Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-22

also commencing to protest vigorously
about the failure of the police to con-
troll the numerous cars in service.
Girls Sit on Mems Laps
The conditions last night between
and o'clock with a thunderstorm
at hand furnished an excellent illus
traton of the responsibility of un-
licensed jitney drivers. Some of them
demanded three times the ordinary
fare of a nickel, other refused point
blank to take persons to outlying dis
tricts even when offered five times
the usual fare, others permitted six,
eight and even ten persons to jam
cars. Girls sitting on mems laps were
not an uncommon sight in Market
! street.
Striking trolleymen, who have
| been endeavoring to secure jitney ser
vice for the public by acting as vol
unteer dispatchers at corners, tried to
| get such accommodations for women
as would not offend decency and to in
| duce jitney operators to take people
to their homes, but they were unable
to accomplish any more than those
who wanted to ride. Policemen ap-
! peared to consider that their sole duty
was to keep traffic moving to the
right.
Licensed jitneymen who went to
markets this morning for regular
customers had to compete with oper-
ators who preempted curbs. "barked"
for trade and demanded high prices
and crowded cars beyond the safety
/ limit. Their complaints and those of
the people who refused to stand for
eXtortionate rates and indecent crowd
| ing fell on deaf police ears.
Jitney Complaints On Capitol Hill
Complaint was made at the offices
of the Public Service Commission to-
| day by woman who said that she
! lived in Steelton and had been charged
| a dollar by jitney operator. The
number of the car was furnished and
if it is found that the operator has no
! State certificate q test case, which will
have far-reaching effect upon the
present uncontrolled operation of jit-
news, is possible.
Pending formal action by the COM
plainant, no names were given out.
Should information be made that any
| jitney Is operating without a State GER
| tificate or city license, magistrates
would be required under the law to
entertain the case despite any attitude
the city police might take.
! Mclaughlin Complains
Hugh L. Mclaughlin, chairman of
the grievance committee of the strik-
ers, to-day complained to the Public
Service Commission that the Harris
| burg Railways Company employees
were violating Rule of the Commits
sion, requiring cars to come to a full
stop at grade crossings.
1t was charged that cars were run
over the Eighteenth street crossing
without the precautionary stop. For
NAL blanks for complaint were given
to Mr.. Mclaughlin, who will act in
the case.
PIckcts Act as Jitney Dispatchers
| Although seventeen cars were sent
out on the city lines of the company
before o'clock this morning, few peo-
pie travelled in them.
At the city markets, pickets from
! the Garments union acted as dispatchers
| for the many jitneys being operated
and assisted many of the women in get
| ting in the autos with their baskets
! Scores of women lined the sidewalks
at the Chestnut street and Verbeke
street markets waiting for jitneys, an6
many of them were compelled to walk
/ home with their heavily laden baskets
! because of the long wait for autos.
afraid to ride in the cars because of the
disorder during the week, and many
complaints were heard because of the
strike.
The Public Suffers
! Last night the public realized the
! seriousness of no car service when the
storm broke over the city. JitneyS
rushed to and fro over the city streets
many of them violating traffic rules and
/ hauling eight and ten passengers
crammed in the front and back seats
The people could not be accommodated
and many were drenched walking home