Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac - 1916

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                                The Jitney Controversy
   When the strike was declared in 1915 scores of men who owned automobiles and who rented machines started in
the passenger business and had a large patronage from people who would not ride in the cars.  In March, 1916, 
the State Public Service Commission ruled that the jitneys were common carriers and the owners must take out 
certificates of public convenience and be subject to regulation.  This decision was appealed to the court.  
The traction company complained that the owners neglected to take out certificates and late in April the 
Public Service Commission sat in Wilkes-Barre to hear applications.  The council of Wilkes-Barre had passed an
ordinanace regulating the operation of the jitneys.  Among the provisions was one that each owner must take 
out a bond in the sum of $2,500 to cover suits for injury or death.  Other regulations were for the licensing 
of drivers after examination and for the examination of their cars.
   In August Judge Graman decided that the ordinance was legal.  Mayor Kosek made preparations to enforce the 
ordinance and ordered all policemen to be on duty on the day it went into effect, for fear of trouble.  There
was loud complaint among the jitney men because of the fact that no time was given them after the court's 
decision to secure bonds and comply  with the details of the ordinance, but the Mayor granted no concessions.
  The Allied Trades Council issued a statement advising all union men to remain at home and refrain from 
lawlessness.  On the 11th of September the ordinance went into effect and the police arrested a number of 
jitney drivers who attempted to operate without a bond.   Some ran only to the city line and were exempt. 
A big crowd gathered on Public Square and trouble seemed imminent, but a call was sent in for the State 
Constabulary and the crowd was dispersed by the use of vigorous methods.  During the evening a number of 
street cars were stoned.  The jitney men could secure bonds from only one company, a Georgia concern, and the 
ordinance would not accept real estate as security.  However, in the course of a few days owners of jitneys 
began receiving bonds for which they had applied and at the end of a week or ten days a couple of score of 
them were again doing business.   In the meantime the attorney for their association applied for a supersedeas
pending the hearing of their appeal to the Supreme Court, and it was granted.  The supersedeas temporarily 
nullified the Wilkes-Barre ordinance and on the 14th of September unlicensed and unbonded jitneys began 
running in competition with those that had taken out bonds.  This they were privileged to do until a final 
decision from the court, which was expected early in 1917.

Typed by Dawn Gabriel,  May 2004