence, and, second, 15 per cent more accidents while travel- Company. ing approximately one-fourth the dis- that the analysis demanded would re- quire an examination of the record of A special word of thanks goes to tance traveled by two-man cars". those who so willingly give their serv- That your calculator in analyzing the every accident occurring during the year. The demand was pressed never- ices in helping us put on these dances statistical report breached the rules of and serving the refreshments. simple arithmetic is obvious. The fact theless. The report was furnished ac- cordingly. Its preparation consumed Again, thank you all and we hope is that, measured by car miles, one- to see you at the next dance. man cars were involved In 15 per cent the time of a number of qualified men less accidents than two-man cars. during several weeks and was costly. L. B. MEEK, President, But never was there any attempt to Baseball League Fourth: According to the figures conceal accident figures. The "reluc- contained in your editorial, the one- tant" theme of the editorial is for the HARRY GILMORE, President, man and two-man cars combined were the most part a conception of the Basketball League Page 2 TWO BELLS CLAIM DEPARTMENT PICNIC On SundaY, May 17th, the Claim Department threw thoughts of accidents, damage suits and courts to the winds and went in for a real old fashioned family picnic at the picnic grounds close to the Vermont Avenue entrance of Griffith Park. Everybody took their own lunches and the afternoon was spent in games. The picture was taken by A. W. Patsch. Mr. Bishop, General Claim Agent, is at the extreme right. material has been received to assure Coach Fare Reductions us that the routine may progress with- out interruption after the reconstruc- Tariffs have been filed with the Eagle Rock tion has once started. It is planned Railroad Commission, effective July Passengers riding in Zone 2 of Eagle to complete approximately five cars 1st, which will provide a reduction in Rock will have additional privileges, per week. the fare from 10 cents to"7 cents, or a effective July 1st, in that they will token, on Coach Lines as follows: be allowed to ride on the 7 cent, or All of the line on Slauson Avenue token, fare on Line "5" as far south and that part of the line on Gage as Avenue 35, instead of Avenue 45, Anniversaries Avenue between Huntington Park and as at present, and will also be allowed Among those celebrating thirty- Atlantic Avenue will be placed in the to transfer to York Boulevard and three or more years of service with Inner Zone and in addition the $1.00 Verdugo Road bus lines.