Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-22
TRAFFIC RULES GIVE
.TTNEY BUS STATUS OF
CITY INSTITUTION
Regulation by Police Goes
Into Effect Today-Driv-
ers See Official Recogni-
tion in New Move-Many
Sections Want Service.

The first formal official regulation OF
he jltney bus is in operation today. Fol-
owing a cabinet conference in the office
of the Mayor, Director of Public Safety
Porter has issued a set of rules to gov
rn the jitney for the sole purpose of
rotecting passengers against injury and
( assisting the traffic men,
The regulations meet with the complete
pproval of the Philadelphia Jtney Asso-
ciation and the l57 operators In the or
ranization have expressed willingness
20 abide by them. Richard Costello. pres
'dent Of the association, said that he was
GLAD the jitney Is receiving formal
status, because II will tend to eliminate
irresponsible drivers, who enter the bus
iness at night to carry joy-riders.
The tabulation of police reports on the
number of jitneys still goes on. Owing
TO the large number of Implications in
the reports 1t will take some time before
the exact number can be ascertaned.
Superintendent of Police Robinson today
estimates the number at between $50 and
bOO He believes that this represents only
about half the number of jitneys that
will be placed in operation and says that
II will probably be necessary to establish
jltney stations, especially in the congested
sections of the city. Bridges across the
principal thoroughfares for pedestrians is
not remote probability he said
new phase OF the jitney craze Is being
developed 1t has been ascertained that
many chauffeurs and garage men take
the cars entrusted to their care and jump
into the Jitney business for an hour or
so each night during the rush hour The
owners of these cars are believed to be
unaware OF the use to which their cars
are being put. Already there have been
reported a number of thefts of cars for
temporary use as jltneys. The cars are
usually taken from before a hotel or office
and used for the heavy traffic at the close
of the day. In fear of detection the cars
are generally left standing in deserted
street after the driver has made few
dollars.
The "jtney fever" is continuing to
spread through the suburbs. Lansdowne
Darby and the southwest section are
being supplied with jitneys at rapid
rate Germantown, Olney Mount Airy
and the northeast have several new lines
In operation. The transportation COM
mittee of the United Business Mems
Association will hold meeting today at
1920 Chestnut street, to discuss plans for
the establishment of regular bus lines
throughout the more important sections
Of the city. The Business Mems Asso-
citation of Germantown will hold n similar
meeting tomorrow at which suggestions
for a guarantee to the Jitney operators
of a proposed line from Germantown to
Mount Airy will be discussed.
The estimate OF the number of pas
Bengers carried daily in this city by ilt-
neys is steadily mounting. From police
and jitney operators it may be safely
estimated that 10000 persons use the
little cars The police believe that this
number will be augmented constantly
until the cold weather makes exposed
travel impossible.
There is rumor ahoat today that the
p r. T. is losing more revenue than has
been supposed and that the company is
gravey concerned over the prospect of
still greater loss. The jtney men believe
that the yearly loss to the company. esti-
mated at the present rate, will exceed
Sl0O00O0, Another rumor had 1t that the
Transit Company is waiting until a seri-
Gus accident occurs in jitney traffic,
when the company will make n strong
plea for legislation that will ultimately
eliminate the busses from competition
with the company. No statement on the
matter can be obtained from the p. r. T.