The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-21
LETTERS TO EDITOR
In Defense of Jitney

10 the Eultor or The Age-Herald:
 | You have always been liberal in allow | ing a citizen to express himself through the columns of your valuable paper, therefore I desire to discuss the ''jitney.' .'' which has swooped down upon our city like drove of "zeppelins," and which seems to have created so much alarm among certain public spirited citizens of | Birmingham. It is not only strange to me. but many other common citizens of our city. why dsinterested parties | should take up so much time to stamp out ar evil when so many common citi- 1 zcns'' are interested A certain evenin s 1 paper here has contained various ar | ticles from citizens who favor the "jit- ney's fate,' but not one word has it pub | lished to show that "chosen few should not, and will not have the full say in the affairs of Birmingham in the l future as they have in the past.
 | Do we want the jitney regulated? Ger tanly. Every citizen who patronizes 1 these convenient transports realizes that rules and regulations should be formed and enforced The speed limit should be i adhered to. There are many private au- | ton cbiles here driven by negroes, owned | by white people, and some driven by
 owners themselves that should be regu- | lated. when it comes to speed, as well | as the jitney, which is owned and op- erated, as a rule, by unfortunate fellows | who cannot make living elsewhere at | the present. Here is good chance to | help the city out with the unemployed. Many citizens who are protesting against | the jitney service own their cars, have | them driven up to their front or back | steps and get in, sail to town at will,
 have their cars looked after by employees,
 never worry about catching street car
 on dark night, cold, hot or rainy day. !! If they had to stand on the corner and | wait for a street car in Birmingham they would be willing to let 'jitney airships' l haul passengers free of charge.
 | You can plainly see that a "chosen | few" have been called to discuss this problem. and I wish to wage that 99 | per cent of them have never ridden in a jitpey and few of them ride the street cars, SC why should they have the right to make suggestions, go before the hon. ora ble city commission and suggest any | more than the common patrons" of the jtney who can finger longer with loved ones at home in the morning, have a jtney drive up to their door, carry them to town in time for their duties? It is nonsense to believe that the spirit of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company is: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" They don't give a 'hang" about the public except tteir patronage. Why should they worry about regulation? If someone is hurt and damages due it is certainty, that ft will not be an employe, or stock
 holder of this corporation. which has
 had its way, with the assistance of few,
 wher questions arise in which they are
 diIectly or indirectly concerned.
 There should be a reasonable fee
 charged for the use of jtney for profit
 in Birmingham, and there will be, but It
 is generally believed that many want such
 regulations placed upon the jitney
 owner as will cause them to disappear
 from the streets of Birmingham. If the
 jitney i5 obliterated, it will not stop a.
 this The citizens, who realize the con
 venience and promptness of iitney will
 rise up in a protest, such as was never
 before seen in Birmingham. The citizens
 of Birmingham, who are the backbone of
 its industries (the working people) are
 going to hace just as convenient and rapid transportation as can be afforded them, regardless of a pet corporation" and it's beloved sympathizers.
 If the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company does not want competi- ton. let them give the people better service. They do not seem to realize that