Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-18
6nNERS OF JITNEYS
AWAITING COUNCILS
ACTION ON TRAFFIC
B.,t Ordinance, Which
''Ss' cslls for $75 License Fee
vSl'y I'd $4,000 Bond, Is OPP
"osed S,,s as Too Severe for
average Operator.

r, and operators in this
Hmey wsltIng with great interest," .ne
4 dli are .ion Of Councils In maklns
plpfe saguiations for the goVerrlIie,lie
3 hts any ,rafic The recent action
s Wey r.erislature in adopting tne
ii the sls.e s' riyes Councils wide LATITUDE
Patton ,,a, pn ~ the "jit" and may prove
Iaftgs.a irJ,Iel movement to disrupt tne
70 he lie bysiness and drive the httie
plpeg - Ihe street and from compeu-
- t,,h the Rapid Transit COMPANY.
lea ordinances have peen ln,rouuu ,.,o,,,
rouncils dealing Win tne .n,nt
ialQ ouu,,S regulation. The first wnlcn
fplpoyancod by Select Councilman
Fas as,,, chairman of the Law COM
Isas sronoses stringent regulation OF
nHlee a. II calls for Si5 license tee'
"a ia to protect passengers VINO
ER pVnq qiniured in the ''jitneys,' and
hV sesctually prevent a large NUM-
seaa esra,ors from continuing In the
~ ol Tho second ordinance, which
eHns,.,d,,ced eHnsss by Common Councilman
~ p IIaffney, a member of the Law
lNep,,t.. aims to assist the police IN
Vqnin, Veinr regulations governing the actual
.sec conditions under which the JI-
~ operates. -
,,,rr ORDINANCE OPPOSED.
.,., onerators are opposing the pas
!, Tho Hutt ordinance. They point
~ ~, n would make impossible the
eA.,s,,atlon of the jitney service, as the
~ tbe bill are too severe to be met
e,,s ,so average operator. They suggest a
,,S.d form of the ordinance and would
y ss,lsfed with $50 license fee and
s,Sea bond. Postcards will be circulated
.mong their patrons, to be mailed 10
s-s,rbers of the Law Committee of Coun-
~ asking that the Hutt ordinance be
s.sae less severe. Councilman HUT says
Il framed the ordinance only 10 protect
\. travelling public and that he did not
ssr.,It 10 operate as means of check
s~s NJ growing 'jitney" business. with
- consequent effect on the city transit
urporations.
N,lther of these ordinances mas been
sscissed by the Law Committee. 1t Is
svpected that meeting of the committee
m be called the early part of next week
ar discussion of the ordinances already
proposed and for suggestions for amend
nsents to them. HUT said today that he
hped to be able to present to Councils
measure governing the jitneys before
he summer adjournment.
sTATIsTICs NOW oBTAINABLE.
Statistics concerning the "jitney" are
hst beginning to be collected by the
eperators, In the beginning 1t was i'm
rossible to estimate the cost of opera
don and figure the depreciation with
any degree of accuracy. After more
than month experience, most of the
owners of cars have decided that the
business is paying a profit and have
islermlned to continue in 1t. The es-
t..aW- ..f 1ntI
ton In this city may be placed at $50,
q which about 400 are members of the
Philadelphia Jitney Association. In addi-
ton to this number there are about 800
additional cars which enter the business
daring the rush hours and on Sundays.
The actual cost of operating a "jitney",
based on figures supplied by operators
Of cars that have been in the business
since It's inception in Philadelphia, is
ih0ut $3.50 day. This figure is deter
Hhtd from the following calculations:
Per mile.
uhhonne OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, O.O1
nll snd grease. ......,........ 0092
DePIeclatlon .'......,........ OOO6
This makes total operating expense
~ mile of 26-10 cents. Taking 100 miles
8 the maximum daily mileage of lit
r'k the daily operating expense is about
according to statements made by oper-
elors OF the cars. the daily revenue is
lelTeen 81 and S9,75, using an average day
= basis for the figures. This would
rave the operator profit of about s. as
u average daily income, provided he op-
ealed his own car.
me average life of a small automobile
ssfd as a ''Jitney" cannot be given from
pspres obtainable in this city. Most of
.ne cars In use from the time the 'iitney"
pesan to crowd the streets show signs of
nsaf, but are not seriously damaged. A
Mssten engineer estimated the life of a
7Hlney'' as 60 days, and based his figures
g the behavior of the cars in Western
aaes where they have been operating
sef several months. Whether this is too
an estimate can only be guessed at
pssent but the majority of Philadelphia
sffators say that 1t is very much too
bis city.
me other side of the "jitney" problem
me loss of revenue which the Rapid
alAnslt Company is suffering. Conserva-
~ -, esumates place this loss at $1,000 a
20 onicial admission OF the fact is made
we company but officers have said
'4se me Jltney is largely responsible.
!. s''s OF them said I'VE have not changed |
~ schedules ON lines, because a change
q That character cannot be made with |
=. permission OF the Public Service Com
4sslon. The company, however, has the |
~ 70 use its own discretion concern
Atra cars operated during rush |
s.lA Because OF the inroads of the lit
"a ~sNuinber of cars, styled as extras
'peFated during the early morning |
% ana from to $50 In the evening,
- been discontinued"
Il '1tnur ur oHleial admitted that the tran |
: soinpany will be compelled to appeal
" Public Service Commission for per
son 10 cut the schedules of cars op-
sss'as NJ, on streets near Broad.
III s.sss, he said, have played havoc |
~. leeuon companies. While they have
~ new business, namely, among
Izs m lhey have made big cut into |
~ sr'hsef receipts of our company.
Hs sthe does not seem to understand |
~ 10y not a responsible carrier. |
"a 4 iaa'ofs are not bonded and there |
1hs y mnich regulates their business.
IE ~ T. Is bound by law to serve |
Paplie whether that public sees an TO
- = sne trolleys or not. For instance.
"a my cay the it's crawl into their |
S ese ana II Is then up to the p. r. 4.
4t'y The passengers.
IL pubic does not seem to realize
ls.,sss traction company is compelled 10 |
Isl<ss .ne same number OF cars, minus |
q ,snoS IN sunny days, when the jits are
Is r m evidence. On several DAYS |
"a ,s-sss TO the company have reached
~ 1A'eap .lea companies have not yet
ia a IN nell rates to meet the competi- |
3 3 !itneys-" Whether they will |
q ~ psisas on their loss Of revenue, |
~ something about which they |
f% talk for Dublica fion .,-,.,-kt-.-.