The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-03-20
SATUR DAY
THE CITY's NEW PRoBLEM.

-.@.<~ THE ClIY'S NEW PROBLEM.
The appearance during the last week Of "Jitney
Bus" in Duluth did not UNEXPECTEDLY but
theess has created considerable and specua-
ton among our citizens.
Is 1t boon menace to the city? Will it tend to
improve conditions the street Duluth? Will
1t in time compete the street railway of business
or will it improve the street service? Should it be
welcomed discouraged? These some the ques-
tions that have been asked and are being debated.
That the "Jitney Bus" has been thorn in the side
OF the street companies of the disputed
Whether they have in any way been service to the
workers is questionable matter 1t has not Influenced
any of the corporations in allowing their employees to
organize and there is evidence of the chauffeurs
the bus service being affiliated with labor organizations
Iney are being watched with considerable by
the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric
Railway Employees of America this union recently hav
ing appointed committee to investigate the seriousness
of the problem.
In last weeks issue of the Union Leader. "the Of
fetal Journal of the Electric Railway Employees of Chi
cago report OF Chief Engineer Phipps Seattle
Public Service Commission is given prominence The
states that the present transportation
sua1on In Seattle is profitable to neither the jney
BUS operators nor the street car company"
IN cities such as Milwaukee where considerable diff
hcuy with street service has experienced the
ADVENT OF the jtney bus is being greeted with delight
IN Duluth where street during hours on Sun.
day and after heater cosings to
onu unTeasonaDle capacity there tendency con-
s1oer the 5ltney bus source Of relief.
This condition of mind makes of the iitnev hrs q
new problem for the city consider carefully and
round necessary restrictive and reguative
seaes experience according to the report mentioned
herein developed the following five abuses
% very few drivers have any definite schedule
(2) DRIVERS are switching from one haul to anotha
in search of the most lucrative"
90 During rush hours especially manv cars arr
as many as ten passengers besides the drive,
oe1ne carried by fve-passenger Ford"
() Many passengers carried on the running boards
\o) Drivers were found with less than one weeks
experience.
Inc city OF Los Angeles has the tney problem on its
nands In Los Angeles the jtney was treated light,
ana 1or short time considered joke This is the
situation in Duluth Los Angeles has ceased
ing tn1s as Joking matter The city council of that
Guy mas proposed regulation law which is to be sub
m1ed to referendum of the voters proposed ord
nance requires $1,000 indemnity bond from drivers
OF tney cars and stipuates that the buses shall not
oeVate from advertised routes by three blocks
ana mat all cars are to be provided with certain kind
of headlight. ~
The San Francisco Star in referring this ordinance
makes the following comment which may we'll be con
s1dered by the commissioners of Duluth 1.-THE moral t.
be drawn from the Los Angeles situation is that the
authorities should take up the jtney bus problem
once for careful consideration draft rules and
laons under which the vehicles are to operate Della,
IN the matter until after compaies are incorporated
Will bring unnecessary and burdensome complications
and litigation"
The "jitney bus'' is not passing fad. 1t il
established and legitimate business. In Los Angeles
1000 cars are in operation, drawing revenue of ap
proximately $4,000 per day.
In San Francisco according to Garage Efficiency
magazine devoted to the interests of the Garage Own
ers Association published in Chicago he jitneys
driven (stree carr line into bankruptcy In Port
land, Seattle Tacoma and Everett the "jitney'' has
forced the street to appeal to the city
ellis for relief. In Spokane Salt Lake City Ogde1
the jitneys are doing thriving business. :~:
Objections to the unreguated operation of bus lines
OF this nature raised by the Garage Efficiency
which may or may not be menacing problem to public
safety and morals; questions which could not possibly
arise with street because of the requirements
rails and wires used in the operation these
ances
At all events the jitney bus is here. What are 20,
going to do with it?
SPLENDID TRIBUTE TO UNION LABOR
The opening Of the Panama-Pacifc Exposition OF
February Goth heralded of the worlds
achievements international expositions It commem