New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-07-19
Seeks Right to Operate
Route, But Will Pro-
ceed strictly Along
Legal Lines.
Wagner However, Runs
Car This Morning-Mayor
is Circulating Petition -
Prosecutor Silent.

upon the advice of Attorney Josiah
Peck of Hartford, Edward French's
jitney busses operating over the West
Main street routes were taken off this
morning, and, according to announce
ment of the lawyer, will not be run
again until such time as Mr.. French
can be assured of his right to operate
busses in this city.
Attorney Issues Statement.
Commenting upon the situation,
Lawyer Peck stated:
Mr.. French has removed his buses
at my suggestion and will not reopen
his lines until his right to operate
has been established. We are pro-
ceeding along strictly legal lines in
our effort to regain the right to run
and desire to do nothing that will
ring us in conflict with the authori-
ties"
When asked if the French buses
would remain off the streets until
second hearing was given by the pub
lie utilities commission, Mr.. Peck de-
clined to make a statement. He re-
iterated, however, that the jitneys will
not operate until French's rights have
been esta blished.
One Bus Running.
But one bus ran over the West
Main street to Corbin avenue routes
today, that being the car owned and
driven by Theodore Wagner. Wagner
is continuing business under his ap-
peal he having been one of the jit-
neurs refused license to run.
Throughout the day he did a record.
business. carrying practically all of
those who formerly made use of the
line In, rs y;
ular patrons. In many instances resi-
dents of the west end of the city
walked down to business this morning
in preference to paying a ten cent
fare and riding on the .trolleys. The
trolleys were reported to be doing no
more than their normal business in
spite of the temporary suspension of
greater part of the .jitney service.
Circulate Petition
The drivers employed by French
petition today They. report no
difficulty in filling the sheets, each of
which contains 81 names. One Of
the drivers remained in the Wagner
bus and presented the document to
all patrons on the lines. Almost
with unanimity they affixed their sig
natures to the petition, repudiating
the trolley service.
The several other lines, some of
which are running under appeals
from the p. U. c. ruling and others
operating in open defiance Of the
order issued by the commission, con-
tinued to cover the regular routes
today.
The new "J'' license plates have not
reached the city as yet. The auto
mobile com mmissioners at Hartford are
making every effort to get the registry
markers out to the jitneurs whose
petitions for routes have been acted
favorably upon.
Greenberg Silent
Although tomorrow is the day upon
which it was originally planned to
begin prosecutions locally, Prosecu-
ting Attorney A. A. Greenberg is
maintaining a strict silence as to his
contemplated action. In view of the
fact that the new markers have not
been sent out to this city today, it is
not improbable that a further ax-
tension of time will be granted
Commissioner Robbins B. Stoeckel of
the State Department of Motor
days of grace be allowed after the
plates are distributed so that jitneurs
may have an opportunity to attach
| them to their cars.
| Mayor to Name Committee
/ The mayors Jitney committee will
not be- appointed until Thursday
he ANNOUNCED today. In the mean.
time he is directing the circulation o,
the jitney petition in person The
new committee will assume the tasl
of compiling data upon the trans
portation problem Immediately upo1
it's appointment.
AS yet the city has received NJ
acknowledgment from the P. U. C. a.
Ito its receipt of the city's request
for a hearing on the transportation
matter, the mayor states