The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-25
GLEN IRIS J|TNEYS
 F|LIBUSTER|NG TO. BUCK COMP PETIT |ON.
Twelve Operators Transfer to Other Lines and New Com bine Plans to Run
 Larger Cars

Filibustering in the Glen Iris jit- ney ranks, begun Friday afternoon when Ford operators on the line re- duced their fare from cents to 5 cents in an effort to meet threaten ing competition of larger cars, con tfnued throughout Saturday. Twelve Ford operators have requested trans fers to other lines, according to City Jitney Inspector A. c. Smith. Most of them have already left hte Glen Iris line, he stated, and the balance of the twelve will leave Monday. Eleven Ford cars have announced no intention of leaving.
 Smith branded as false, charges that he had expressed his intention of removing the remaining Ford cars from the Glen Iris line, and substi- tutipg larger cars in their place. He stated that no operator would be forced to leave the line on account of the type of car he ran as jitney. The twelve men who have trans ferred to other lines did so of their own volition, he stated. Larger cars, which have heretofore been denied admittance to the Glen Iris line. will be given the opportunity now, he said, giving as reason repeated re- quests of Glen Iris residents for larger cars.
 In reference to charges made that he was back of a combine" organ ized to place larger cars on the line, Smith stated that an organization for the Glen Iris line was now being contemplated by thirteen jitney own CTS, but that he had no financial in- iv, rta fad that thirteen men, owning fourteen larger cars, were contemplating en- tering the Glen Iris line, on which there are vacancies since the retire. ment of twelve operators, and form ing themselves into an independent organization.
 Tom Crowder. car checker of the Ensley line. will be chosen to man age the new organization~if it's plans go through, and the present Glen Iris checker will be transferred to Ems ley. Crowder, he stated, would be paid by the new combine in addition to receiving the regular 25-cent fee provided daily by city ordinance. No additional expense will be incurred by the city, he explained.
 Asked about the cars now on the line, he said they might enter the combine if they wished, or stay out, that the combine was an independent organizations and that the only thing the city would insist upon would be that all cars comply with the city ordinance.
 When asked if he intended holding the remaining IA vacancies of the quota of a allowed on the line, for the combine" Smith replied; NO, anyone making application in due form before the members of the com bine present themselves will be given first consideration"
 There has been much bitter feel ing between Glen Iris jitney men and city authorities in charge of reg ulating the situation. Many operators -have objected to paying the 25-cent starter fee provided for by city ordinance, and an injunction was re- gently granted s. Powell on the Glen Iris line by Judge Roger Snyder, re- straining the city from collecting the fee. An injunction was also recent ly granted the south Highlands line. Smith stated that the present tense situation was caused by the bitter fight against city regulation of jitneys, and by keen competition on the line. He stated that a number of complaints had been made that jitney drivers disturbed the peace of resi- dents near the terminus of the Glen Iris line, and that 1t had been very difficult to enforce the city ordinance on that particular line.
 w. B. Cloe, commissioner of public safety, under whose jurisdiction en- forcing of the ordinance falls. in commenting on the situation said The city has tried to cooperate with the jltney men in every res spect. They were here and discussed the ordinance when it was passed and all seemed satisfied. The only intent the city has is to help them and to safeguard the interests of the public. The majority of jitney men over the city seem to be trying to live up to the law, but we have had many complaints recently against some of the operators. Viola tion of the law by some of these men has become the greatest traffic menace of the city. If they don't CO., operate with the city in enforcing it's ordinances, we will have to bond them, or ask the commission to force fbar,, nfs fba etreefs