Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-05-04
Alderman Willing to Do This If 99 Other Pine Bluffians
 Will Do Likewise.
OPPOSES STREET TAX
Council Defers Acticn on Proposed Jitney Regulation, But Decides to License ChaHiieurs If It Has Legal
 Power So to Do.

While the ordinance proposing per capita street tax of s was not finally acted upon the meeting of the city council last night, going over until the next meeting of the council for it's third and last reading Alderman Ben B. Well took occasion to announce, ill short talk, that he is not in fav or of the ordinance, and can not con- scientiously vote for it.
 50 far as I am concerned" Said MT. Veil, when the motion for the ordi- nance to go over had been made and seconded, I've might just as well act on this ordinance tonight. If the council wants to pass the ordiance, let's do it tonight, and if the council wants to defeat it, there is no use de- laying, the action"
 In his talk, Alderman Veil called attention to the fact that the Cotton Belt shops and most of the sawmills and lumber mills here have been clos ed down quite bit the past few months. A dollar to poor man looks as big as $100 to a man of property, he said, and he would prefer to give $10O out of his own pocket if 99 other Pine Bluff residents will do likewise, rather than vote for this ordinance.
 MT. Veil mentioned that he had dis cussed with County Judge Philpot the matter of getting some aid in working the city streets, and that Judge Phil pot has promised to lend his assist ance, as soon as the county work had caught up. Judge philpot, said MT. Veil, is not able to help with money having allotted all the funds at his command to the various improvement districts, but will help in grading and scraping the streets, and with this help MT. Veil expressed the belief the city can make out all right.
 Jitney Ordinance Postponed.
 MT. Veil also led in the discussion of the proposition to legislate toward regulation of the jitney buss business. He said he believed it a legitimate business, and therefore the city has no right to legislate it out of existence.
 The matter came up with the read ing of the special message from May or Bloom, and which was printed in The Graphic early last week. The mayor suggested $5,000 indemnity bond and privilege tax of $25 per month per car.
 MT. Well expressed the opinion that the jitneys will go out of business of their own accord because of. lack of patronage. He expressed himself al so as favoring an ordinance to- make all chauffeurs undergo an examination as to their fitness, before they are al- lowed to drive car, whether it be jitney or any other auto car.
 The matter went. over until the next meeting of the council.
 The city attorney was instructed to ascertain if the city can legally compel, by ordinance. all auto car drivers to undergo an examination as to their fitness. In this connection, the attention of the night police was. called to joyrld- ing at early morning hours, and to the almost unlimited violation of the "muffler" ordinance It was stated that much complaint had been made because some of the joyriders run their machines on sidewalks in the residence sections.
 Perfecting Paving District. The second petition for the Organl- zation of paving district No. 34, the Laurel street and Fifteenth avenue district, was read, and a resolution was adopted calling for protestants to the fcSmation of the district to ap- pear at the next meeting of the cOun- cil, to voice their protests.
 | The real estate values in the pro- posed district aggregate $229,450 and the values held by signatories aggre-