Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-13
DlFNEYS MUST QUIT
Or OPERATE ATLOSS
IF ORDINANCE HOLDS
Experiments of Two Own
ers Show They Would
Lose Money on Every
Trip, Hundreds of Dol
lars a Year.

The effect Of the enforcement OF coun
els jitney ordinance in Philadelphia wal
feured out IN dollars and cents today ant
The result was stated in one line
The titneys will cult II the ordinance is
enforced.
An morning jltney drivers and officials
OF the Auto Service Association, one Of
the operators organizations. drove over
the routes prescribed by Councils and
then figured out what operating every day
for q year over the Councilmanic dis
tanoes az the Councilmanic rate would
coet them
Here are two computations;
a heavy car running from olney ave-
nue. TO City Hall for a iitney. would lose
p cents each trip. assuming that the
trips averaged three passengers to the
car. This loss would reach $40 a day,
$3.50 a week. or SS73.60 n year. The oper-
atOrs do not look upon such business as
being profitable. Instead, they say they
would suspend rahter than obey the or
dinance.
An operator ran Ford from 63d street
to the Market street ferries, another OF
Councils prepared routes. He would be
allowed to charge five cents ride. Fig.
uring on three passengers, the Ford
owner deduced that he would lose three
cents trip. or 30 cents a day. The
operators have highly scientific means
of cost-keeping, but they are reserving
It for the hearing on the restraining in
junction tomorrow before Judge Sulz-
berger.
Two important concessions to the rid
Ing public one by the jitneymen and the
other by a taxicab company, were to.
days developments In the jltneymen's
fight for existence. While the jitneymen
rauUnnathla fp o,1t tt,atr
are Indirectly responsible for the other
move. having forced IT by their compe-
tition.
The American Taxicab Company. be-
cause of it's rapidly decreasing business, |
caused by the jitneys. has announced |
that after September It's cabs will run
almost at jitney prices. Among the fea- |
lures OF the cut in prices is a fare of 10 |
cents for four blocks, or one-third of a |
mile. That means a passenger will be |
able to go from any one Of the railroad |
stations to- the nearest hotel for 10 cents
instead of rs cents which Is now charged.
Other changes in the prices will be 40
cents for the first mile and 80 cents for
each additional mile instead Of 20 cents
for the first mile and 40 for each ad-
ditlonai mile.
In commenting on the reduced rates,
Camille Gemehl. general manager of the
company, said today
1.-THE jltneys are cutting our business
down to one-third. In every section OF
the city they have hurt us, The only
thing we can do is to beat them at
rates. After the 1st of September we
will charge 10 cents from Broad Street
Station to the Bellevue -Stratford and
Ike distances. The price now charged
by the various taxlcab companies is
about rs cents"
The other move which the public halls
With great Joy is establishment of six
or-a-aquarter jitney strip tickets These
will be issued by the jltneymen ON
II their fight for an Injunction
3 successful in the courts tomorrow. Tho
Rapid Transit Company took
he strip tickets from the public more
.han six years ago after bitter fight
rhe public vigorously opposed the move, |
tut the traction company said II was
osing money and the tickets were done
way with. Since then the public has no
indy attitude for the company. and
'hen the titneys came II readily used
nd supported them. But with the an !
ouncement Of the jitneymeh that they
III issue the strip tickets the jitney sup
orters nearly went wild with 10y.
Jltneys are running today as usual.
iothing was done by the city authorities .
esterday. and the jltneymen expect .
othing from the police today. The hear 4
X for a permanent Injunction TO re- 8
train the Mayor. Councils and other city O
hheials from enforcing the councllmanic c
rdinance which went into effect yester-
ay will be held before Judge Sulzberger p
/ Court OF Common Pleas No. tomor- a
w. AT meeting OF the Auto Service C
ssociation, held In the Parkway Build x
g last night. several men were chosen
appear as witnesses for the cause to- Il
0rrow. a.