Evening journal., 1915-05-15
EXPRESS VIEWS ON
lTNEY ORDINANCE
Opponents Say, If Passed,
VIII Be Fought in
Court
TROLLEY co. SWELLS
CITY TREASURY

night by r. V. Topkis, representing
The eight iitney operators of this city.
after he had presented his objections
10 q number OF clauses of the roso-
luton Of the Street and Sewer De
partment at a public meeting in the
Council chamber at city hall. Chief
among Mr. Topkis' contentious was
that the bond as prescribed by the
resolution of the board was too high
and would force many operators out
of business The measure, he said,
was drastic and presented a resolu-
fion bearing the names of 200 signers
asking that the board defer action in
the matter
Last nights meeting was preim-
mary 10 tho regular meeting OF the
board 20 be held Tuesday, when the
resolution will be decided upon final
". In expectation OF a large crowd,
the place OF meeting was changed
early in tho evening from the boards
rooms on the second floor Of Sixth and
King streets 10 the Council chamber.
About two score Of persons we're
present.
During Mr.. Toplsis' talk. Col G. W.
Sparks. president of the board, de-
clared that he did not own cent or
trolley company stock. He said
some one had said he did.
Sparks Fathers Resolution.
President Sparks. who occupied the
chair, declared that he alone was re-
sponsible for the resolution, which,
ho said was the result OF consider
able investigation and work. To give
those present an idea OF how other
cities are dealing with the jitney
kA ~
of the session reading a bulletin is
sued by the Chamber OF Commerce Of
Oakland, Cal.
The jitney question, the paper
stated, was not whether the motor
bus business would injure the street
railway lines by competition, but a
decision as TO means Of securing safety
for passengers. AS the electric troll
ley succeeded the horse car. the bull
lctin continued, the jitney bus may
make obsolete the street car by the
coming into vogue of a means of con-
yeyance equipped with its own power
plant, thereby doing away with the
cost OF overhead power supply.
The iitncy. the bulletin stated, has in
creased traffic hazards Passengers arc
subjected to more risk of accident both
from carclessness on the part Of drivers
and accidental happenings.
''Whcn a man goes into the litnoy
- business he becomes a common carrier,
said AIR Sparks "As such he is a pub
lie uthity. The people in recent years
have been clamoring for municipal regu
lation OF public utilities"
Mr.. Sparks added "The street rail
way companies pay from 10 TO y l2 per
cent Of their gross receipts as q tax
One local street railway paid the city
$3i 900 Tor paving and 900 in taxes
last year Now, the question Is shall
the iitnev be allowed 10 compete Will
The trolley lines without paying a simi
lar tax as well as a guarantee TO safety
Of passengcrs"
The meeting next was thrown oper
and each itncv owner or operator wal
allowed Is minutes 10 present his side.
Mr.. Topks took the floor lie saiC
he was interested in iitney business. ll'
Objected Go Section 3 of the resolution
which provides for license TO operate
I motor bus He declared the resolution
WAS not clear IN that il did not stat'
whether both owner and operator mus
hrhavc license.
~ The 5000 bond for each car pro
vided IN Section 4, he said, coul'
not be obtained from any insurance
> company. This fact, he said. woul,
force many iitney men out of business.
Section 3 he snid, WAS unfair because
Il stated that stops only can be made a
street crossing. Street cars, he said
stopped frequently az any point
Section 10 came in for criticism as
he said IL stated no sign could h'
placed on the wind shield. Mr.
sparks pointed out that the resolution
called for a sign II il did not hinder
the drivers vision.
A letter from Richard W. Crook
general manager OF the Peoples Rail
way Company. was read. lie regret
ted that he could not be present anC
thanked tho board for It's Invitation
Traction Go. Presents Case.
Thomas w. Wilson, vice-presiden
OF the Philadelphia and Wilmington
Traction Company, next took the hoor
He declared he was not opposed e
& the jitney business. "If the iitne,
S can succeed AS a public utility" h'
& said "I am for it,
Mr. Wilson then went into a detail
as ed account of the money spent by hii
Sc company for paving as required b!
III Dthe city. The amount expended las
~ ear ne rulOs was fnAsnAts Int
liamout this year. he said, will be muol
# csarger. He asked whether the sam,
& *<hiNing and sprlnkling burden was Il
a beNplaced on the jitneys as common
carrlc<s.
In response 10 a statement by MI
Topkis that a bond would force jit
y neys out of business, he cited figure
4 showing bonds provided by iitne
\ operators in Western cities. Anon
A others he cited the following:
u Nashville. Tenn.-Iicense per yea
q n $50; bond per car, $1,000.
81 Fort Worth, TeX.-License per yea
u $40 10 $50; bond per car. $4,000 I
8 $4,000.
81 Atlanta, Ga.-License per year, 81
to $50; 'ond per car. $4,000.
Il Houston. Tex.-License per yea
<24 TO S74; bond per car. $4,000.
Salt Lake City. Utah--License d.
year. SIS TO S125; bond per ca
$4,000
Louisville, Ky.-License per yea
$50 bond per car. $4,000.
oklahoma City. Kyla.-License d
y year, $50 to $3.50; bond per oar, SIC
zoe.
Boise City, Idaho-License per yea
i SIS to $780, bond per car. $4,000
= $4,000
Poor trolley service over Washing
ton street bridge, declared n.