The Washington times., 1920-03-10
COPS BAFFLED:
IN TAXI CASES
Congress Needs to Vest Title to
Station Plaza in U. S.,
Says Treadway.

Congressional action to give the
! United States clear title to the pub
lie space about Union Station was
recommended as a swift remedy Tor
the monopolizing of privileges by the
Terminal Taxicab Company. when
Congressman Treadway. OF Massa-
chusetts. appeared today before the
special House Traffic Sub-Committee
, 10 plead for the rights OF the pupiic,
Congressman Treadway declared
such Congressional action was ap-
solutely JUSTIFIED"
1T was the intention of Congress
when the station was built, that the
space about IL should be for pup
lie use" Congressman Treadway
said, although he pointed out that
the Washington Terminal Company
has title to the land in fee simple.
1T is clear that they have not
dedicated 1t to public use. ana the
Terminal Taxicab Company dictates
who shall use the traffic spaces
Police Helpless.
Congressman Treadway said there
was no reason Congress cannot say
the property shall revert to the
United states. Under the act author
ixing the establishment of the spaces,
he said, Congress reserved the riSh.
to modify or amend the law.
"a monopoly has been maintained
and the police are helpless TO 90 any
thing until the question OF the rights
of the public is decided in the courts
Mr.. Treadway said
Mr.. Treadway appeared BEFORE the
committee in the capacity OF PRIV
ate citizen whose rights to use the
traffic space at the Union Statio"
Ind heen denied
Ordertd not to park his car there.
he took the matter up with the late
Major Pullman, asking II there was
, not a remedy for existing conditions
which gave the Terminal Taxicao
Company a complete monopoly OF the
public space
U 8. Ownership Needed.
In a letter written sust before his
death, Major Pullman pointed out
that IL some way could be found
whereby the ownership Of the prop
erty could be changed to the United
states, tht District officials would
cooperate in every possible way.
A case now before the Court OF
Appeals, and which probably will be
decided in the Spring, involves the
question Of the rights OF the public
to use private property that Is In
reality a public street.
Major Pullman pointed out that the
space in front of the station had been
roped off because Of the endless
chain of hackers who endanger the
lives Of women and children by their
cruising"
Edmund Brady, counsel for the
Terminal Taxicab Company. brought
out the fact that the loading plat
forms at the station. SO much CRITICS
cd by the public, were put there when
the station was under Federal control.
CONGRESSMAN Treadway shed some
illumination on the charges that the
Terminal Taxicab Company drivers
solicit fares at the station, in violation
of the law.
Scores "Blue Sky Garage.
ct don't know whether the terminal
company has any influence with Dis
trict officials or not" he said, but
mittee to the application to build q
garage for public use that would en-
tail no structural changes"
"where is this garage?" no was
asked.
The committee was convulsed with
laughter when Mr.. Treadway replied
that 1t was evidently under the blue
sky"
By paying a SOS license fee, ne
claimed, the leTHllHal ldAiCdD NoIii-
pany operated a so-called garage
s.under the blue sky" that permitted
II to compete with the public hack
ers without paying the operators
license fee.
Congress nan Treadway explained
in detail to the committee just how
tho public Is being Inconvenience by
the dictatorship OF the taxicab COM
pany and also gave some of his per-
sonal experiences at tho station
Atrocious Conditions
Lieut.. w. S. Shelby. in charge OF
traffr, declared that most atrocious
condi lions" existing at the station
caused tho public space in front of
be roped off because the cruising
by the hackers interfered with the
lives Of thousands OF people.
He admitted that the space was
roped Off during Federal control. and
that the signs about the station also
were put up at that time.
Lieut. Shelby told the committee that
the only way the situation could be
controlled would be accomplished by
returning the property to the United
states and placing 1t under direct con-
troll of the District Commission.
He also urged the necessity of q
special traffic court for the District
WORKING GIRLS START