Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-14
RATE Of TAX|CAbS
TO UNDERGO PROBE
Public Utilities Commission
Considers Question of
Jurisdiction.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
COMPANIES At HEARING
Contention Made by Counsel That
They Are Not Public Service Con-
Germs, But Private Business.

| With Commissioner-to-be Siddons sit
tins informally as a member of the
! BOARD. the public utilities commission to-
day began consideration ot the extent 10
/ Wnlcn It's jurisdiction applies TO carriers
| and transportation companies in the Dis
trict Of Columbia
Representatives of the Federal and
Terminal Taxicab companies. the Blue
| Line Transfer Company and the Mer-
| chants Transfer and Storage Company
appeared at the hearing Of the commits
sion. which consumed more than two
hours. and submitted oral and written
|aEWnnnats in- sspDort Of thsir conteution
that these concerns do not come under
the control Of the utilities body
A decision by the board to the contrary,
1t is announced, will result In the public
service officials making an immediate In
vestigation of the schedule of rates main
| tained by the local taxicab companies
| with the object Of ordering any changes
which they may consider Is demanded.
The question of rates was injected un-
expectedly into the proceedings this morn
| ing when John F. Davis, who operates an
automobile under a hac2Enaan's license,
| protested against the Aurcausive use by
the taxicab companies of the space in
| front of hotels. Mr.. Davis stated that
| he carries passengers for 10 cents a mile
and that. If he were permitted to share
the hotel trade, he could afford to cut
| the price to 25 cents a mile and still make
| a profit Rates charged by the taxicab
companies are 80 cents for the first half
mile.
Mr.. Davis was informed BY Commits
| sioner Harding that, while his statements
1 did not affect the point at issue. namely
| the extent Of the application of the COM
| missions jurisdiction, they would be
| taken up later and considered by the
| Commissioners
New Board May Decide.
| 1t is not likely that the board as a.
| present constituted will render a decision
| on the question of its Jurisdiction over
| carriers. Mr.. Siddons. who remained
throughout the hearing. together with
| Engineer Commissioner Harding and
Oliver p. Newman, whose nomination as
| Commissioner is expected to be confirm
| ed by the Senate, probably will make UP
| the personnel of the commission which
will decide the question. Commissioner
Rudolph was present at the hearing, but
II Is expected that he will have retired
as member Of the board before the tax
icaD matter is again under consideration
Claiming That the companies which
they represent are not common carriers
and that the business in which they
engage Is of a private character At
torneys George T. Dunlop, for the Ter
minal Taxicab Company, and S. b Hay
den, for the Federal Taxicab Company.
contended before the commission that
these concerns do not come under the
jurisdiction Of that body.
Both attorneys stated that the taxi
cab companies draw the color line and
transport only such persons as are not
considered Objectionable and whose
credit Is good. They claimed that their
business Is OF private contract ma
| ture and that the public does not have
vested right in it, For these rea-
sons II was urged that the companies
are not common carriers and therefore
DO not come under the Jurisdiction Of
the commission within the meaning of
the law.
Say Business Is Private.
Mr.. Dunlop stated that he represent
ed the Merchants Transfer and Stor-
age Company. whose business, 1t also
was declared. is of a private contract
nature. Similar statements were made
py John L. Newbold. president of the
| company.
! A. S. Bowie Of the legal department
/ OF the Baltimore and Ohia Railway
company told the commission that the
| Blue Line Transfer Company is a de-
partment OF the Baltimore and Ohio
system and expressed the opinion that 1t
does not come under the control of the
utilities body.
Representatives OF the several companies
We're questioned closely by both Commits
sioner Harding and Corporation Counsel
| r H. Thomas, legal adviser of the COM
mission The latter sought to deveIop
the nature OF contracts entered into be-
tween the Terminal Taxicab Company and
| the Willard Hotel and the Washington
Terminal mar 10 p.rpn iuI