Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-13
TEN-CENT TAX|CAB
PATRONS INCREASE
Drivers Continue Operating
as Legal Minds Attempt
to Solve Situation.

The Diamond taxicabs of the Inde-
pendent Taxi Owners Association con-
tinued their unauthorized 10-cent rush
hour jitney service today with increased
patronage, as the best legal minds OF
the District government searched law
books for more effective weapon than
that chosen yesterday by the Public
Utilities Commission TO compel the
operators to seek its approval Of the
unique venture in public transportation,
The commission at first decided, upon
the advice of counsel. to assert Juris-
diction over the taxis and order the
operators to show cause why they start
ed a common carrier" business with
out its sanction. but since the drivers
have announced their intention of ig-
noring this notice another course OF
action probably will be taken.
Hart Takes Up Case.
The step In contemplation has not
yet been determined and probably will
not be for several days. In the mean
time it is understood that the commits
sion will not serve the show cause"
notices and the taxiS will continue TO
run without interference.
The authorities appear to be COM
pletely puzzled about the whole situa-
ton. Overnight the legal burden Of
forcing the taxis TO comply with the
public utilities act was shifted from
Assistant Corporation Counsel Francis
H Stephens. veteran adviser to the
commission on public utility questions,
to Ringgold Hart, the principal assist
ant corporation counsel, who heretofore
has not given much thought to the
legal phase OF technical utility prob
lens
The commission also is to lose the
services of its general counsel. William
w Bride, the corporation counsel, who
leaves Washington tomorrow for two
week vacation at an Atlantic Ocean
resort Mr.. Bride explained that his
vacation was planned far In advance
OF any thoughts Of the existing con-
flict between the taxi operators and the
utility commission.
After being assigned to the case Mr..
Hart held protracted conference with
John w Childress, chairman Of the
commission. and advised him that he
would not be In a position To suggest
move of any kind against the taxi
operators until he had made thorough
study of the public utilities act and
other laws relating to the operation of
public. vehicles in the District.
Doubtful Of Plan.
Mr.. Hart said he Is not certain
whether the plan of the commission to
summon seven of the taxi drivers to
show cause why they inaugurated the
unauthorized service Is the best pro-
cedure. He pointed out. however, that
this move win not be definitely ahAn-
doned unless more effective method
of dealing with the taxiS Is uncovered
as the result of his study of the law.
Despite the delay in the proceedings
against the taxi drivers. District OFF,
cial concerned with the case declared
emphatically that the taxis would
eventually be forced TO conform to the
law. Unless they do" he said, they
are going to have warm Summer"
Cabs at virtually all of the stands
from which the 1itneyS operated report
ed an increase In business this morn
ing and estimates of the total number
carried In the hour of service ranged
from 500 to TOO The drivers also
seemed to have better understanding
than they did on the first day OF opera
ton Of the program To be followed, and
Government workers who rode to work
in the taxis approached them with less
ditfidence.
Harry G. Davis, general manager or
the Independent Taxi Operators AsSo-
ciation was elated with the results or
the second days business and predicted
continued improvement from day to day
as the public becomes better acquainted
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