The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-22
Kansas Avenue May Be Used;
Restrictions on West Side.
PETITIONS FOR REFERENDUM
Jitney Men Declare They'll Ask
for New Law Altogether.
Two Thousand Attended Mass
Meeting at Auditorium.

The jitney ordinance as amended
today is nearing a point where To-
pekans may be benefited by addi-
tional service to and from down town.
The city officials. making many
changes in the original ordinance
after the instigation on the part of the
State Journal, passed a measure that
in many ways is fair to the drivers
of jitneys. 1t gives them Kansas ave-
nue., streets on the east side and all
streets on the west side with the ex-
ception of streets used by the street
railway.
In this way Topekans have better
and more accessible service on the
territory not covered by street cars
Now if the commissioners will not in
sist upon prohibitive license fee, the
new rule will be of advantage to all
persons who depend upon the carriers
fer their trips to and from the down
town districts. The State Journal asks
absolute fairness in all regulation-to
the street railway as well as the jit-
neys.
BY three to two vote the ordin-
ance, providing that jitneys cannot run
on streets used by street cars except as
amended, was passed by the city COM
missioners today. Commissioners
Tandy and Porter. with Mayor House
al lo
ers Wasson and Newland voted against
it.
Amended for Jitneys.
The ordinance which the commits
sion passed this morning was altered
in several points and was not the
sa me as was read Saturday. accord
ing to the commissioners.
The jitneys were given the privilege
to operate on Kansas avenue, on, all
streets east of the avenue and on all
streets west of the avenue. except
those used by the street railway COM
pany under the present license fee
But Il the jitreys want to operate OH
streets west of the avenue on which
there are street car tracks they will
be taxed the $500 graduated fee as
proposed in the ordinance read Satur-
day.
The License Fee.
According to the new ordinance
which will take effect June 19 all
jitney drivers who wish to operate un-
der the new ordinance must pay an
annual tax follows: For all cars
not exceeding five passengers $500 per
annum; from five to eight passenger
cars $3.50; and for those cars carry
ing eight or more passengers $500
This applies if they wish to operate
on any street in the city.
The caucus held in the mayors Of
flee did not show signs of breaking up
till long after the noon hour when sud
denly the jltney committee. who had
been laboring with the commissioners
for over three hours. appeared in the
outer office of the mayor and an
nounced that they were unable to
agree.
Immediately after this the mayor
and commissioners appeared and an
nounced that the ordinance would be
passed as introduced at their meeting
Saturday
The commission room was already
filled with jitney men and Topeka tax
payers who were friendly to them, as
well as a number of street railway Of
ficials. who were there to watch the
proceedings. when the mayor entered
and called the meeting to order
AS there are quite number OF
people here who have been here for
some time the iirst thing to be con-
sidered will be the jitney ordinance u
announced the mayor.
Get Busy Among Friends
Attorney Green representing the jit-