The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-05-06
TRADE COMES LIKE MUSHROOM
Wave of "Jitneys' Sweeping East
From Los Angeles Brings Regulation
For Them in Many Cities Of the
Country Kenosha to Follow Suit.

Since the wave or Jltney BUS Jrafnc
swept eastward from Los Angeles, Cal,
many municipalities have considered
che problem Of regulation.
Thousands Of buses are now in oper-
alton and poor persons who had never
experienced the pleasures Of motoring
are indulging themselves at the easily
afforded rate Of nickel ride.
Half hundred jitney buses are OPP
Grated on the streets of Kenosha and
city officials who have observed the
rapid growth of the traffic have fore
casted an increase to 100 after May i.
An ordinance to regulate the traffic
is being drawn up in the city attor-
ney's office. The principal restrictions
set forth in the ordinance will be
measures Of public safety. Bonds will
be required because the investments in
jitney buses are small and judgments
against operators in damage cases can
not be converted to cash because the
majority Of operators are rated as poor
men. Public service corporations, such
as steam and electric railway COM
panies, have large investments Of cap
ital, and when a judgment is obtained
there is reasonable certainty that it
will be paid. But in jitney bus traffic
this financial foundation is lacking and
protection, whore required, must be
gained through insurance.
The jitney bus operators of Milwap-
kee have organized as the Independent
Jitney association. Officials have cor
responded with liability insurance com
panies with view to having each
member insured, but no satisfactory
arrangements were made, and at pre-
sent the association is working out a
plan of mutual insurance, through a
separate company organization. If an
organization is perfected, insurance
will be issued to members at cost.
Regulation at Ell Paso
Jitney bus regulation problems have
sprung up in many cities. A dispatch
from Ell Paso, Tex, says that motor
lists engaged in the nickel passenger
service are required to give a bond
ranging from $4,000 to $4,000, accord
ing to the provisions of an ordinance
passed by the city council. The new
law provides that the bond shall be
$4,000 for the operation of any num-
Der of vehicles less than sin; $4,000
for the operation of more than five and
less than eleven; and $4,000 for the
operation of more than ten vehicles.
Drivers must apply for a chauffeur s
certificate and pass an examination.
The license fee for the operation of
car is fixed at $18. 1t is required that
there be displayed prominently a sign
showing the destination and route of
car. 1t is required that the name of
the person holding the license shall be
displayed upon the car in letters four
inches long. The penalty for violation
of any provision of the ordinance is
fixed at 5000. Cars must be lighted at
night.
A state chauffeur s license obtained
at cost of SIS is all that is required
in Rochester, n Y, where 200 iitney
buses are in operation.
$4,000 Bond in Tucson
The city council Of Tucson, Ariz.,
has passed an ordinance requiring a
iitney operator to give bond in the
sum of $4,000. A bus may be operated
on a given route from a. M until
10 p. M, and the city will collect
license fee of $3.50 per quarter.
The following restrictions have been
adopted by the commissioners who
have jurisdiction in the city of Wash
ington, d. G.
Each bus must be licensed as a
public hack and pay license tax of
Sc annually. The individual company
or corporation operating bus must
satisfy the commission as to financial
responsibility before license will be
issued. The driver of each bus must
stand a prescribed examination before
board of regularly appointed exam
liners before he is given a permit to
operate bus. A fee of So will be as
sessed against each driver in return
for which he will be given card en-
titling him to operate the car. Each
bus operating in the city will be re-
qmred to designate to the commits
sioners the general route it expects to
follow, and licensed buses will not be
allowed to run at random. A change
in route must be approved by the com
mission.
In Nashville, Tennessee
1t is reported from Nashville, Tenn,
that bill giving cities the right to
regulate jitney buses has passed the
house of representatives. Representa-
tives of the jitney interests sought to
have the bill amended so that such
carriers could not be taxed any higher
than other common carriers. but they