Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-21

Judge Thompson held that this would
be waste OF tine while the question
Of the commissions Jurisdiction re-
manned in dispute. He suggested that
this point be first settled. and said he
would hear arguments from the at
torneys On the law IN Chicago next
Tuesday afternoon. The ruling then
would determine whether the hearing
on the eompRny's petition would be
taken up. Should the commission hold
that the hearing should be resumed,
Mr.. Kenworthy will urge that the tes-
tinony Of witnesses be taken IN Rock
Island instead Of at Springfield, to
save unnecessary expense to both
sides, as several hundred witnesses
would be called.
Ask About Jacksonville Case.
When Judge Thompson had ad-
journad the hearing he WIS asked
about the Jacksonville case by Mayors
William McCouochie Of Rock Island
and n r Carlson Of Moline. THE
constitutonadty Of the public utilities
law was not attacked in the Jackson
Vile jitney bus proceedings, said the
Judge. THE street railway company
made certain allegations, and they ap-
peared TO have been fully sustained
By the facts In Jacksonville the iit-
nev buses established regular routes
and we're operating on schedules the
same as the railway company cars
The buses also were paralleliug the
lines Of the railway. IN other words,
tEey had CT Ean1feI a competition tina
Il was shown was disastrous to the
railway company. On the showing
made by the railway, and TO which
there was no serious dispute, the in
junction issued. It was Immediately
obeyed by the jitbus operators"
Then they have been put out Of
business in Jacksonville That was
pretty easy for the railway company,
wasn't it," said Mayor MeConochie.
Well. I'm not so sure Of that" re-
piled the Judge. "At last accounts the
jitneys were still doing business in
Jacksonville. They did not quit after
the restraining order was served up
on them, They simply abandoned
their established routes and schedules,
removed tbeir route signs. replaced
them with for hire cards and Wild
Gated. as they call it, over the city, TAX
ing passengers to any point in the
city for five cents"
II don't see how they can be pre-
vented doing that?' the mayor said.
Neither do ], answered the Judge
Understand, however, the jitney bus
drivers obeyed the injunction and so
far as I know they have not violated
it since the order was served upon
them Your Rock Island and Moline
jitney bus owners have introduced a
new phase. It's new proposition for
our commission, you must appreciate.
Your Htbus men say the utilities board
has not the authority to prevent them
operating their cars In accordance
with the laws under which they secure
permits Whether we have or not
am not prepared to state, This is the
point that will have to be thrashed
out in Chicago next Tuesday"
For Local Control.
Mayors AIcConochie and Carlson are
of the opinion that eventually it win
be up 10 the commissions of their cit
les to regulate the iitneys, but what
form this viii take or how far the
municipal authorities will be war
ranted by law in going they are at a
loss TO know They have doubts
whether the license can legally be in
creased, although they feel that the
bus operators should be obliged to
give a bond Of adequate size to pro
tact passengers against possible &C
cidents
The majority Of those present at the
hearing expressed the opinion that
the jitney bus had come TO stay in