July 26.
Very many letters have been received by this Journal on, the subject of the systematic squeeze in which the conductors on public conveyances, the trams and the buses; are alleged to indulge. Judging from the number of such communications, and the persistence with which they arrive, there is reason to believe: that the evil is widespread. Correspondence becomes brisker on the sub-Ject as the various increases in the fares are announced, and, whether the conclusion correct or'not, there appears to be a widely held belief that, if the transportation com-Panies received all that the passengers actually paid over to the conductors, such increases as have been granted would not have become necessary, or, if they-had, would not be so big as they now are. It is not to be believed for one instance that the companies are in any way negligent in dealing with this matter for it they were they would be heedless of their own best interests and those of their shareholders.
Indeed it is stated that the companies do not hesitate to take disciplinary measures against all employees found indulging in the squeeze racket. But, if inspectors as well jas conductors are attracted by. this method of obtaining easy money in fair quantities, it is diMeult to see what scheme could possibly be devised which would put an end to the practices of which the users of trams and buses complain. That men when discovered squeezing are instantly dismissed is well known, task of discovering them is no easy one, while the profits to be derived are such that most conductors will run the risk of being found out considering, that the illicit reward justifies the chance they are taking. Various suggestions have been put forward by different correspondents as to how the evil might be stamped out, and doubt ess the companies have considered them. It fs diffeult to believe that if any one of them were likely to be productive of good results the directors would not long "ago have adopted it, and it is to be assumed that a really efficient scheme has yet to be found:
The chief trouble is that amongst the conductors and inspectors. there is not that same standard of honesty which makes similar methods successful elsewhere than in Shanghai. Tt seems to follow that what is really necessary in dealing with this racket is that passengers should do their utmost {0 cooperate with the companies. After all it is their money which the perpetrators of this form of robbery are getting away with. That is apparent. If because of the squeeze which is going on the companies are obliged to valse fares to secure a reasonable return on their investment, then it is not the companies. which suffer in the Jong run, but the travelling public. There is something to be said for the argument that if the public were to take the obvious step to make the managements of the two utilities acquainted with every case of squeeze coming to their notice, Saree Gh ster Sa ge aot Set Fe ae cee tae cere Hatin Ttalian naval interference, clearly demon+ alr attacks, but apparently, with their checking system, and, if inspectors and conductors were brought' to a. realization that they could no longer trust the passeng-cers not to report them, there is a distinct possibility of their behaving themselves rather strafes how. completely the British Navy Gominates Mare nostrum. More than that, shows the confidence of the British Gov-conment in the ability of the Navy to protect criticize the managements of the two portation companies, but, if passengers would ce-operate along the lines suggested, there might very well be less room for criticism than there is at present. And it is in their. own interests that it.should be forthcoming. Contrary: to the coniention of a tram conductor quoted in a letter which appeared on 'Thursday what the conductor ultimately squeezes is not the company's but the passengers' money.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.