Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-10
OWNERS OPPOSE
35CENT TAX|CABS
Would Prefer Meter System,
Utilities Commission Is
Told in Inquiry.

The first meeting of the Public IT'LL
tiles Commissions public hearing on
the taxicab situation today developed
little but hard words about the 35-cent
fiat rate cabs.
Among the most violent opponents of
the present system were the 35-cent
cab owners themselves, who said they
would like to go back to the old meter
system, but can't afford to do it in the
face of the competition put up by
Government workers, firemen and other
semi-pro taxica5 drivers, who put up
35-cent cab sign on their cars after
working hours.
The meeting was crowded. There
were even three women present, one OF
whom operates her own cab. The trac-
ton and bus interests were well repre-
scented. S. Russell Bowen, vice president
of the. Washington Railway g. Electric
Co., even took part in examining the
witnesses. He wanted to know If taxi
cab drivers made a practice of picking
up fares on the regular street car and
bus routes. Charles H. Lettow, repre-
sentative of Local No. 169 of the Cab
Drivers Union, told him they did. Mr.
Bowen wanted to know what time of
day the practice was prevalent.
Buses Are AssaiIed.
Usually from noon one day continu-
ously until noon the next" was the
reply. e. o. Turner, president of the
Independent Taxicab owners Associa-
ton, then accused the car companies
of taking business away from the cab
drivers. They send BUSES to hotels, he
claimed, and take up the space in front
of hotels usually reserved for taxi'S.
Then the buses are loaded up with
passengers at 10 cents head and
taken around the Washington Monu-
ment and other spots Of sightseeing
interest
Edward w. Hines, who operates one
cab on his own, and has no other
occupation, was the first witness. He
did not state what profit he made, but
said that he received about $12 per
month in tips. He claimed 1t was very
difficult to get on to hackstand now
adays, and not very profitable to do SO.
Favors Meter Rates.
Lettow followed him and said that
the union was strongly in favor of the
meter rates, as the owners under fiat
rates have no control over their drivers
and the drivers are fast becoming
thieves. He condemned the zone sys-
tenn as inefficient, and said that few
people knew what the zones were. There
was a general agreement on this. and
when Commissioner Harleigh H. Hart
| man tried to secure some statement for
| the record as to just what the zones
were nothing but confusion followed.
The matter was summed up by Rich
ard Carneggio, the next witness, who
said that 1t amounted to this. "A pas
| senger gets into cab. If the driver
likes his looks, he will take him where
| he's going for 35 cents. Otherwise the
| passenger will pay so cents.
Carnaggio, who is vice president OF
| the union and drives his own cab, has
| the courage of his convictions. He has
never changed over to the fiat rate, and
| warns every passenger that the ride will
be checked by the meter. His business
! has been cut SO per cent by the nat
rate competition, he said, but he was
| determined not to change, although he
operated the only Diamond cab now do
| ing business at meter rates.
Lettow was asked If he favored COM
pulsory insurance for taXicabS. He an
swered that he did, provided only that
all other vehicles on the street were
also compelled to carry liability insur-
ance. He felt it unfair to single out
taxicabs and put the burden on them,