The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-24
Complaints AS TO JNNEYS
AREP0URINC IN ON MAYOR
Royal Says He Intends to Enforce the
Recently Prepared Rules OF the Po-
lice Department Governing the Op-
Grafton of Automobiles

Persons in the vicinity of Second
and Walnut streets on Saturday night
witnessed several narrow escapes from
serious accidents, caused by the reck-
lcssness of drivers of automobiles, and
in each instance it happened that the
ears were in the jitney service. Fortu-
nately nobody was injured, but little
girl who had attempted to cross the
street unattended narrowly missed be-
ing run down; no warning being sound
ed by the driver of the auto. Wit
nesses said the pace was entirely too
fast for that time of night at a
crowded corner where four sets of troll
ley tracks. come together.
In this connection Mayor Royal said
the police are now handing to each
jitney driver in the city copy of the
recently prepared rules If the Police
Department governing the operation of
autos.
81 have been loath to enforce the
laws with any severity against the iit-
ney drivers" said Mayor Royal "for
the reason that when arrests of these
reckless drivers are made there are al
ways some people to raise the cry that
am acting in the interest of the
street ear company and against means
of transportation that is intended for
the accommodation of the public. III
grant that this service is an accommo.
tn no hnf
render this service should be made to
observe the laws, and l propose to en-.
force the laws on any auto-car driver
no matter who he is, whether he is
driving jitney or a private car.
Wants the Rules Understood
g AS for this enforcement of the law
being in the interest of the street car
company, that is mere rubbish, and
hardly worth noticing except that it
creates a wrong impression. / believe
that when the card of rules am send
ing out is understood by jitney and
other drivers there will be general com
pliance, for | have instructed the of.
ficers to make arrests without fear or
favor.
81 agree with a good many people
that the running of jitneys has assumed
a recklessness that must be stopped.
In one day i had an experience twice
with the same driver. He ran his car
reeklessly, passed street car when it
stopped to let passengers off and almost
had collision. When l had him be.
fore me he put up such plausible plea
that let him 60 with warning, but
on the same evening he was again re-
ported for reckless driving, and when
L get through with that man he will
know that he cannot disregard the law
and defy the rules.
lit is not a pleasant thing to call
these men to account, but in Justice to
people on the street who barely escape
INJURY, in all fairness to the people who
have rights on the thoroughfares, to
say nothing of the fact that it is my
sworn duty to enforce the law, L pro.
pose to put stop to the reckless driv.
ing OF the jitney busses. Ignorance of
the law will not be taken as an excuse.
Receives Many Complaints
"There are some people who say
they do not know the laws but no man
has right to run vehicle, the run
ming OF which is regulated by law un.
til, he familiarizes himself with the
law. A man was arrested the other
day for particularly atrocious viola.
tion of the traffic rules, and he made
plea that he did not know there were
traffic rules. He found out.
My determination is not born of
recent occurrences, but of series that
have been happening for some time,
and | have been receiving so many
complaints against reckless. itney driv.
ing that it is necessary now to put
stop to it once for all. Chief Hutchison
will have the matter in charge and that
Is guarantee that unless men obev
the laws they will be arrested, and when
they are arrested, and the evidence is
sufficient, | will do the rest.'