The Washington times., 1920-03-09
SEESPLOT TO
RUIN HACKERS
Police in League With Regular
Taxis, Sterne Says at
House Hearing.

Charges that the taxicab companies
of Washington are using their intla-
ence with the police department :"
drive the public hacker off the streets
were made today by l.. A. Sterne' ~
II. OF l.. organizer, for the lndepe""-
ent Chauffeurs when he appeared DE-
fore a House District subcommittee
why is IL that when puoNc
hacker 10 arrested he Is always iih'"
the maximum of $40. while corpora
ton chauffeur is invariably let OK
with a 81 or 81 fine IL he violates the
traffic rules?" demanded Mr.. Sterno'
At would like to ask this comn''
tee to subpoena the desk sergeant Oh
the Sixth police precinct ana ko'
some information ftOO him.
Conditions existing at the ohI"i
Station and other public hack stanls
were described as absolutely
bearable" for the public hacker "'
we'll as for the general pubic
The subcommittee, OF when Con
,gressman Zihlman is chairman, open
cd hearings today on the Hihlnan
bill providing changes in the trsIiic
regulations and establishment OF
traffic court in the District.
Can't Make Decent Living.
Mr.. Sterne, who claims to represent
between 1000 and 1900 public hack
ers doing business in washington
protested that these men were peihs
driven off tho streets by the Ier-
minal and Federal taxicab companies
and were reaching point where II
is impossible for them to make
decent living.
He further charged that the taxicap
fila ,rer "a
the District by soliciting fares on
the street without being molested by
the police. .,,.
AT the present time the pubic
hacker is not in any shave or form
being given a square deei, MT. Sterhe
declared. "They are oeing pushed
from pillar to post like a lot OF con-
victs."
Although public hackers have ap-
proximately I,000,ooo invested In
E their automobiles, Mr.. Sterne pro
tested that they cannot make a de-
cent living because Of the gross IN
Sustices under the present anti
lettering law. He charged that the
fpolice discriminates against the pub
lie. hacker at every opportunity; that
the public hack places are monopo-
lized by tho taxicab companies ana
that the hacker is unable to solicit
poration drivers.
Crowded Out At Union station.
Referring to conditions at Union
station. Mr.. Sterne declared tnaI .ne
regulations giving the Terminal Taxi
cab the sole right to use the inside
loading platforms jeopardixed the
lives and safety of women and chill.
dren while placing an injustice on eli
other auto drivers.
CONGRESSMAN Zihlman interrupted
to say that he had often been to the
station and was aware OF the favor
itism shown the terminal company.
I'VE believe the entire system Is
wrong" said Mr.. Sterne.
He declared that II any public
hacker dared use the inside platform
he is instantly arrested and fined
the maximum of the law.
Charges that the taxicab companies
were constantly violating the law by
soliciting fares on the street were
made by Mr.. Sterne. who volunteered
TO take the members of the subcom-
fnittee on a trip about the city SO
they can see conditions for them
selves. He contended that the $50
garage rent under which the taxicab
chauffeurs operate do NOT permit
them to solicit business on the street
Affidavits showing fifty violations or
this rule were placed before the SUD
committee with the statement that
other affidavits could be provided II
The committee desired.
Two Test Cases Pending.
Mr.. Sterne declared that the public
hackers have appealed in vain to
those in authority, but that two test
cases had been pending twenty-seven
weeks in the Police Court.
hon CT
behind the proposed changes In the
traffic laws, Mr.. Sterne told the COM
mittee, and are anxious to see traf-
rc court established in Washington.
They heartily endorse that section
of the bill which gives the public
hacker the privilege to use the ia
cilities of the taxicab companies. de-
claring that they have the right to
earn a living In competition with the
corporations.
A quorum call OF the House broke
I'D the session before representatives
,of the District government could take
the stand.
Commissioner Louis Brownlow was
unable to BIO present today, but mem
hers of the police department and
others who have supervision OF traf-
hc in the District will be heard to-
morrow morning.