Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-03
PUBLIC STANDS
FOR TAX|S URGED
Free Use of Streets Might
Lead to Low Rates in
Capital.
COMPANIES PAY RENT
TO HOTELS, 1T is CHARGED
Public Utilities Commission Wires.
Ting With Problem Of
High Fares.

l
High Fares.
That the designation by the District
Commissioners of certain parts of the
downtown streets of Washington as pub
| lie cab stands practically would elimi-
| nate the causes OF controversy between
the public utilities commission of the Dis
| trict of Columbia and the taxicab COM
panfes of the city Is the belief of num-
Der OF Washington residents who have
outlined the plan to the Commissioners.
It Is believed the Commissioners will take
the matter up for discussion at an early
date.
At the present time the public utilities
commission is considering the question as
| to its power and authority to regulate the
| rates Of the taxicab concerns operating In
the District. The companies. by their at
torneys, have demurred to the demands
of the commission for information, hold
Ing that. as the companies do not carry
any and all persons in their vehicles they
cannot be classed as common carriers.
and are, therefore, not subject to regula-
| ton by the commission.
Cite Heavy Space Rentals.
Some time ago officials of the taxicab
| companies declared that they could not
reduce their rates because Of the fact
that they are compelled to pay to certain
hotels Of the city heavy rental for the
| space in the public streets adjacent to
these hotels for the privilege of having
| their vehicles stand at such points.
The suggestion that has been made to
the Commissioners of the District of Co.
iCfn
ers vested by law in them, declare such
sections of the streets OF Washington as
public cab stands. Such action would
permit any auto owner or cab driver to
keep his vehicle standing at such points
Tor the convenience of possible patrons.
1t would also result in relieving the tax
lcaD companies of the necessity of paying
rent to the hotel companies for the use Of
part of the public streets of the city,
and thus, by removing a large item of ex-
pense, make it possible for the compa-
MES to reduce their rates to the public. or
that portion of the public that uses taxi
cabs in travelling about the CITY,
Delay Is Pointed Out.
The public utilities commission consists
of the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia. Commissioners Newman, Sid
dons and Harding. 1t is pointed out that
long time may be required to learn
| whether or not the public utilities COM
mission has any authority under the law
to inquire into the operations Of the taxi
cab companies Of Washington or to regu-
late the rates charged by these COM
pantes. Should 1t be finally decided that
| these companies are not common car
rters within the meaning of the law the
public utilities commission would be pow
erless to take any action toward rate
regulation or other control of the COM
panies.
The same men, however, acting in their
capacity Of Commissioners of the District
Of Columbia, have ample power and au-
thority to designate parts of the city
streets to be used as cab stands or for
other purposes. and this power could not
be successfully attacked in the courts.
Action Would Be Legal.
Should the Commissioners. acting within
their powers, decide to designate certain
parts of the street at the corner Of renn-
sylvania avenue and 14th street north
| west. or at 18th street and the Avenue,
or at 18th and H streets northwest as
public cab stands, their action. it is de-
clared. could not be enjoined. and would
be absolutely legal and unassailable
By so designating certain parts of the
streets as places where taxicab COM
pameS or any one else might have the
| privilege Of keeping vehicles standing for
| the use OF patrons, the companies would
| be relieved of the necessity of paying
| over to hotels percentage of their re-
ceipts, and would be placed in a position
where they would be compelled to lower
their rates or admit that the point that
the payment of such rentals to hotels
prevented such reduction was not we'll
| taken. 1t Is declared that such COMPETE
counter with drivers of other vehicles
would not be sufficient to cause any loss
of revenue.
Wants to Know Facts.
The Commissioners as such have the
entire question of taxicab rate regula-
ton in their hands for consideration, and
| 1t is known that the new board is deter
mined to learn by what right certain
hotels of the city have made practice
of exacting rental from taxicab COM
panies for the privilege of using the
public streets. That the hotels, or sew
| eral Of them. do charge such rental is
declared to be a well known fact, and
Commissioner Newman stated yesterday
that If such a practice is permitted on
| the part of the hotels, any citizen of
Washington has an equal right to rent
| the public streets in front of his prem
| Uses to any one who might be willing to
pay him for such occupancy Of the
| streets.
The entire question is to be taken up
at an early date for settlement, and 1t is
| believed to be more than likely that the
| Commissioners as such, may take
short cut to a solution of the problem
| which, in their dual capacity as members
might not be able to reach for many
months, If, indeed, they were able. as
public utilities commission. ever to
reach 1t.
Jacob oliver Tutwiller, said to be the
last surviving captor of John Brown at
of ho