The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-01-19
THROTTLIYlI|
JITNEYS Inv
BIRTHPLACE

LOS ANGELES, Gal. Jan. 10.
The jitney is slowly being
strangled TO death in the city
where 1t was born.
1t is now almost extinct. The
bus business has simmered down
to q survival of the fittest and
the ''fittest' are growing fewer
every day. Less than SIX months
ago there were 1000 jitneys In
the city, while today there are
only 500 left.
Drivers declare that the Pacific
Electric Co., the S40.000,000I
transportation corporation that
for years maintained q traffic
monopoly here, Is, in conjunction
with q plant city council. slowly
but surely throttling the jitney.
Ordinanced to Death
The city council has ruled that
jitneys must not run over crowd
ed streets; that passengers must
be seated in machines; that they
must not stand on the running
boards. II they are carried on
doors of cars, the doors must be
securely locked. This "crowding
ordnance councilmen declare
was merely for protection of
human life.
Another city law requires lit
ney drivers to carry an $11, 900
liability bond, $4,000 for loss of
life or injury and $1,000 for
damage to property in possible
accidents. But in case the bus
drivers car is smashed he has NO
recourse for damages.
Six ana a Half Miles
Drivers of small cars say they
cannot make expenses II fair
degree of crowding is not allow
ed. The cost Of upkeep is too
great and the hauls in many
cases are too long, IL any money
is to be made. Many Of these
jitney men were wage earners
out of work and with families TO
support. They took a chance on
the jitney as a means Of hveli-
hood, making payment down on
their cars and expecting their
business to wipe out their debt. |
They declare that too strict legis-
lation is sounding the doom of
their business.
One bus here, for instance.
makes run Of six and shalf
miles. It takes an hour to make
the round trip. The machine
carries only six passengers-30
cents fare for one way, or 60
cents an hour. This is less than
IS day for an eight-hour day.
BY the time q man pays for up
keep, gasoline and repairs, not to
count installments on the bus, he
hasn't enough left to buy grub
for his family.
Not Giving Up Yet
The answer, say automobile
men, is to put large bodies on the
cars. But that takes money,
which the little fellow doesn't
have.
In spite of all the drawbacks of
legislation and opposition from
the multi-million dollar corpora
ton, many bus men claim the
jitney men will survive In the
struggle.
John j. Sullivan, secretary of
Union 800, representing a ma
jority of jitney drivers, says:
THE jitney will not be driven off
the streets. II is here to stay. 1t
is q means of quick transporta-
tion and cannot be dispensed
with In a city as scattered as Los
Angeles"
H. Scott johnson, automobile
man. declares the jitney will
stick.
"The jitney is still in It's In
fancy" he said. Drivers must
organize more thoroughly. Buses
should be run on schedule and
passengers seated in comfort.
The touring car must 60 and the
bus-body with cushioned seats,
plate glass windows and electric
lights must take Its place"
Originated In 1914
The jitney was originated here
in 1914. l.. p. Draper was the
pioneer jitney driver. He owned
small car, but was out OF q job.
To make bread and butter he
stuck up sign on his wind
shield and began hauling pas
sengers for a scent fare. He
was soon making big money and