The Washington times., 1915-08-06
AS TO, TAXICAB RATES


pany put q service of fifty cars on
the streets Of Chicago and began
advertising for business. It an
nounced that every driver would be
a married man, bonded by the Chi
cago Bonding Company; every me-
ter sealed by the city sealer; a car
would 60 any place in the city for
the passenger without extra charge
aside from the regular rates for the
time the, passenger should be in the
car.
Here are the advertised rstes,
alongside the rates charged in
Washington. The Chicago rates are
from this new company's ADVERTISE
ment; the Washington rates are
furnished to The Times by the Pub
lie Utilities Commission:
Chicago rate-For one passenger,
first third of a mile 80 cents; each
additional third Of a mile, 10 cents.
Each additional passenger, 10 cents
LUZ entlre Trip.
Washington rate-From one to
five passengers. first half mile, 50
cents; each additional quarter mile,
10 cents.
Chicago rate-Cab by the hour,
$780,.
Washington rate-Cab by the
hour, 81; for each additional quar-
ter hour, 75 cents; each extra pas
senger above five, so cents for the
trip.
These rates can be easily enough
calculated and compared for vsrious
distances, times, and conditions. A
single passenger in Washington
pays 80 cents from the New Willard
to the Union Station. In Chicago he
would pay so cents. If there were
two passengers, the cost in Wash
ington would still be 80 cents; in
Chicago, 10 cents; for three passen-
gers, Washington rate, 80 cents ;
Chicago rate, 80 cents; four passen-
gers, both rates, 80 cents.
On a two-mile trip, the one-pas-
senger rate in Washington figures
$1.2o; the Chicago rate, 80 cents.
On a two-mile trip with five pas
sengers the two rates would be just
the same, $1.20. With any less than
five passengers-that is, in almost
all cases-the Chicago rate is lower
than the Washington.
The rate of $3.50 per hour In Chi
cago compared to the rate of 81 per
hour in Washington, needs no COM
ment-none, at least, that the Wash
ington rider would care to put in
print.
Where does it cost most to oper-
ate a taxicab? Without knowing
the technique of the business. the
opinion is ventured that Washington
streets wear out fewer tires and use
less gasolene per mile; they have
better surface, and, quite as import
ant, provide, by reason Of their gen.
erous width and light traffic, oppor-
tunity to make better time. Chi
cago taxicabs must contend with the
worst traffic congestion in America,
in the loop district; Washington
knows no congestion worthy of the
name.
Washington has had a Public
Utilities Commission just about two
and a half years. 1t has given its
approval to the old rates, pending
the making Of a valuation. There
is at times temptation to wonder
whether rates would not have been
reduced, before this time, if there
had been no commission. They have
been markedly reduced, within that
period, in most cities; commissions
that didn't need to make valuations
or legislatures, or town councils, OF
the operation of competition, has
done it. Washington just goes on
paying the old rates, and feeling as
grateful as possible for a public
utilities commission law that-has, ir
twoi years
Not reduced the price of gas;
Or of electric current:
Or of taxicab service.
We have a public utilities law tina,
in two years has
Not produced universal transfers
Or ended street car congestion;
Or done anything else
Except
, o, yes, don't let one distinguished
achievement be forgotten
1t did make an order that re,
quired the telephone company tc
raise certain of its rates!
HARVARD'S SOUND POLICY