Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-03-22
Committee Hearings Wednesday

regulate motor vehicles as common
carriers. Hon. Scott Wilson Of Port
land. appearing for the Atlantic Shore
Railway Co.. stated that it seemed un-
fair to corporations investing large
sums Of money in equipment and op-
Grating in certain streets upon which
tracks are located to have to meet COM
petition that Is unrestricted.
Attorney Hiram Willard Of Sanford.
in speaking in favor Of the bill. refer
red to the irresponsibility Of parties
who had como from Massachusetts and
operated j!tney cars in York county for
a short time without securing a license
from the State Of Maine. and then dis
appeared, taking tho money they had
cleared.
Mr Willard stated that operators of
such jitneys would often run just ahead
OF the electric car aud pick up the pas
sensers. He insisted that It vas unfair
to the railroads and also to the public.
while the damage done to the streets by
the jitneys was also an important consd-
Grafton.
William NJ. Bradley, president of the
Cumberland County Light & Power Co.
which operated the electric car lines II,
Portland and vicinity, told something of
the annoyance which the titneys caused
his company two years ago, explaining
that they were run but. small part q
the year and that during the summer
time when the electric railroad company
has to make Its money.
+. H. Ellis OF York spoke briefly in IA
vor Of the bill, referring to the loss suf'
fered by the Atlantic Shore Railway Co
and told of a man from Massachusetts
who operated jitney and yet gave no'h
ing in return. the local authorities hav-
ing more or less annoyance on account
of the party.
In opposition to the bill there appeared
L. B. SWEET, a SANFORD attorney. whc
stated that he appeared for Iuel Broth
ers &: Stiles. who operate jitney service
between Sanford and Springvale hf
pointed out that his client had money IN
vested in Sanford. and that the service
rendered met a public need. He stated
that while it is true that the jitney III
lures the street railway service to ceE
tain extent it also serves the puoilc nee'
| and convenience He believed that
hond should be required. considering thi
fair and right He thought bond o
sNo per passenger was too much, no"
! ever.
Mr.. SWEET stated that he did OBJECT u
! any provision holding the jitney cars I
| = schedule of time and route in operauhs
choir cars. also 70 limited the number
messengers that could be carried he GU
.d tbe instance OF cars which MS c'eh
runs carving employees of factor
| morning. noon and night. adding Una
the ears are driven to the homes or pas
s.reers IN stormy weather. If held 10
s,erific route and schedule OF time th'
! could not be done. At other times OF
certain days III the summer some OF ."
cars are used in carrying parties 10
nond, and this would not be possible VIII
| tho same cars III a schedule or tihe aii'
rou+e was required. He added that
uo,,,d be too expensive to have add't'oh
., rsrs to put on for the special trips.
One of the members of the coh'f''' 'S
asked Mr.. wilson representing the Pro
,,onents if some provision restricting ~
,,eva from running in competition "lt'
street railway lines would answer anu IL
rcplied that he thought it would