South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-15
Editor News-Times

Editor News-Times.
j notice the south Bend Tribune.
after criticising the Wilson admin
istration in general. and Sec'y Of
War Bakers incompetency in par
|ticular. has found something else t.
below about-"the jitney abomina-
ton. one of the ~veXatiOus prob
lens confronting the city admins
tration.' II isn't VeXing anybody
but the street car company. The
scribbIers of the Tribune and Coun-
Gilman GOebel, the sweet singer Of
the seventh ward. but who imagines
End sur hat ne is councilman
at-large. instead OF a ward council
man. and especial representative Ct
the interests of the Chicago. South
Bend and Northern Indiana Rail-
way company. The jitney an abom-
nation, It's a blessing TO those
who have 20 go 20 work in the early
morning. and without it's accommo-
service have TO walk or stand
around and freeze while waiting 20
or so inmates for the unreliable and
irreguIa~ street car. L hope the jill
ney has come to stay. and many
their tribe increase.
/ believe. if putfto a test vote. the
jitney would get five votes 20 the IA
vor TO one for the rotten service q
the street car company.
Talk about autocracy, The Chi
cago. south Bend and Northern In
diana Railway company rules the
administration of the city of South
Bend with as powerful "A hand as
ever the kaiser did Germany. Thev
were granted a perpetual franchise
to use the city streets, which priv
lege is unconstitutional and illegal
in the state of Indiana, and if ake3
into court il would not stand for
a minute. They have possession Of
every available approach, not only
10 the center of the city, but to
the city limits. They occupy every
street and bridge.
If another railway company de-
sired a franchise 70 enter South
Bend. they would find it utterly i'm
possible TO get nearer thar three
lAlAAtC " INC NtAANNA VI NAA( ~ 90 49,
available place 10 locate a station
for the public. They nave no OPP
position. and carry on a public-be-
policy. They imagined
had every Ioop-hole stuffed, AMI
when the jitney business started and
some business from them they
sore. This is why the jitney IS
"one of the most veXatious prob
confronting. not the city ad-
m%inistration. but the street a COM
pany and its allies, who no douot
have a pull"
What have the street car mag
mates ever done for the interest Of
South Bend Nothing. but what
they got the biggest share. Mgc.
Grover alleges. and so informed the
council committee of the whole and
Alderman Goebel believed him. that
the iitneys are 10 blame for the
poor street car service the city IS
forced to endure. Let US see:
Are the jitneys 70 blame for the
fnsanitary condition of the unswept.
dirty and dusty cars? Are the jit-
news to blame for the cars that are
so filled with soft coal smoke that
vUu can hardly breathe? Are the
iftnevs 10 blame for the discour-
robustness OF the conductors-not all,
but many of them Are the jitneys
TO blame for the conductors not
calling out the name of the streets
one day last winter on a south side
car. i'm which was no fire. and the
90 F-I-rrT nnrH GOV
cred with dirt that il was impos-
sible 10 see out Z was carried five
blocks past my destination and had
to- walk back i'm the snow. Are the
iitneys 10 blame for the electric sig
nails out Of commission and before
could get to the motorman AMI
him YOU had pushed the button
10 stop al the station passed. you
were carried one or two blocks be
yond where YOU desired 10 get of
the iitneys 10 blame for the
dirty. unwashed windows. so dirty
the motorman was compelled
TO take his dirty old mitten amt
rub the dirt of So ne could see out
avoid a ollision with anythins
that might be on the track Ara
the iitLeys 90 blame for the old ra-
tie boxes. no two cars alike. some
YOU ertered the rear and leave AT
the front end. and the next on the
same route YOU entered az the rear
and had 20 leave it by the same way.
another YOU % in YOU did no.
know how 20 get out until YOU con-
suited with the conductor No.
Mr.. Grover. that viii not go with
the patrons Of the street a service
who have been disguised and have
been PRAYING for relief for wears. Nc
use 20 emphasize further. the pubic
are thoroughly acquainted with the
existing conditions
If The -trett a service was an