New Britain herald., 1921-03-31
THE JITNEY BILL.


and thus it will become a law. Jitneys
will be compelled to keep off routes
used by the trolley lines, but will be
able to do business in territory not
served by electric cars.
Members of the legislature said that
the passa sc of the bill will do away
in great measure with the "ruinous
competition" against the trolleys
If that. namely the doing away with
ruinous Legislation against the trolleys
will he the only result. the only benefit
of the bill to the public it will be
great failure. Many laws might he
passed to do away with ''ruinous COM
, petition in other branches of business
but the public would be no better
off. There must be a consideration of
the public observed, to say nothing of
the jitneymen.
Consistently it has been said here
that the trolleys are necessary for this
portion Of the state at the present time
The lack of them has shown, in other
cities. great loss to business houses.
The lack of them would soon be felt
in New Britain. We must have them.
But people have used the jitneys,
appreciated the service they gave and
the reasonablene of the fares charg-
ed. The glaring example of the in
justice of the plan under which the
trolley system is working today is
the ten-cent fare charged for a very
short ride, with cars at twenty minute
intervals. And there is at least one
instance where the "one-man'' service
is such that is would seem the lone
man" delights in mountaineering pas
sengers and would-be passengers.
But 1t is believed that the passage
of this bill may not do away with
the "ruinous legislation" against the
trolleys. Questions will be fought out
in court as to what a jitney may law
fully do. May is cross a street on
which the trolley is operated and if so
may it pick up passengers near that
street? May it run alongside trolley
tracks If IL does not take nor dis
charge passengers along the way
where there are tracks? Will a way
be found. for the jitneys to have pri-
vate stations. along trolley tracks,
where passengers may be taken on or
left? There are many questions which
will arise and which must be decided
II the titney men press the questions.
Certainly the state owes the trolley
company a great deal. 1t was granted
franchise and the company would
never have laid their tracks had it
supposed there would be any compe-
tition long its lines. We have profited
much, through many years, by it's
service, good, bad and Indifferent. The
company has helped to develop this
part of the country.
More recently we owe much to the
jitneys They have plougbed through
snow and storm. They have given us
prompt courteous service. Their fares
have been reasonable always We have
a personal interest in their welfare.
The expression Bushes is business
covereth n multitude of unhappiness
1t looks as though this bill, if signed
by the Governor-and it is almost inn
possible to see how he may avoid
doing twill take from us many of
the jitneys upon which we have de-
pended. And yet it is possible that
they may find some means, by in
| genious device and serious study, TO
change their routes in accordance
with the provisions of the bill. so that
they will not suffer. Certainly many
of their former passengers will suffer.
Until the full provisions of the law
If ii becomes such by the Governors
| signature-are known, and until legal
decisions have been handed down de-
! Gliding just what these provisions
| mean. II is impossible TO say just what
| will become of the jitneys in New
Britain. The trolley will stay. We trust
the service will be improved and q
way will he seen. under the aboIms
of competition, to charge lowe
Meanwhile we may but tn
| jitney men for their good and
1 nj