Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-17
CONSIDERING The
NEW JITBUS LAW
Proposed Ordinance to Regulate DriF-
ers Is Now Before the Council for
Early Action
STIFF BONDS ARE REQUIRED
Routes Are Determined by Eliminating
the Use OF Certain Down Town
Streets for Jitney Traffic.

The proposed ordinance to regulate /
iitney bus drivers in Rock Island that
was discussed by the city commission
ers and Tri-City Street Railway com
pany officials yesterday afternoon was
presented TO the council at its meeting
last night and is now engaging the
of the commissioners.
The ordinance is very similar to the
one now under consideration by the
Moline commission.
Preliminary sections Of the ordi-
nance define the meaning Of a jitnev
bus. provide that drivers must take out
a license. and that before such licenses
are issued the drivers or operators
must file an application that gives a
complete and accurate history and de-
scription of the driver and the car he
proposes TO run The application
blanks will call for information on
such questions as the age, citizenship,
physical condition and moral character
of the driver. the type Of car to be
used. the seating capacity, and route
to be travelled. In the matter Of char
acter the applicant must be vOuched
for by two reputable citizens who have
known the applicant for a year.
Certain Streets Closed to Jitneys.
One of the most interesting and i'm
portant sections is that which regu-
lates the routing Of the cars. This is
done on a principle Of excluding the
jitneys from the use of certain down
town streets. The ordinance provides
that the clerk is not to issue licenses
for the operation of cars to run west
on Second avenue from Twentieth to
Sixteenth street, north and south on
Twenty Twenty-thiTd, Twenty
second. or Twenty-frst streets between
Third and Fourth avenues; north on
Twentieth street from Fourth to Sec
ond avenue north and south on Nine
teenth street between Fourth and Sec
ond avenues; north and south on
Eighteenth street between Second ane
Third avenues: and north and south on
Seventeenth street between Second a1d
Fourth avenues.
The license fee required for the
operation of a car is SIS for a ear
carrying seven passengers or less and
$35 for a car carrying more than seven
passengers. All operators are required
to file a bond to protect the city in
case Of accidents in the sum Of $1,000.
The ordinance as worded is what the
street railway officials Contended for
in their meeting with the commission
ers yesterday afternoon and the result
will be if the ordinance is adopted as
it now reads. that all the jitney driv-
ers who operate cars on the bridge line
between Rock Island and Davenport
will have to furnish bonds totalling
the sum of $500, since they are al
ready required to carry d bond of S3.590
on the other side of the river.
Other Details of Regulation.
Other sections of the ordinance pro
vide that in case of needed repairs the
1 operator may substitute some other
car for ten days; that if a car is TO he
withdrawn from service for more than
an hour the police are TO be notified Of
such withdrawal and of the cars being
put back into service.
The carrying capacity Of the car is
determined by the makers claim and
1 passengers are not allowed to ride on
sides of the car or running boards
Cars must carry tags showing they are
! licensed and an electric light insi,le
to be used during the hours between
sunset and sunrise. The drivers Of all
! cars must be licensed chauffeurs under
the provisions of the state laws gov
erning that matter. Drivers are not
allowed 10 deviate from the routes out
lined in their application and are not
allowed TO stop longer in any place on
the streets than is required to take
on and let off passengers. All cars
must be kept in continuous service
from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. on week DAYS
and from to on Sundays, but they
may run before or after such hours
The commission is empowered TO re
woke any license for violation of any
of these provisions. Anyone operating
car without taking out a license is
| liable to fine OF from $50 to SIS, VIC
lation of any part of the ordinance by
a licensed driver is punishable with a
fine Of from $40 to SIS. The ordinance
| is to go into effect on its passage and
publication.
After the ordinance had been read by
Commissioner Rudgren he moved its
consideration and this was done by a
unanimous vote. The commission ex-
poets to have a number of hearings
with iitney bus men and citizens inter
ortad in rho matter hafpra final arffor
is taken.