The Penn's Grove record., 1920-03-12
Ordin
Passes Council
F0rbids Vehicular Traffic for
Hire on Principal Streets.
Hearing Given Before
Action Was Taken

The Mayor and Council met IN reg
ular session at the Council chamber on
Tuesday night. 1t was a long and i'm
portant session.
Mayor Samuel NJ. Hunt presided.
The members present were Robert M.
Walker, George M. Pyne, Edward H.
Keen, Jr., Dennis Fahy together with
Borough Clerk Walter A. Hunt and
Road Supervisor Joseph Sailor.
Borough Treasurer David P. Feath-
erer's report to the Finance Committee
showed a balance on hand of $5,982.51.
Thomas Golden asked if the water
main on Poplar Street could not be
| extended to Line Street and a fireplug
installed. The %-inch main now COW
ering part of the territory was used
in ABOUT Is homes. The matter was
referred to the Water Committee.
A hearing was given to those who
desired to present their views upon a
Jitncy ordinance under consideration
by the Council.
Charles L. Smith, representing the
Chamber of Commerce committee said
that body had placed itself upon rec
ord as favoring some law that would
regulate jitney traffic in the Borough
or Penns Grove. He hoped the meas
ure would be enacted.
Edmund J. Phillips, speaking for
the jitney drivers thought the ordi-
nance as it read vas unfair to them
and would drive them out of business.
He wanted the Borough and adjunct
towns to take over the Traction Com
panys franchise and run it if the COM
pany could not make it pay. Besides
he did not believe the ordinance would
stand the test of law as at present
framed. He dwelt upon a lot of gen
cralities irrelevant to the subject COW
erlng such metropolitan centres as
New York and other large cities.
Councilman Dennis Fahy then in
.jeoted some pep into the discussion
oy quizzing Mr.. Philips. He wanted
to know if the jitneys had any fixed
rates of fare. He also stated that
during bad weather and when no other
conveyance was available some of
them "soaked" their patrons good and
proper. =.
Mr.. Phillips admitted this but said
jitney drivers were only human and
took such opportunities to even up
things.
MI. Fahy wanted to know what re-
sponsibility there was back OF the aV-
GRACE jitney outfit in case of accident
and damages to person and property.
In many cases the cars are not even
owned by the drivers, being hired out
by auto agents and individuals. Jlt-
news had been regulated in Atlantic
City and other places and practically
driven out. The ordinance under con-
sideration does not go that lar.
The ordinance was then taken up
and passed final reading unanimously.
Among other things it provides that
no motor vehicle carrying passengers
for hire shall operate or park on west
Main Street between the river and
Penn Street; nor on that portion OF
West Main Street between State and
Broad Streets; nor that portion OF
North Broad Street from Harmony to
Main Street; nor on South Broad from
Main to Railroad Avenue. The pen
alties for infraction of the ordinance
are not less than 500 fine or 20 days
IN the county jail.
Attention was called to the growing
evil of reckless driving OF motor drlvo
en- vehicles, cars speeding along at ~
miles an hour being a common thing.
Some decisive action will probably be
taken to stop the dangerous practlce.
Freebooter Alfred X. Brandr1tf, OF
Upper Penns Neck township, was pres
emit for the purpose of finding out how
MANY new ballot boxes would be need
ed tor the forthcoming Presidential
,r, b ho hold in a n1Jl
The Water Company asked for IN
formation as to whether certain
streets had been graded so they could
decide upon extension OF water MAINS
and installation of fire plugs.
The Borough Clerk was authorized
to purchase the necessary equipment
and paraphernalia for the April prl-
mary, also to have any needed repairs
made to the election booths.
1t was decided to have the valua-
lions of lots on the Morgan tract re-
vised after consultation with the AS
| SCISSOR.
The dangerous turn in the roadway
at South Broad Street and Maple Ave
nue. came up for earnest discussion.
| Markers had been placed there but
thew were useless Is reckless drivers
ran into them and knocked them aside.
Councilman George M. Pyne sug-
gested that an ornamental post sur
mounted by a light for use after lark
might be erected and braced sufficient
" to stand the shock of a collidIng
auto, one that would kill the reckless
driver foolish enough to run into 1t.
The idea was not enacted into law but
it met with unanimous approval. A
fatal accident is liable to happen at
chat corner at any time. 1t would be
a very easy matter for drivers to re-
duce their speed at such points.
Council adjourned until Thursday
night when they went into conference
with the architect and contractor IN
reference to matters peraining to the
now Borough hall.