The Washington times., 1915-02-17
TO FIX TAXI RATES
GIVING FAIR PROFIT
CONTINUED <rom First Page. )

M New York. Boston, or Philadelphia.
according to figures compiled by the
Public Utilities Commission.
The rate card Of the Terminal Taxicab
Company here shows a charge OF so
cents for the first one-half mile, and
10-oent additional charge for each addi-
tional One-fourth of a mile. This makes
rate Of 20 cents for the first mile per
passenger. in comparison with rate OF
20 cents in Philadelphia. 60 cents In Bos-
came service. In Baltimore the rate
n the same in this particular as in
Washington.
Has Double Rates.
New York also has double rate ar
rangement now being adopted among
progressive companies in other cities.
In Washington the same rate covers
from one to five persons. In New
York there IL rate of so cents for the
nrst mile for one or two passengers
and for three or more passengers the
and 10 cents additional for each sue
ceeding one-siXth Of mile.
In Baltimore. Cincinnati and Boston
the rate jumps for the fourth passen-
ger. thus making lower rate possible
for the single passenger.
Rate cards on file at the office OF the
Public Utilities Commission show rates
Of leading cities, where rates are fairly
uHlIOTnl, OH tne DaSlS OF one passenger
for the first mile to be as follows
Philadelphia, 80 cents. Ten cents
per additional quarter mile.
Newark. first two-fifths mile ~
cents. Each one-tifth mile more, 10
Chicago 50 cents first one half mile.
Ten cents each quarter mile addi-
tional.
Portland, Ore. 70 cents first mile.
Providence. r; l.. first mile 80
eAnfS Each additional IF mile
10 cents.
Minneapolis. first mile. so cents.
Additional miles. 30 cents.
Detroit. first mile. 70 cents. Forty
cents each mile additional.
Baltimore, 20 cents first mile. Forty
cents each additional mile
Boston. % cents first mile. Forty
cents per mile thereafter
In Washington there is charge OF
10 cents for each four minutes Of wait
ing time For extra passengers lin I'D
dftion to fvel fifty cents for the vide
is charged. There also Is an additional
charge for points outlying certain pre-
scribed boundaries.
Is Difficult Task.
Officials Of the Public Utilities Com
mission admit that the fixing Of taxicah
rates. after the physical valuation Is
made. is one of the most difficult Ia SKIS
that has yet confronted them. Beside
charges. also now in progress, is COM
paratively easy, because the demand fOi
electricity is considered fairly constan,
and permanent.
Experts in investments. including
George W. White. w. d. Hoover, James
IL. Cahill, and Max Fischer, testified
at q hearing Of the board. These eX-
perts estimated that proper return
npon investment in a taXicab company
should not be lower than 10 per cent.
while Mr.. Hoover and M. White placed
the proper amount at between Is and y
per cent.
They based these estimates OIL state
nents that the taXicak business was
subject to greater risks from fire. ac.
cident, and personal injury than other
forms OF BUSINESS: that the rapid
changes in style OF automobiles. rapid
depreciation of property changing con.
ditions in transpOrtat ton business. and
the marked effect of varying business
conditions on taXiCab trade all brought
elements of great risk in the Investment
IN taXicab companies. and therefore
higher return was deserved by the in
vestor.
1t also was contended that the pos,
slble loss of contracts, like that a,
Union station and at hotels. added tC
the risks of the tax'cab business
The valuation OF taXicab property
was made by the Utilities Commission
acting under paragraph & Of the public
utilities act The contention OF tn,
taSicah companies in court. has bsvr
that their business Is not "A public util
tty since the pubic has no investmen,
In their business because Of the Use OF
sIs public property.