Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-14
J|TNEY TAX|S FAIL
IN FIRST REAL TEST
Drivers Carry individual Pas
sengers During Rain 10
Get Higher Fares.

The l0-cent jitney service of the
Diamond taxicabs was given its first
real test as a factor In public trans
portation today. and the result, accord
ing to Its sponsors, showed the neces-
sity of further coordination and CO.
operation before 1t can be established
on the plane 1t is designed to reach.
The heavy downpour during the
morning rush hour created such de-
mand for the regular meter taxi service
that number OF the drivers assigned
TO the jitney routes found little time
to engage In this business. AS a result.
many Government workers who wanted
TO ride downtown In a cab for 10 cents
were either forced to wait for irregular
intervals in the rain or go back to their
former mode of transportation on
motor busses and street cars.
Those cabs which sacrificed a 75-cent
or 81 fare for q group of jitney CUSTOM
ers did a rushing business, however.
but there was not SUFFICIENT number
OF them to meet the demand. For in
stance, half dozen men and women.
sheltered by umbrellas, waited at the
cab stand at Sixteenth and u streets
between S:20 and $50 o'clock for one
OF the iitneys and not Diamond cab
made its appearance there in this To-
minute period The prospective patrons
took the Sixteenth street bus.
Only Few Garry Signs.
Only a few of the unengaged Dia-
mond cabs on several OF the other
stands carried signs indicating that
they were running the jitney routes.
Their drivers we're waiting for more
prolific fare.
Harry c. Davis. general manager OF
the independent Taxi Owners Associ-
alton, the guardian OF the Diamond
cabs. admitted that several important
problems had arisen since the eStab-
iishment OF the l0-cent service that
demanded solution before the business
could become a real element In public
transportation. One OF these. he point
ed out, Is the necessity OF every driver
who has pledged to operate jitney be-
tween 9 and 0 o'clock. to report reg
ularly and not carry meter fare in this
period
A meeting OF the drivers will be held
soon for this purpose. Davis said, and
at the same time consideration will be
given to proposals to add about rs more
cabs and new hack stands to the jitney
routes.
Ringgold Hart, principal assistant
corporation counsel, TO whom has been
assigned the task OF directing the Pub
lie Utilities Commission In It's move to
force the taxis to comply with the
regulations laid down In the public
utilities act In the operation of a COM
mon carrier, said that reports to him
thus far indicate that the jitney Serv-
ice should not be reckoned seriously.
Other officials predicted that 1t will die
a natural death II unmolstered by
officials
Reports to Chiidress.
After a study OF the various laws
relating to the operation OF taxicahS
and public utilities. Mr.. Hart reported
To John w. Childress, chairman OF the
Utilities Commission, today that there
is no doubt In his mind that the Dia-
mond cabs are common carriers and
a public utility"
The fundamental question" he said,
lis whether the character and volume
Of business Is such that the commission
wants TO take IL over After an In
vestigation Of what the taXicabs are
doing the commission ought to hold a
public hearing to determine whether 1t
wants to take jurisdiction over the
jitney operation. II It decides To do so.
then II should adopt and promulgate
regulations governing the conduct OF
that business"
May Abandon Plan.
In view OF Hart's report to ChildreSs,
the commission, it was indicated. prob
ably will abandon entirely Its original
plan OF citing the jitney drivers TO
show cause why they established
common carrier" service without its
official sanction. Hart does not believe
that this procedure would be the most
effective weapon to use In this case,
Soon after Hart began his study OF
the legal phase of the situation he
conferred with Henry M. Fowler coun-
sci for the Independent Association
but not for the purpose as reported. he
said OF entering into concilatory nego-
tiations with the car drivers,
What | wanted from MIR, Fowler"
he said, was information about the
taxi drivers organization, how 1t func-
tions and other details concerning IT,
MIR, Fowler gave me this data"
According to this information, the
association IL chartered under the laws
of Delaware, owns no stock and has 500
members, all OF whom own and operate
their owns cabs, The name Diamond
Cab Co. was adopted merely rs an iden.
tifioation insignia.