The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-30
JITNEY ELECTION
 ID BRING CHANGE
 IN LOCAL UTILITY
New Ownership To Take Charge And Relieve Com
 pany Of ReCeiVership

Belief that the Birmingham Rail- day, Light and Water Power com pany will soon be in new hands was predominant in official circles in Bir- mingham Wednesday morning. It is understood the owners of the stock will appear before the federal court with a proposition for reorganization and if it Is acceptable the court will so decide; If not, other propositions are expected until one is presented that will meet the requirements of the court.
 Lee c. Bradley, co-receiver of the company, who has been at Mentons for a rest for several weeks, was not in the city Wednesday, but several weeks ago he expressed the unoffi- cial opinion that the logical outcome of the utilities case was for the hold CTS of the stock to make suitable financial arrangements to reassume it's control.
 Officials here believe a phase of the sale will eventuate in the own CTS of tn majority stock purchasing the minority interests.
 Heretofore financing the company has been made doubly difficult, it was said, because of the great in roads made by the jitneys on the uttlity's income. With the disposal of the jitneys practically settled by tue ONGL " litlAlllilB Ol lHG 1itney ordinance at the polls Tues day, it is believed the financial status of the utility will assume a different atmosphere, making 1t pos sible to secure the necessary money to make it going and productive institution.
 Reduction Of Fares.
 Reduction of street car fares will be dependent on the action of the supreme court of Alabama in regard to the reinstated injunction, but law yers expressed the opinion Wednes- day that with the number of prece- dents available and the result of the election and promises made concern ing its outcome, the injunction will be permanently dissolved as soon as the supreme court takes up the case.
 Still in the hands of the receivers, the B. R. L. & P. company will re- main In status quo ante election re- garding fare reductions, while the Teceivership obtains, until the su- Freme court renders it's answer, though emergence from the receiver ship is possible, and probable, before the supreme court meets, which would alter the situation in regard to quicker fulfillment of the agree ments that were based on the appli- cation of the settlement ordinance.
 The situation now is clearly up to the owners of the stock, officials of the company say. It remains for them to present to the court plans for emergence from the receivership that will be satisfactory to Judge w. I. Grubb of the federal court. Sev- eral bases for such settlement are understood to have been in course or preparation for some time.
 Attitude Of Court.
 Speaking of the matter Wednesday morning, Judge Grubb sald It was not his province to anticipate what action the owners will take, but If satisfactory arrangements can be made there would be nothing to pre- vent the utility being taken out of the receivership.
 It has been understood for some time that the company would be taken over by the National Power and Light company, of which Il. C: Aben is president. Headquarters or the company is in New York. MT. Abell spent several days in Birming- : ham earlier in the summer and held conferences with business men Of Birmingham.
 It was said Wednesday morning by men in a position to speak with authority that it was only loglcal to assume the owners of the ma jority stock had been giving the sup : feet the closest study under legal advice and were already prepared to present before the court plan Tor the utility's emergence from the re- ceivership.
 Whether the receivers continue to operate the B. R., l.. & P. Co.,, or 1t passes to purchasers, or its former control, agreements with the city In accordance with the settlement or dinance are expected to stand some of them, the Jim Crow and two-man car provisions, already having been complied with. The others are eX- pected to be inaugurated as tast as the situation warrants. Fare reduc- tion hinges on the action of the su- preme court in regard to the jitney injunction.
 Harrison Is Pleased.
 City Commissioner W. l.. Harrison, who negotiated the settlement ordi- nance with the receivers of the util- ity, speaking of the defeat of the jitney ordinance at Tuesdays elec- tion, Wednesday morning said:
 "The city is gratified at the oyer whelming result of the election and the vindication of the settlement or dinance. We expect to take immedi- ate steps toward putting into etteet all provisions of the agreement With the utility, with the exception of re- duced car fares, which matter de- bends on the supreme court, or whether or not the jitney men decide to cease operation in accordance with the election and the statement made by their attorneys to the su- preme court at the time the injunc- tion was reinstated."
 At the city hall Wednesday morn ing officials were plainly much tion and were recipients of many =. ar6 cta hU citizens