The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-07-09
THE JITNey pRosLEm.

IL was several thousanu years ago
when our sagacious friend. Col, Solo
mon, was moved to remark. There IS
nothing new under the sun" We are
not prepared 10 assert that there was
no truth In this statement when II was
made but certainly, II the colonel we're
living today, he would be willing 10
back up on it, In this marvellous mod
ern world there are number Of new
things which might cause the ancient
sage TO open his eyes in wonder. For
example. what did Solomon know
about : .1tney?
The jitney is among the newest-born
in the family OF modern marvels and,
admittedly, Il Is already quite lusty
infant. So amazingly rapid was the
growth OF this new means Of transpor-
tation that II soon became a problem,
Municipal authorities in many cities
have been wrestling with this problem
and have dealt with 1t in various ways.
That jitney regulation is a necessity
seems to be generally conceded bat
the extent to which regulation should
90 and the methods OF going about II
are still open questions. In some cases
regulation has obviously been designed
to put the Jitney out Of business for
the benefit OF the street railways but
in others its purpose has been chiefly
to promote the safety OF the public in
the streets The problem is so new
that. manifestly. all the measures
hitherto adopted must be regarded as
tentative and therefore subject to re-
vision In the light Of increased expert
ence. The question is one which Isl
not to be decided without full inyesti.
CATION and deliberate consideration
In every city the policy to be pursued
must be determined by the particular
conditions presented. The city coun-
ell of Chickasha has taken its first
throw at the problem but il is fairly
safe guess that the discussion is far
from ended In view OF the import
ance of the subject locally. some gen
eral Information on il should be val
uable and we therefore print the fol-
lowing from the Literary Digest:
According to Dr. Bostwick OF the St
Louis public library. who has made a
special stady of the subject, the cities
in which the jitneys have been most
carefully regulated are Pasadena,
Cal. Ft Worth. Tex. Oakland, Cal.
Joplin, No. Oklahoma City. Okla.
Boise. Idaho, Spokane. Wash. Los An
geles. Cal. San Antonio. Tex. Denver,
Colo. and St. Louis. No AS the Syria
cnse Post Standard prints the facts SCI
fnrh by Dr. Bostwick:
In these cities the chauffeurs and
the vehicles ara licensed. In Pasa-
dsna the applicant must state the type.
horse power and seating capacity OF
the car. the name and age of the driy-
er. and the termini between which the
car is to be operated In other cities
the same general requirements are
made. Oakland. Los Angeles and San
Antonio specify an 1S-year age limit
for drivers; Boise and Spokane, 81
In all cities excepting Joplin an In
surance bond is required. The amount
is generally $1,000 for a car. !.
The license fees are fixed by the
legislative body in all cities excepting
Les Angeles. where the police depart
ment establishes them.
In Oklahoma City. jitneys are for
hidden TO use streets occupied by car
tracks. In Pasadena, trailers are pro-
hibited. San Antonio has an ordin-
ance with twenty-nine rules covering
speed. stops. route. use of umbrellas.
and display OF advertising matter II
St Louis the regulations are brief. be-
ing as follows:
''Ah ears inust be registered with
details as 10 capacity and routes.
Cars must not carry more than two
passengers in excess of the rated seat
ing capacity.
mo person may ride outside the car
body.
Cars must stand at the curb while
loading and unloading.
mo racing for passengers is al
lowed.
Drivers must comply with the state
chauffeurs' license law. and carry
badges
Cars must be inspected as to gen
erai condition at the municipal garage
every two weeks. no charge being
made for this.