The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-25
ICE N I CAR. FARE |S NEXT CONGESTION
Commission Meets Wednes- day To Thresh Out Further Points In Controversy Over Jitneys and 0th-
 CT Features

seven-cent cash street car fares are imminent for Birmingham. It became known Tuesday that there the city and the street car company that if the jitneys go the car com pany can reduce its fares.
 Reduction of fares. 1t is under stood Is contingent on reaching a general settlement of points at var fence. no item on the list of most questions being handled independent ly, but, instead. all being capable of general settlement, the car fare re- duction along with the others.
 One representative of the car com pany made no bones of saying It was understod the car fares would be re- duced, but adding that as he did not represent the heads of the organiza ton, especially in regard to the re- ceivership. he could not be quoted, but, fare reduction was on the sche- dule for early enactment.
 No One Point Involved.
 Members of the city commission would not deny the report heard ev- anywhere Tuesday, nor would they confirm It. Commissioner w. l.. Harrison said, when asked about 1t, that the city was not contemplating z any one point of settlement with the Birmingham. Railway, Light and Power company, but that a general settlement of all points in question was wanted, He said that reduction of car fares was one of the matters the city. was working on, but there were several phases of this ques- tion alone.
 Regulation of 1ltneys: the jim crow law, street paving. and street lighting are among the matters to be discussed Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock by the joint session of the city commissioners and officials of the car company.
 D. F. McLendon, chairman of the board of city commissioners, said he had heard nothing definite about the seven-cent fare, but the rumor had reached him, also.
 Mir McLendon said, however, that in a conversation here with A. G. Patterson, chairman of the Alabama public service commission, MT. Pat terson said the state commission ex- pected to approve agreements that might be reached by the city and street car company.
 Because of the financially strained condition of the B. R. L. & P. Co.,, which has been furnishing the cit, with lights. many new Itreet lamps ordered have not been placed. The city has had no redress because 1t has no contract with the light com pany.
 The one-man street cars. put on for economy, have led to unple asant incidents between white and colored passengers.
 In Conference Wednesday.
 These are but some of the matters concerning which 1t Is hoped set clement can be made at the joint con ference Wednesday,. The jitney problem is one of the greatest of them all for the presence of the itin- erant passenger carriers has greatly reduced the street car company's in come and gravely interfered with the emergence of the company from the receivership.
 Repeatedly It has been said that fares can be reduced If the jitneys are eliminated. Sentiment against the Jitneys. it Is claimed, Is rapidly crystalizing.
 It was quite evident Tuesday morning the report of seven-cent cash fares had official origin. but details regarding the price of tick cts were lacking. The tickets will be sold for les sthan the cash fare has always been the custom.
 Tuesday afternoon the members of the city commission spent more than an hour in executive session going over the several points that will come up for discussion with the rep resentatives of the street car com pany at the joint session Wednes- day morning.