Evening star., 1909-03-11
TAXICAB RATES CONFERENCE
VIEWS ON FAIR
CHARGES INVITED.
Test of Meters to Be Put in Opera.
ton at Cnce-No Delay in
Preparing Regulations.

| Commissions Nest took the preliminary
steps today t"vard fixing maximum
charges for hire - taXicabs. as authorized
by the recent ,s:s.-ict appropriation law
| He has sent = 'gs 20 the managers OF
Itaxfcai, co,p,r y he District invit-
ing them to , .~r1re with him early
next week. Al al tine their views on
re-. sonal,Ie rates viii he entertained.
| finder the head OF transportation OF
Paupe.s'' in the law making appropria-
| tions for tie District. is the following
provision regarding taxicab rates:
"That the commissioners Of the District
Of Columbia lc authorized and dlrected'
after due invest igation. to prepare ana
put in immediate operation. subject TO
change from time to time, q reasonable
scale of charges by cabs. tax1cabs ano
| pubIic vehicles for the transportation OF
passengers in the District Of Columbia,
and the tariffs SO prepared shall be the
maximum charges that may be collected
in the District of Columbia.
| 'The said Commissioners are hereby
empowered to prescribe tne penai'y or
nenalties for violation Of any charge fixed
| by them
.Refore making definite recommendations
regarding the rates to be fixed for TAXI
cabs Commissioner West decided to get
the views of the managers OF tax1cao
lines now running in the District. Then
he will prepare the schedule OF charges
| IN he submitted to his colleagues for their
| anproyal It is expected that the ne"
rates will go into effect within few
weeks.
ing that under the provision OF the con
| al fqYfcahS for DuD-
| lie hire will come under the new schedule
of rates.
| AS a companion measure to the one nx-
| ing standard maximum charges, the Com
missioners have promulgated regulation
prohibiting the use of any inaccurate taxi
meter and for the test Of meters In use on
| the taxicabs by the police department..
The enforcement of this regulation VIII
| be taken up at once. it is announced Ihe
use Of an inaccurate taximeter might
| make Intellectual the schedule OF rates
fixed by the Commissioners.
1t is expected that with a definite Scneo-
ule of fares and accurate meter pro-
vided for, there will be no more causes 1ol
| dispute between drivers Oh taAicapS oho
, patrons.
| The amendment to the police regulations
affecting taximeters provides
| "Tbe use of any inaccurate taximeter or
other measuring instrument for the pur-
pose of gauging or indicating distances
| travelled or for the purpose of liking 1ares
to be collected from the public is hereby
prohibited; and it shall be the duty or the
| owner or lessee In possession. including
| any CORPORATION and any officer or agent
thereof responsible therefor, of any We
hicle mentioned in this article. using any
taximeter or other measuring instrument,
| to at all times keep said taxfmeter OF
| other measuring instrument accurate.
| The amendment also provides for the
testing Of any taximeter by the hack in
| spector Of the police department and
| specifies that any meter found inaccurate
shall not be used unless rendered ac'
1 curate.
| A fine Of not more than $40 is provided
| for g. violation of the regulation.