The Washington times., 1920-01-28
.CHARGESTAX|S
STATION
Congressman Demands Pullman
Keep Terminal Company's
Cars From Parking.

Charging that traffc privileges AT
Union Station. rightly belonging TO
the travelling public. are monopolized
by the Terminal Taxicab Company,
Congressman Allen T. Treadway, Re-
publican, OF Massachusetts,. today Ad-
dressed a letter TO Major Pullman, su-
perintendent of police. demanding
that conditions be remedied.
"If the travelling public has more
lights today than IL had In the days
II the late Commodore Vanderbilt"
warned Congressman TreAdway.
these regulations should be imme-
iiately revised, or some new officials,
not tied up with the Terminal Taxi
.ab Company or the Terminal Com
ANY, should be put In charge"
CONGRESSMAN Treadway's determi-
tation to write to Major Pullman was
reused by an editorial in The Wash
ngton Times. which warned that a
direction OF the traffic evils at
Union Station would be found dini-
cult. in view OF the relations between
the Terminal Company and the Ter
minal Taxicab Company.
Mr.. Treadway made a personal trip
to the station Sunday afternoon to
see conditions for himself.
Text Of Letter % Pullman.
His letter to Major Pullman. which
he read on the floor OF the House, Is
as follows:
Ny Dear Major Pullman:
This letter Is addressed to you on
the assumption that all traffic regu-
lations throughout the city are under
your supervision. II l am In error, /
would request that this com .nunica-
ton be referred to the proper Of
ficiaL
Some weeks ago / made remarks
on the door of the House relative to
the traffic conditions at the Union
Station. Later, a newspaper editorial
stated that a correction OF these evils
would be found very difficult In view
IF the intimate relationship between
the Terminal Company and the Ter
minal Taxicab Company. i dislike to
place too much credence on such a
tatement, but unless the interests
Of the public can be better served
han they have been for some months
asst at the station, such belief may
)e forced upon me.
No Personal Interest.
az have no personal interest in
either the Termina Company or the
Terminal Taxicab Company, but am
just a selfish Individual who likes to
have his share of what the public Is
entitled to.
Briefly, the situation is this: The
main entrance or front entrance to
the station Is entirely roped off from
vehicular traffic. l doubt II there Is
another such case as this in the coun-
a. ~ - ha Iaft ia n
against parking vehicles, parking
being only permitted to the extreme
left end, away from all the business
part of the station. At the right
from the station parking is allowed
only for the cabs of the Terminal
Taxicab Company. AS you approach
the entrance at the west end two
signs greet you by which you are
practically informed that unless you
are a patron of the Terminal Taxicab
Company you are almost encroaching
On the right OF getting to the train.
Can't Get to station.
"Within these sacred precincts
here are two platforms establishing
three aisles. Let me describe the ex-
act condition there when endeavorlng
O deliver two friends at the 3:15 p.
n. southbound train on Sunday, jan
,lary 25. One platform is designated
for loading of passengers, one for un-
'oading. 1t was several minutes be-
fore this platform could be reached.
The aisle adjoining the station was
occupied by six cabs OF the Terminal
Taxicab Company. Their drivers were
having a pleasant visit and no pas
sengers were in sight. In other
words the aisle adjoining the station.
supposed to be public, is absolutely
monopolized by this company under
the regulations to which I refer.
station Is For Public.
The station should not be run for
the benefit of the business Of pri-
vate monopoly. II such is the inten-
ton Of those in charge of traffic in
the city, they are surely very success
full II, however, the travelling pub
lie has more rights today than they
did in the days of the late Commo-
lore Vanderbilt, these regulations
should be Immediately revised or
some new officials, not tied up with
the Terminal Taxicab Company or the
Terminal Company should be put in
charge. Can this matter receive the
attention to which II Is entitled in the
interest of the travelling public7