Evening journal., 1922-03-07
GREEN ATTACKS
BUS ORDINANCE

Delaware Omnibus Association. was
the first to be heard. Mr.. Green
said he wished to make Il clear to
the directors that the association
was not opposed to the enactment OF
any just measure not discriminating
against the members OF the associa
tion as a public utility He said he
questions the authority OF the direc
tors to pass the ordinance and en-
force It under the present laws OF
the State. He cited that at the last
session OF the legislature a law had
been enacted, vesting City Council
with power to enact ordinances, pro-
viding for the licensing Of businesses
and occupations. This. he contended,
removed the authority of the direc-
tors to take any action similar to
that proposed in the now pending
ordinance.
He said the association was not
opposed to regulations being placed
on their business. in fact they had
voted TO have their attorney to Sc
cure IL possible the enactment OF a
law providing for a state wide Pub
lie Utility Board so that the regula-
tions could be uniform throughout
the State Mr.. Green discussed the
proposed ordinance section by sec
/ ton. Hei spoke OF the ordinance
giving a definition OF the word street.
and then making conflicting provi-
sions. He cited that section ?. for
bid the use OF any streets for the
operation OF busses. on which troll
leys were now operated. and was in
definite concerning the intersections
crossed by the trolley tracks.
Another objection he voiced was to
the section forbidding the use OF any
OF the streets for busses between
front and Tenth streets and King and
| Orange streets. This he contended
was not only an injustice to the bus
operators but was an injustice to
the patrons. many OF whom were
residents and out-of-town districts
coming here for shopping purposes.
Mr.. Green also cited an ordinance
now in force regulating trafiic and
parking Of vehicles on Market street.
lie said provisions In this ordinance
were in direct conflict with the pro-
posed ordinance. The now eXlstant
ordinance provides he said for
parking privilege OF As minutes for
J automobiles on Market street be-
tween front and Tenth streets. and
only allows busses or trucks the
use OF the street for loading or un-
loading Of passengers or freight. lie
said II the present ordinance was en-
forced the bus traffic would be re-
In d ha
new ordinance Is passed the old one
must be necessarily changed he con-
tended.
He said the busses served the city
Of wilmington and people from out
wing districts and all that was asked
was to allow the husses to bring
their patrons into tho business dis
! tricts. He spoke OF section 3 OF the
new ordinance as providing for a
, special permit, contending that a
nortion OF IL was especially Illegal
2 as the bus men were already paying
20 license 10 the city for the priv
n ilege OF using the streets.
Mr.. Green said under state
I statute one body now has power tc
license. and # was a question in his
enact an ordinance or resolution de-
manding another permit He said
there had to be a stop some where.
He said the act creating the Public
Utility Board for Wilmington to take
, control OF all public utilities and a
subsequent act empowering Council
, to license the busses. certainly took
- the control away from the Street and
r Sewer Department and showed they
we're not wanted to handle the traf-
6c question at all. We contend thai
II there is a trafnc problem It Is a
general traffic problem and We wan
! state Utility Board TO handle thu
} adjustment and do not desire to b'
singled out.
Street Commissioner Pierson pro
duced the recent law giving powei
:. to Council to license. Mr.. Greer
, said he was conversant with II.
| "You are endeavoring to regulat
a public utility and while you
= power Is no doubt paramount 81
some instances we don't think II Is q
= this instance. You certainly have n
right to say who shall use the streets
You are going out OF the genera
=, Jurisdiction" declared Mr.. Green. q
= think IL is unwise for you to act be
fore the next Legislature meets"
Mr.. Green then said the amour
n OF the bond provided for in the ne
ordinance was excessive, citing ths
y most cities only asked a $1,000 bon
from busses. Mr. Green took eXceI
"a tions to the word claim In the ord
n. nance suggesting the word judgmeI
* be inserted instead. He contende
N the world claim In the ord
ne nance would give any so desi'
IS ing the power to hut the buss'
n out Of business in one day. +
n. said "claim" would give them Il
e. privilege OF entering suits at emo
r. nous figures and cause the bon'
IN necessarily to rise so high that ope
alton OF busses would be out OF q
question. He contended the patro
OF the busses would be amply pr
,,, tected by liability insurance al
that indemnity bond was unwa
6 ranted.
- You may just as well require n
80 or any other automobile operator
~. give bond Of indemnity" Mr.. Gre
said The section governing the u
' OF skid chains was another obje
tionable feature.
10 The necessity OF having the nan
- and address OF the operator
owner on the side OF the busses "
also considered unnecessary. on
the names being necessary, was N