Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-02
MAYOR SIGNS DRASTIC
JTTNEY BILL; REGRETS
FARE ZONE CLAUSE
Sorry Measure Includes
Objectionable Feature,
But Considers 1t Neces-
sary to Have Some Regu-
lation Of Traffic.

Mayor Blankenburg today signed the
HUT jitney ordinance which was sent to
him for his signature yesterday after
Councils tabled his proposed amendments
concerning the Objectionable zons clause.
The Mayor said. in statement explain
ing his action, that he regretted the fact
that the ordinance contained a provision
limiting the fare within a four-mile zone
to cents, but believed the bond and IL
oense fees necessary for the protection of
the public.
THE MAYORS STATEMENT.
Mayor Blankenburg said:
Proper regulation of the Jltney service
Is of paramount Importance. My first
duty, as I told the delegation who called
on me yesterday. is to protect life, limb
and property. 1 can under no thlnkable
condition shoulder the responsibility OF
permitting the unregulated service Of the
Jitney to continue during the next three
months or until Councils shah reconsider
the Objectionable section 6oTIVhlch hI7
asked them to amend by substituting the
original section as unanimously adopted
and recommended by the Law COMMITTEES
OF Councils. w., --e
While the original section has some de-
fects and may not be entirely accepta-
Bile to the jitney association. IL Is q vast
improvement on the section as adopted.
''Jitney travel is likely to increase
materially during the summer months and
with this there will naturally be an even
greater increase in accidents. Such con-
tingency should be met by the license and
bond regulation prescribed in the ordin-
ance. These regulations will vastly inn
prove the character of the service and will
keep inexperienced and irresponsible
drivers of jitneys from our streets and
minimize accidents.
Upon me would rest the moral respon-
sibility for any and all accidents, whether
resulting in death or in injury to limb
or property, were I to veto the ordinance
of Councils and with a veto kill the sane
and reasonable regulation contained in
the ordinance.
The ordinance has been passed through
authority conferred upon Councils by re-
cent act OF Assembly. II Councils ex-
oeeded their power by the passage OF Sec
tion 10, that question can and should be
settled through an appeal to the courts.
Every intelligent citizen will agree
with me that the whole responsibility OF
the ordinance. which Is unreasonable in
its zone features. rests upon Councils.
tried my best TO have the ordinance
amended, but failed because OF the motion
OF the chairman Of the Law Committee 10
lay my recommendation upon the table"
DRASTIC REQUIREMENTS.
There are many requirements Of the bill
which the owners and operators contend
would drive them from the streets and
to poverty and bankruptcy. Among these
are the following
A 6-cent fare from Delaware avenue
to the City Line on Market street
scent fare from City Hall to olney
avenue.
A scent fare from City Hall to League
Island.
A scent fare from City Hall 10 ssd ana
Diamond streets.
A scent fare to either baseball park
on days when games are being played
from the regular routes.
The requirement to operate on eertsir
streets and not on any others.
A bond OF $500 for each car.
a license Zee OF $50 for each car
Ihe authority given the Bureau OF
roliee to grant refuse or annul a license
at will N'''7o
A fee OF 81 for each drivers lieansa T.,
addition to the license Zee OF ths ststa
Highway Department
II the city authorities begin 10 sn,or..
rs rulings and requirements. tltnevmsn
Jay they viii start action In the courts
% test Its constitutiOnality, and aiso aSl-
me courts 10 grant an Injunction 10 nra-
lent the city authorities from enforelng
he ordinance, They contend the BOND -. !
luirement ls Illegal and unconstltutionsi
hat fixing OF zone rates OF fare Is unoon,
Itltutional, and that, when compared with |
ne charges permitted and privileges
iiyen taAeabs, the law Is discriminatorv |
md cannot be enforced
They further win attempt to show that |
he ordinance would give too much au- /
hority 70 the City Solicitor IN that Ia /
.ould accept or refuse sureties for bonds /
L will.
Another provision, which they say VIII
"a fought out Ia the courts iB that DOR K
ion which provides that any person ar /
lersons who may be injured Or dama4ed i
n person or Ia property by the operation
Il such bus may sue under such bond n
he name Of the City OF Philadslphls.
md recover thereunder such damages ss
hey may have sustained"
There win be a meeting OF the Inaa-
endent iitneymen tonight IN the Interests
Z those Who viii aght for the ri4ht Il
arn living said George 81 Winner.
resident 81 the Jitney Auto Service aana
eiin.te plans t1r Continuing tbs battle
lli - ulada