The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-26

NThe jitney bus and the auto deliv-
cry have caused more trouble to auto
mobilists in and around this city than
any other two grievances which the
walking percentage of the population
could possibly have against the auto
lists" declared Frank T. Staples the
other day. Mr.. Staples is one of the
Oldest and most enthusiastic members
of the Automobile Club of Bridgeport.
Most of these cars 1 have mention
ed are light affairs, Fords in most in
stances, and as far as the jitney driv-
ers are concerned they are among the
most reckless and careless drivers in
the city. 1 might say that in a ma
jority of the cases the drivers are
reckless but to make matters worse
there are some cases where the drivers
of a jit is absolutely ignorant of how
to drive a car. These two classes are
guilty of most of the automobile acct
dents which occur in the congested
parts of the city, and are also guilty
of exciting the feeling against auto
mobiles which your average pedest-
rian feels whenever an automobile &C
cident happens.
do not misunderstood me and
think that I am for abolishing the jit-
ney service in the city. Far from it.
I think that the jits supply a long felt
want in Bridgeport and I don't see
just how the throngs that travel to
and fro to work here every day could
possibly be. accommodated if it were
not for these self-same jitneys. I do,
however, think that the jitney busi-
ness should be put upon a firm foun-
dalton. In many of the cases the
drivers of the cars are only leasing
the machine which they drive, while
in others the motors themselves are
merely craps of tin and sheet iron. In
case of accident where the jit driver
IS to blame what redress has the vic
tim? Shall he take the car for dam
ages? The car is probably not worth
10 the amount which should be paid
as damages for the injuries received
Shall he sue the driver? The driver
generally is the proud possessor OF
just his daily wages and absolutely
no more.
Two Remedies.
what should be done with the jft.
ney service is either to form a large
jitneys now in operation in the city
and have this company founded with
a substantial financial backing in or.
der that it may be held liable fol
damage in the same way that you
street railways and railroads are held
accountable or pass a bill through the
legislature of the state which com.
pels the drivers of jitneys to be bond.
ed for a substantial sum. In either
of these cases of these cases the vic.
tim of a jitney accident is sure of ex.
tracing some compensation for in
q juries received. Private owners are
even now under somewhat simila
circumstances for those who ar,
neither insured or have not financia
backing enough to pay damages, hav
cars that are generally worth nearl,
if not quite the amount of damage
asked for.
IAN event of the second alternativ
mentioned above it would also tend t.
eliminate some of the useless jitnie
now operating in the cities Many O
the men who are now driving jitney
would be unable to procure the neces
sary bond, either because they hav
regulations as reckless drivers, be
cause they have no one with financia
backing who is willing to take
chance, or because they are SO ignor
ant of the first principles of driving
car that bondsman would conside