South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-07


| placed on file after warm debate. |
Another effort to further de-no-al-
lie the jitney bus business in South
Bend was made at the meeting of
the committee of the whole of the
common council last night, but the
movement failed, at least temporar-
lily. The action came as the result
of a petition signed by 3S business
men or firms in a radius Of one
block Of the corner Of Washington
av. and Michigan St, who asked that
J!ney busses and other vehicles for
lire be prohibited from parking in
that vicinity. Councilman GoebeI
introduced a motion providing for an
ordinance which would prohibit any
vehicle for hire 70 park or solicit
business except on Main st, one-half
block south from Washington av., on
the east side OF the street, or from
the middle alley to the property line
OF the Farmers Trust & Savings
building on the west side of the
street.
Councilman GoebeI was supported
III his motion by Councilmen Hagey
and Hagertv; Councilmen Lang. Nil q
Ter, SmogOr Thompson. Buechner
and VOTERS voting against it. The
councilmen opposing the motion
pointed ont that such an ordinance
would practically put the jitneys out
of business Ii was stated that
prospective passengers would not
walk from the central traffic point,
Michigan st. and Washington av., TO
the court house to get a jitney bus,
Iut would wait for street cars.
1T would be just putting a few
more nickels in the street car CON
pany's pockets" asserted Council
man Thompson.
Defends Jitney Men.
II was further pointed out that
the iitney BUSES are paying a license
for the use of streets and should he
accorded the privilege, providing
they do not abuse it, one council
man explained that the jitney busses
do not cause any more congestion OF
traffic than do private automobi
which stand in front Of buildings in
different parts of the city. In the
petition which is signed by business
ren as far south as the corner of
jefferson blvd. and Michigan St, it is
stated that under present conditions
the iitncys are a detriment to bust
moss. This is no more a fact than
q Il I'll. 1,
trance TO the J. NJ. S. building hinder
business in that locality, say various
members Of the council.
IL was intimated by some of the
Councilmen that the movement is but
a body blow aimed at the jitney
buSscs bV the street car company.
The motion OF Councilman GOebel
would prevent any vehicle for hir-
ing parking at any place except in
the locality he designated. even pro-
hibiting cars from parking in front
OF the oliver hotel or other such
places After the failure of the mo
tion the petition was laid over until
the next committee meeting in order
that the petitioners might be heard
and that the jitney bus men might
lie given chance to express their
position upon the further regulation
OF their business as it is proposed.
Gymnasium Question Up.
There was considerable debate
upon the question Of the gymnasium
and playground which has been re-
ouested by the five Civic clubs of the
south side 10 be erected on tho
property adjoining the Franklin
school. The ordinance providing for
an appropriation of $4,000 for this
purpose has been rejected by the
council upon the assertion by City
Atty Eli F. Seebirt that such an ap-
propriaation would be illegal as
there is no statute providing the
council with the power 10 enact such
an ordinance. Councilman Miller re-
qucsted an opinion from the city at
torney last night as 10 whether there
was any other means Of legally pro-
Viding for the Fairgrounds. He ex-
planned that he did not believe there
was. pointing out that in a similar
situation Fort Wayne was compelled
to 60 before the legislature and have
a -llfN4taA Ia NJ NAA4NAt4 ~ D1AAA "a
coliseum.
says Barnes Gets Too Much
Councilman Hagerty attacked the
recreation committee for what he
termed as extravaganza in salaries,
ntimating that Municipal Recreation
Director Barnes was receiving 700
much money for his services. He
suggested that some of this money
be expended in providing apparatus
for the children. He also stated that
il was his understanding that the
recreation committee had either
overrun its appropriation Of $4,000
or was already short OF funds. This
statement brought forth the financial
statement IF the recreation commit
tee. which has been withheld fo-