The Washington times., 1915-02-02
THE OBVIOUS VIEW


sounds more impressive when It
comes With the sanction OF Judiciai
authority. The taxicab looked like
and rode like and charged like
common carrier before any court
said It was one. It was common, and
It carried. It had not been observed
refusing any patronage. or failing to
collect the full meter fare, or using
meters that were in the way OF
sinking on the job. 1t piqued the
curiosity of a lay observer to figure
what could be said by way of sus-
tanning the theory that it wasn't a
common carrier.
Still, it is satisfying to know that
a court has said it is; yet more sat
isfying to know that two courts have
agreed on the proposition in success
sion. The Court of Appeals finds
that the Taxicsb Company at bar
advartises to carry people, and
doesn't mention that it will refuse
any of them; that its vehicles are Of
such known public character as to in
vite patronage.
All these things being true, the
court finds that taxicabs are common
carriers. It is just about as start
ling as if the court had found that
the earth is now generally regarded
as being round, or that weights, be-
ing dropped, are in the habit Of fall
ing downward, instead Of upward.
But, obvious as it is, it has re-
CURED sixteen months to get it de-
cided!
Just get that little thought in
your mind, gentle reader.
Sixteen months!
In August, 1918, the Public Utili-
ties Commission called for reports
from the taxicab companies.
They started the case in court, and
it has been there since.
Now they will likely as not appeal
to the United States Supreme Court,
and q couple more years will pass
before it decides.
Total, thirty-eight months, more
or less, to get a conclusive determi- :
nation that white is white, black ID
black, and prunes are not a mineral!
But wait. This is only the begin
ming.
Next, the taxicab companies re-
port; in a year or two, say, the COM
mission digests the report, and de-
cides that rates ought to be marked
down from 81 to 81 cents. The taxi
cab companies go to court, and en-
join the new rate on the ground that
it is taking their property without
due process Of law.
The court feels grieved that such
thing should be contemplated, and
sets about to learn if it's true. A
valuation of the taxicab business is
ordered, which maybe can be made
in six months. 1t is duly reported
and the case goes to trial, is heard
argued, submitted, and taken under
advisement. Some day it is decided
Then-no matter which way it is
decided-it is appealed.
And after another year-no mat
ter which way the appeal is decided
it is appealed again.
Then two more years, always as
suming that meantime no monkey
wrench of motion for a second triaI
or something of that sort is chucked
into the machinery.
And at last a decision of the
United States Supreme Court, that
the taxicab rate can be reduced from
81 to 81 cents!
This is not an overstatement Of
| what happens in such cases. It il
rather an understatement.
One of the street railway com
panies now has the Public Utilitie.
Commission in court on couple Of
matters, which give all promise o.
providing an experience that will
make Mr.. Dickens circumlocutior
office look like a ball-bearing &C
celerator of the public business.
Is it any wonder that people, de
string to see some results in theil
own lifetimes, wish for public owner
ship?