Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-16
MTNEY REGULATION
ISSUE IN MANY CITIES
Varied Methods in Course of
Development by Municipal
Authorities.

The jtney war which has been wagec
throughout the country since the musn
room growth OF the new urban passenger
Industry, assumed more concrete form 70
day as the battles carried on in the vari-
Gus cities along local lines are rapidly
being brought to head. In view OF the
most recent developments and with the
subsidiary questions being solved one py
one a general solution Of the entire prOo-
lem Of jitney regulation seems TO be
| coming in the not distant future
Today the Mayor OF Richmond, Va, is
| expected to sign an ordinance RESTRICTING
the jitneys Of that city to designated
licensed routes for n scent fare, and re-
/ uuring indemnity bond from every
operator. Charleston, s. c., has placed
the regulation Of jitneys in the hands
Of the City Council, through an ordinance
drafted by the Mayor. In indianapolis,
| Terre Haute and other Indiana cities new
| complications In the battle between tne
| 1ltneys and the street and traction ran,
ways have arisen through petition nled
| by traction company with the Pubic
Service Commission, asking that body to
place the jtneys under Its authority as
common carriers. hearing has Deeh
set for July 22 at indianapolis.
One of the most interesting features oil
the Richmond measure, which woulu Oe-
come effective within 10 days, Is that
licensed driver may carry passengers any
where In the city for more than hVe Genus
only by contracting In advance when ne
procures his license. Otherwise a Jhrey
must ply along one OF three designated
routes in the city, charging a hye-ceht
fare An indemnity bond Of $1,000 ana
$500 for every additional car Will be re-
quired. II is understood that the jitney-
men will contest the ordinance, especially
the bonding section, in the courts.
mi gfl. F2,1 hi
Mayor Grace and subsequently amended
provides that any final appeal must be
made to the City Council. The bill deslg-
mates certain routes and schedules TO be
filed with the clerk OF the City Council,
and the procuring of licenses and the
filing of surety bonds. No jitney will
be allowed to depart from its designated
route to discharge passengers The
amendments provide for a license fee of
81 instead of 81 per passenger, excluding
instead of including the driver, and the
maximum total deposit required is $4,000. |
in the form OF surety bonds.
Defeated in the last session of the In
diana Assembly in an effort to bring the |
jitneys under the control of the Public |
Service Commission, the Terre Haute, |
Indianapolis and Eastern Traction Com |
pany has filed with the commission a long |
petition asking for an order declaring |
persons owning, operating managing and |
jtney buses to be public utili-
ties and subject to the authority of the |
Public Service Commission" The jitney /
is branded as Substantial and destruc-
tive competition of new type" which
operates along the same lines of the petit
toner without regulation and without be-
Ing subject to the heavy taxes and other
expenses of the petitioner. The traction
which operates in several cities
Of the State, declares that unless the jit-
ney is "brldled'' 1t will be compelled to
limit its equipment and service or con-
.inue to operate at loss. The commits
Iioners who will hold a hearing July %,
believe that they have the power to regu-
ate the jltneys under the assumption
hat they are common carriers, 1t is un-
lerstood.