NO FARE

No one will deny that New York is probably the most honest city in the world. Its mayor says so; so does the police commissioner; and now the Interborough Rapid Transit has revealed through the assistant to its president even more significant proof. In marked contrast to the dishonest Western cities, New York uses only fifty thousand slugs, checks and hammered pennies a month for complimentary subway rides.

Of course any large city produces an occasional lead nickel and is troubled occasionally by a real crime or two; but these latter are very rare in New York since only in the shopping districts and far downtown is there the least likelihood of a criminal being successfully swallowed up in the throng. But even with this New York is not satisfied. Lest a single crime escape unnoticed criminals are now to be arrested in the crowded districts within the new "dead lines" merely on the strength of their past records. Appearance within the proscribed bounds is itself sufficient proof of evil intent.

Not to be delinquent in doing its share in the reform the I. R. T. has undertaken to abolish the insignificant loss of less than $3,000 which it sustains every month by installing slug detectors on its slot turnstiles. These hold each coin under a magnifying glass until the next is inserted; and thus one inspector can guard all the stiles at one station.

How different is the situation in Boston. Years ago the heavy losses sustained by the Boston Elevated Railway necessitated the ten-cent fare; and the police arrest crooks in every part of the city. At least one policeman guards the Square every night; and there are inspectors at every subway entrance. One opportunity for ingenuity still remains; there are no slug detectors on the pay telephones; and some times one only needs to kick them.