Evening star., 1925-03-15
TAXIMETER TESTS
T0BEG|N THIS WEEK
Officials Reach Agreement
as to Jurisdiction by
Utilities Commission.

After several weeks OF uncp ainty
as to which municipal agency should
exercise Jurisdiction over taxicah
meters the Public Utilities Commis-
sion decided yesterday afternoon to
begin making tests this week. This
conclusion was reached at confer
ence between Mai. w. f. r. Coyeil.
assistant engineer commissioner. and
Earl v. Fisher. executive secretary
to the commission.
The delay in beginning meter tests
resulted from a, doubt TO whether
the function belonged to the Utilities
Commission or to the Superintendent
Of Weights and Measures.
Power Of Commission.
Corporation Counsel Stephens has
addressed memorandum to the com
mission in which he said:
I'm the conference with Mr.. Fob
erts, superintendent of weights and
measures. upon the testing Of taxi
meters. counsel stated that the Pub
lie Utilities Commission undoubtedly
had power over these companies and
to test these meters IL II were desir-
able to exercise such Jurisdiction"
After citing court case. in which
he believes this jurisdiction was def
nitely ests blished, Mr.. Stephens con-
tinued:
The commission. however. rs
matter of policy and because Of the
time and labor involved. has not ex-
ercised its full jurisdiction. over these
cal companies. am advised that
the competition among them is so
keen that the rates are now actually
below those fxed by the commission
for public hacks.
Decide on CemmissIon.
The Superintendent of Weights,
Mes ssures and Markets was advised.
in the absence OF any authority eX-
ercised by the Utilities Commission
over these companies, that his once
might assume that task if he deemed
il adVisabl After talking with the
executive secretary over the matter
! very much doubt if any good pur-
pose is to be served the public ~
this time by either the comm ission or
the superinte ndent assuming juris-
diction and testing the ts1icab
meters.
After talking the matter over yes
terGay. however. Maj. Coyell and Mr.
Fisher decided to proceed at once to
test some of the meters.
f. 6. klotz, engineer Of the com
mission. who will have direct charge
of the work. has prepsr red tentative
set of rules to govern such meter
tests.
EXPRESSING the belief that there is
/ an excess number of taxicabs on the
streets, the utilities committee OF the
| Federation of Citizens Associations
/ has directed an inquiry to the Public
! Utilities Commission for data as 10
I how taxicabs are regulated.
| The committee raises no question
| said the letter. "as to the necessary
I part the taxicab plays in the life OF
/ the city, but does query whether,
when but one taxi is required,
score are needed to respond and of
! fer service"
/ Among the questions asked of the
! commission by the committee are:
/ What control is exercised under
! the law over the operation of taxi
| ca bs on the streets Of Washington;
! whether The abs are operated by
I companies or by individual owners
/ or drivers What taxes are paid?
Does the law or regulation now in
force require the mandatory issuance
or license to all who apply?
"Have the Commissioners control
over the number of tsKicabs that can
I operate on the streets?
/ What bond, IL any, is required of
an OPERATOR"
| The communication was written by
/ William Nick. Clayton. chairman Of
! the committee, and states that the
] information is desired in order that
/ the committee may advise the fedora
{ tion on this question.