The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
No Meeting of B. r., l.. &
p. Co. Officials Held to
Decide Matter
THIRTY DAY TRIAL
EXPIRES TOMORROW
Chief BOdeker Favors Continuation of
Service-Helps Police Department
in Cleaning Up Streets
of Stragglers

Neither Culpepper Exum, president of
the city commission, nor George II. Har-
ris, superintendent of the street railway
department of the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company. would make
any statemen; last night as to their views
on the continuation or discrimination of
the all night street cars after tomorrow
night, March H. the date upon which the
30 day trial limit of the "owl carr sys-
tenn expires.
Mr. Harris denied reports to the effect
that a meeting of the Birmingham Rail-
way Light and Power company officials
was held yesterday to decide upon what
should be done in regard to the all night
cars. He stated that no report had been
prepared upon whether or not the owl
cars were paying operating expenses and
that until he had received or compiled
such report he could make no state
ment as to what would be done. He
declined to venture any opinion as to
the revenue obtained from the owl car
operations during tho trial since Feb
ruary 15
Exum Declines to Talk
Mr.. Exum stated that he did not think
that with propriety he could make any
statement in regard to the matter one
way or the other until the report from
the street car company was placed be-
fore the commission.
The 80 days trial of the owl car sys-
tenn was agreed to some several weeks
ago by the Birmingham Railway, Light
and Power company upon representations
from w. M. McCutcheon of the Birming-
ham Trades Council. The company agreed
to operate the all night cars for 30 days
as an experiment and that if they did
rot pay operating expenses during that
time that they would ask that they be
discontinued. President Exum who was
delegated by the city commission to han
die the matter. agreed to this arrange
ment at that time and the report of the
operations it is expected will be sub
mitted to him some time tomorrow.
1t is generally understood that the
street car company will ask that the
all night cars be discontinued on the
grounds that they are not paying .operat-
ing expenses. This probable discontinue
ton has met with much disfavor, how
ever, from citizens from all parts of the
city, and especially the suburbs. Many
have been interviewed within the last
few days and the opinion has been unani-
nous so far that the cars should not be
discontinued; that the company owes some
accommodation to the citizens, and should
not expect too large returns from the
cars, and that rather than see the service
stopped, all would gladly agree to pay a
fare of 10 cents or even more between The
hours of about / and O'Clock in the
morning.
Aids Police Department
In this connection Chief of Police George
H. Bodeker yesterday stated that the owl
cars were of a particular and efficient
service to the police department
1.-THE owl car service" said Mr.. Bode-
ker. during it's trial in the last 80 days
has had the effect of cleaning up the
downtown. district of the stracglers who
come to town from the suburbs and outly-
ing districts and fail to catch the last
regular cars out. This element at times
especially on Saturday nights. affords
considerable trouble to the police depart
ment when they are forced to sit about
town at the all night drug stores go 10
cheap hotels and start. craps game OF
something similar willie they are waiting
for the first ears to run out in the morn
ing
"The owl cars clean up this traffic ard
are of a very considerable assistance TO
the police force inthis way. Many a man
stays downtown all night this way be-
cause he has to and gets into trouble.
where il there were owl cars so he could
get home. he goes home and there Is All
end OF IL.
II am In favor of the owl car service
continuing. OF course, | would not feel
like asking the street car company to on
crate them If they did not pay operating
expenses. although this could be done
believe, as an accommodation To the pub
ic' and the company not feel the effects.
For this reason, If the companN's report
on the service for the last 20 days shows
that it has not been paying expenses'
then. like the many other suggestions that
have been made, I am in favor OF in
creasing the fare to 10 cents. = more II
necessary. and make them pay expenses.
Anyone would rather pay the Increased
fare rather than get a taxicab or other
extensive means of getting home