Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-19
1000 HTNEYS RUN IN
CITY, CAUSING DAILY
LOSSOF $1,000 TOP.R. 7.
Bus Traffic Grows-Police
Estimate Shows $4,000
Persons We're Transport
ed Yesterday - Entire
Town Demands Service.

Jitney traffic. which has grown by leaps
and bounds today assumed almost unbe-
lievable proportions. The police estimate
that about 1000 busses arc operating In
various parts of the city. West Philadel-
phia lines have been opened, new lines are
operating in the northeast section OF the
city and West Market street line car
ried hundreds to the central part OF the
city ibis morning. outlying sections OF
the city are making strenuous efforts to
obtain itncy service.
An idea OF the growth Of the business
may be cleaned from the police estimate
that nearly 5OOOO persons rode in the
busses yesterday. Broad street from
early morning to midnight saw con-
tiuuous stream of the iitncys, and vir-
tually every main artery of traffic was
traversed by the cars. all Of them loaded
to the limit. In spite OF the immense
crowds that were handled no accidents
we're reported.
The loss of revenue which the I. Il. 7.
is facing from the introduction OF the
ttney is about $1,000 day Yesterday $
figures doubled this amount.
p r. 4. stock. which closed at l0|s on
Saturday. declined to 99a. Trust certih-
Gates of the p. r. r.. which last Satur-
day sold at l0ia, today were selling al 97s.
Before noon about 800 shares Of +. II. 7.
were sold. and about 1910 trust certificates
changed hands.
The company is making every effort TO
learn the number Of jtneys and the num-
ber of passengers carried, but the rapidly
increasing number of busses and the
rapid opening OF new routes makes the
task extremely difficult. Inspectors Of the
company are lurking in shady corners
with pencil and pad, watching the aJtos
as they pass.
"wATCHFUL WAITING"
The taxicab companies have adopted
policy of "watchful waiting" They do
not believe that the jitney is economically
possible for any extended time, and they
say that the large Jitney traffic IS due in
large part to curiosity and to the novelty
of the new means of transportation. They
point to the wear and tear on the small
cars by passengers alone as factor that
will rapidly force them out Of business.
The cost of operation and depreciation,
they say. combined with the wear and
tear due to the passengers, will necessi-
tate greater charge If the jtneys are
to remain as a transportation factor in
this city. They have not yet reduced
their taxi fares
Little success has been achieved by
those members of the state Legislature
who have opposed the iitney business.
The jitney interests do not oppose any
legislation that is reasonable. but they
are against violent taxation plan. II is
said that an effort will be made to re-
consider the Jones bill which was defeat
ed OIL Wednesday night. or to pass a bill
similar to 1t. The Jones bill called for "A
jitney tax of ~ per cent. Of the gross
receipts and n bond OF 5000 The bond
would have worked hardship on the
nren operating their own machines
FEAR BIG COMPETITION
The Whitaker bill TO authorize all in
corporated traction and street railways
to so into the litney business is now on
the postponed calendar OF the House and
may be called up any time for final
passage. Its sponsor said al the time OF
fits Introduction that il was intended for
the purpose of meeting a local condition !
entirely. Those interested in the itney !
business see disaster in its provisions. !
II would open up the field to the big |
interests, and they could easily force the .
smaller men out of business.
Senator Patton's bill is the least obiec- |
tionable, in The opinion of the jitney men. |
IT provides that each municipality in |
which jitneys are operating shall place !
license fee upon the cars and designate ,
the streets on which they shall be per-
mitted TO operate. This would leave the /
regulation of the jitneys entirely i'm the |
hands of cities. The bill passed the SEN |
ate on March IA and was Immediately re-
ferred TO the House Committee on Judi |
eiary, where it still remains.