To the Ealtor of the "Nonni-Cruxa Datwy News Suj—As bus conductor No. 4 has not Answered and is not likely to answer MR, P. A, Unianre's lett will do what T can to offer some defence on behalf of the inarticulate tone. Courtesy demands a reply and abstinence will only deprive Mu, Unianrz of the pleasure of a contest, without "which victory" becomes empty, find Ma, Untarre not. only unreasonable but very inaccurate, He maintains that he "was only giving him back what he gave me" Dut T think he actually means to say that he was giving conductor (No, 4 what he had received. from other conductors, Since the Company had forbidden conductors from faking stamps for. fares, conductor No, 4 was only obeying' his corn-any's orders in refusing to take the proffered stamp and he is in no way bound by the acts of his fellow conductors.
'AS to Tit. Unanre's charge' that conductor No. 4 had intention to squeeze the S-cent fare, I think the charge is unwarranted' so long as the conductor did not take the stamp without giving a ticket. in return. On the other hand, Mtn, Umanre had, according to his own letter, taken journey on the bus without paying any fare, which is contrary to the Company's rules as well as to customary usage. The simple reason that the stamp which was refused at first became acceptable Is because the ride had been taken and it becomes a case of either stamp or nothing, "If the conductor suspicious os Mu. Untante, he might even suspect Mu, Unanré of trying to save the fare by subterfuge of "going to explain the situation to an inspector that T hope might be present." Tam sure, Mx. Untanre Wwill agree with me' that if very many people should take-a notion to offer stamps for bus fare and then get off at St George's or other points without paying anything, the poor Bus Company would not be fable to carry on for long, 'The actual situation is that stamps fare not acceptable to the Bus Company'"in payment for fares. Some conductors, however, rather than turn away' passengers who have not the correct change took it on their own responsibility and as a matter of special. accommodation to accept stamps which they. eventually convert into cash by giving them as change to such passengers, who are willing to accept them. Sometimes conductor is overstocked with Stamps. or near his time to go off duty, he is naturally reluctant to laceept "stamps because he will not have an opportunity to change them into. money which must be done before he can turn his day's takings to the Company. This explains, think, at least partially, the reason why some conductors ' will accept stamps while others won'
The transit companies have, since Mu. Unianri's letter, increased the Issue of tokens, but these are utterly InsuMeient and copious stamps axe sill being used "by the travelling public, Tu my opinion the conductors who accept stamps are doing both the public and the transportation com:
a ood turn, for they are Instrumental In getting the public to their destination and at the time bringing into the coffee company fares which would have been lost had the conductors in Unison stuck to the letter of the company's orders and politely but firmly asia those passengers without the exact wherewithal te depart from their vehicles. Stamp-accepting conductors should be commended but not condemned.
'A Conmmcutixe Cutntse.
Shanghai, June 29.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.