Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-22
Gen. Patrick Directed to
Have Measure Written for
Early Presentation.
ACTION TAKEN DURING
MCLEOD BILL HEARING
Influx Of Cut.Rate Cabs Empha.
sized as Beginning of Rate
War in Capital.

New legislation granting full author
ity to the Public Utilities Commission
to control the monopoly by taxicabs
at Union Station, to prevent any hotel
from selling exclusive rights IN the
streets adjacent to the hotel to any
one taxicab company, to prevent taxi
cabs and other public vehicles from
drifting around in the streets to pick
up passengers, blocking entrances to
theaters and to establish taxicab and
bus stands and terminals and to pre-
scribe routes to interstate buses In the
District Is to be drafted by direction
OF the Mcleod subcommittee of the
House District committee.
Patrick to Prepare Bill.
Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chairman Of
the Public Utilities Commission, was to-
day directed by Acting Chairman Nc
Leod Of the House District committee to
have such measure written as soon as
possible, and he was supported in this
order by the unanimous vote Of the sub
committee in session today. Gen. Patrick
promised that he might have the bill
ready tomorrow and certainly not later
than Monday.
This action was taken this morning
during a hearing on the Mcleod bill
which provides for compulsory insur-
ance Tor taxicabs and other common
carriers In the District. Gen. Patrick
and H. A. Innes Brown, editor of tie
Taxi Weekly, New York, were the only
witnesses before the subcommittee. Gen.
Patrick called for several amendments
TO the pending bill and Mr. Brown ap-
proved 1t with the comment that the
Public Utilities Commission should ex-
ercise its authority and responsibility
properly to regulate the taxicab indus
try in the District Of Columbia.
Rate War Is Started.
Throughout the hearing it was en-
phasized that with the influx Of cut
rate taxicabs rate war is being started
In the National Capital, the inevitable
result Of which, both witnesses and
members Of the subcommittee said, win
De condition similar to that in De-
troit two years ago. which was rlinous
alike to the taxicab business and the
street railways.
Mr.. Brown said that he knows Of at
least two other companies that are now
planning to come into Washington
with cut-rate cabs and he Says expert
ence shows that taxicabs cannot be OBJ
Grated on 35-cent rate and live. Such
taxicab service Is only by-product he
said Of selling or renting q vehicle.
William Mckay Clayton who for many
years has taken an outstanding inter-
est in public utilities matters in behalf
Of the citizens of the District, gratui-
tously, emphasized that such legislation
as the subcommittee directed Gen. Pat
rick to draft giving the Public Utilities
Commission power to prevent monop-
olies at Union Station and in the streets
at the principal hotels will be q great
public benefaction and remove the
scandal Of monopoly that has for years
stgmatized the National Capital.
Law to Protect People.
1t was emphasized by Gen. Patrick
in reply to questions, that there is no
effort IN the taxtcab insurance bill to
drive the cheap rate taxicabs out of
business, but said that such compul-
sorry insurance law for public vehicles
Is for the protection of the people and
that 1t would not impose an undue
financial burden us the estimate of the
cost would not be in excess of 81 a
day. Gen. Patrick said that in 80 out
OF the IS largest cities of the country
similar provisions are in operation. H
said that In at least so per cent of the
cities minimum and maximum rate
is set, within which all companies may
compete for patronage.
Representative Bowman of West Vir-
ginia, also discussed the evils of having
taxicabs floating about the streets to
pick up passengers and certain COM
panies enjoying monopolistic rights in
the streets by lease from hotels and
contended that the Public Utilities
Commission should have full authority
to regulate stands and terminals for the
more than 700 BUSES that are operating
in Washington daily.