Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-29
REsTRA|Ns CITY FROM
ENFORCING J|TNEY LAW
Judge Wells Grants Temporary In
junction Suspending New Regu-
latory Ordinance.
ARGUMENT NEXT WEDNESDAY
Restraining Order Expires August
6, Unless Previously Enlarged.
Counsel for Jitney Owners Charge
That New Law Is Unconstitutional.

Under temporary injunction award
ed yesterday morning by Judge f. H.
Wells. in Hastings Court, Part IT,, the
authorities of the city OF Richmond are
restrained from enforcing the jitney
regulation ordinance recently adopted
This injunction will expire on August
6, unless then extended or made perma-
nent
Following the execution of n bond
in the penalty OF $500. copies of the
order were served on Mayor Ainslie
and other city officials. and the sixty
two jitney owners who are parties to
the suit will resume the operation of
their cars this morning Any other
1itncy owners may participate in this
action by making themselves parties to
the suit and operate their machines
under the protection of the injunction.
Jitney operators who fail to enroll
themselves as parties TO the njunc ton
proceedings will not be exempt from
arrest for violating the ordinance.
list of the siStytwo jitncy men named
In the petition was furnished last night
to Automobile Policeman Samuels TO
guide him in handling the situation.
CLAIM ORDINANCE IS
"UNJUsT AND DEsTRJCTIvE-
The chief allegations in ~ bill OF
complaint are that the ordinance is
unjust. discriminatory and destruc-
tive" to the jitney business, and that
in several Of it's provisions ii conflicts
with the fourteenth amendment to the
Federal Constitution. The Virginia
Railway and Power Company is scored
for its efforts to prevent the operation
of jitncys by court orders: by the or
ganization OF company operating
cars to compete with the independent
machines. and for its efforts 10 secure
the passage OF the ordinance, which,
it is alleged. is designed to destroy the
jitney business under the guise of regu-
lation.
An hour before the bill asking for
an injunction was presented to Judge
Wells by Richard Evelyn Byrd. attor-
ney for the jitney owners. Justice
Crutchhcld. in Police Court. imposed n
fine of So each on G. w. Farmer, 9O4
North Boulevard. jitney owner. and
w. II. Davis. his chauffeur, who opcr-
ated their machines on Tuesday, the
day on which the ordinance went into
effect. in order to start Il test case in
the criminal courts. NJ. j. Fulton, Mr..
Byrd's legal associate. noted an appeal
to the Hastings Court, and bond was
given In the sum of 800 for each OF
the defendants by c.. II. Tompkins, who
is connected with the jitncy nssocia-
tion.
JITNEY DRIVERS MAKE
NO DENIAL OF CHARGE
Automobile Policeman Samuels was
the only witness against Farmer and
Davis. He testified that their jitney
had operated without a license, as re-
quired by the ordinance. No defense
was offered, and the justice made no
comment in imposing the minimum fine.
Policeman Kersey yesterday reported
the drivers Of four jitnoys Of the Motor
Transit Corporation. subsidiary of
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany. for violating the provisions OF
the ordinance In permitting passengers
to stand on the car platforms. Tho
Continued on Fifth Page.)