Try this on for Cy's

By Cy Martin

I went over and rode DART Rail on the second day of its opening. I believe everyone in the Metroplex had the same idea. The scene looked like the Tokyo Subway. People were literally crammed in like sardines.

What impressed me and I think everyone else I talked to was that even with all those people crammed in the cars and with the doors open, the air-conditioning was still adequate. Try that on a bus.

------------------ In the Recognition Hotline last month, Engineer E.M. Noriega and Conductor L.W. Campbell were getting off a train they had been dogcatching when they spotted a car on the FWWT with locked up wheels. Noriega used his conductor's radio to notify the crew so the car could be set out at Peach Yard.

----------------- "Permitting any child to grow up in the United States idle and illiterate is unacceptable national policy." -- Texas Senators Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutcheson in reference to Representative New Gingrich wanting to allow states to deny education to illegal immigrant children.

------------------ "...Cursing doesn't sound any better if it's set to music." -- the father of cartoon character Curtis referring to Rap Music.

------------------ Retired Chief Clerk Tom Huston dropped by the Crest last week. Tom is building a new house on 10 acres he recently purchased near Weatherford. When asked how he likes retirement and if he missed the railroad, he said, "I don't miss getting up early and coming out here, but I sure miss all my friends."

----------------- The reason we need Campaign Finance Reform instead of Term Limitation, is that if you took the big money out of politics, the politician couldn't afford to clutter the airwaves with soundbytes of their opponents' out-of- context quotes.

Organizations wouldn't be paying them "honoraria" in five-digit figures for making speeches telling them what they want to hear. And, they wouldn't be holding $100,000-a- plate dinners. Instead, they'd be busting their butts pleading for the opportunity to speak to every lodge, church and civic group or anybody who would listen to them.

In Saturday's Star Telegram, Louis Homesley told how things used to be. He said, "Before a politician would decide to run for office, he would come to one of the Woodmen of the World meetings and make a pitch. If they gave him thumbs up, he would run. If they gave him thumbs down, he didn't ..."

No person or group should be allowed to give more than one dollar to any politician.

----------------- "Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts." -- a mentor of President James A. Garfield.

------------------ Randy Stanley ask that we correct an oversight. In the May edition we said Charlie Rouse was the foreman on the crew working the Olympic Torch Train. Actually it was Randy, and he was footboard yardmaster, not foreman. Sorry about that Randy.

------------------ Cowboy Football Team Owner Jerry Jones tells Irving residents he'll buy them a transit system if they will vote to get out of DART. My guess is it either: (a) a dozen old "re-conditioned" schoolbuses; (b) he plans to have his Chauffer cruise around town pick up hitchhikers; or (c) a bunch of minimum-wage, no-liability insurance jitney buses.

If he has enough money to buy a new transit system, why doesn't he fix the hole in the roof of Texas Stadium and let the citizens of Irving continue to benefit from their investment in DART.

Why does he do this now, right when DART Rail is on the verge of opening? Public Spirited citizen! That's ok. DART can just inaugurate service to FW/D International Airport, Euless, Hurst, Richland Hills, Fort Worth and the that much sooner.

------------------ "We now have auction democracy, checkbook politics." -- Senator Paul Wellstone.

------------------ "A business's main asset is its help -- but that must work both ways." --John G. Kneiling

----------------- "In the old days, child guidance was something parents were expected to provide and not submit to." -- Anon.

------------------ Drop a dime on Crime. UP Police: 8-271-5000 or 1-800-877-0509

Cy is a locomotive engineer in Fort Worth Texas.