The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-20
Petersburg
Fight I'm Court Begun to Prevent I'm
forrerreut of OyrfiY&a nysa

ishN IN tbhrt beSun to Prevent I'm
foncersent' of Orfina nee
4. Petersburg. Va. Aug. 19.-Sergeant
}. B. Evans served an injunction on
Mayor Robert Gillian. at his home
In Fillmore street after o clock last
night, restraining the enforcement CT
the 'jitney ordinance" recently adopt
ed by the city council The injunc-
ton was issued by Judge Robert G
scuthall. Of the circuit court, from
his home ar Amelia yesterday after
noon. 10 Messr. Lassiter & Drewry.
representing tifty-two petitioners
styled W. G.. Wright and Others
against the city Of Petersburg.
The ordinance. fostered by Samuel
W. thinner attorney for the Peters
burg and Appomattox Railway com
pany, who urged its passage before
the city council is manifestly in the
interest OF the street railway com
panies and contains some OF the most
drastic provisions ever embodied in
an ordinance of the kind It's enforce
ment would virtually mean the death
Of one hundred and forty-three licen-
sed jftneys and more than sixty hack
ing cars in the city. from which the
city has derived more than $4,000 in
licenses and the state more than So
900.
Attempted enforcement of the
ordinance has aroused the Petersburg
public to an extent to which IT has
not been aroused In recent years ana
a substantial fund has been raised to
night enforcement of the ordinance to
the highest courts. Citizens generally
are Interested in ''killing" the ordin-
ance and voluntary contributions are
being offered toward the fund to test
its validity
Superintendent John E. Harvell Of
the Virginia Railway and Power com
pany. a member of the city council.
has made public denial of any direct
interest in the passage OF the ordin-
ance. stating that he voted in favor
or It's passage as a safety" meas
ure.
Among the most drastic provisions
OF the ordinance are clauses prohibit
ing persons from standing on the run
ming boards Of cars. prohibiting jitney
owners from carrying more passengers
than the specified capacity OF their
cars, plus two; requiring signs on all
cars giving destinations and prohibit
ing owners from leaving their cars
within reasonable distance of the bust
ness district for any purpose what
ever
Numbers OF business men Of the
city own cars and operate them as
1itneys to pay the cost Of their up
keep. II owners Of such cars desire
to use them to go to their place Of
business or enter the restricted dis
trfct on business. they. under the pro-
visions OF the ordinance. must leave
their cars two blocks distant from the
business district. II they take down
their route sign and enter the bust
ness district they are subject 10 a
nne OF from IS to 400, and IL thy
leave the tSr in the restri ed dis
trict with the sign up they are cub
Jsct 10 Vie same hne.
Cars cannot leave their ppecined
re,te' for any purpose, aecor alag to
the rtl!ce. without H3'atinx tho pro-
Visions OF the ordina ace. Common.
uealtt's Attorney ztmnas-, attorney
for the p. 4 A. railway company, who
framed the ordinance ana presented
II to the council. 10 being severely
criticised for his part IN it, adoption.
Henhers Of the council. including
CHIEF o. Police Hrockwoil. who. =
Asmbee o3 the eeuneil b1fore elect