Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-03
CAR COMPANIES
BLAMED FOR NOT
WINNING PUBLIC
Utilities Experts Feel Service
Should Be Developed to
Defeat Cut-Rate Cabs.
CHANGE TO HIGHER
FARE SEEN AS MISTAKE
Pass System and Scent Zone Rate
for Short Hauls Regarded
Helpful.

This IS the third Of series OF arsi-
cIes discussing the problems confront
ington me ' re car ca, eom,pdnfes q wash
tomorrow.
While definite steps are 10 be taken
by the Public Utilities Commission To
control the motley multitude Of cut
rate taxicabs which are taking about
100000 a month away from Washing
tons street railway companies, mem
bers OF the commission do not believe
the car companies ought to wait for
this step before seeking to improve
service and win back lost customers.
Whatever relief might come to the
car companies through greater control
over taxicab operations, there Is
Keeling at the commission that the
street railway executives are making a
mistake by not taking a definite move
TO win back some Of the riding public
lost to the taxicabs and the motor
vehicle. In fact. utility experts are
inclined to blame the inaction of the
car companies for the existing chaotic
taxicab situation, on the theory that
had the railway officials made car rid
ing more attractive, there would not
nave been q field for DEVELOPMENT Of a
cheap rate taxi service.
In the first place, experts at the COM
mission take the position that had the
car companies taken the commissions
advice and not insisted on higher fare,
many OF the lost passengers might vet
be riding on street cars. Moreover. the
opinion prevails that, despite the taxi
cab competition, there are stems the
companies can take to stimulate car
riding.
Comfort and Speed
Better equipment and speedier service
are held to be the two major improve
ments the companies can make to re-
gain lost patronage. Street cars should
be made more attractive and more COM
Portable, it was said, and operating
schedules should be revised to facilitate
travel This can be done, 1t was pointed
out, by eliminating many Of the exist
system used during the period of the
war. Instead Of doing this, it was ex-
planned. the companies, on the contrary,
are continuously adding new stops, put
ting them at nearly every intersection,
thereby increasing the running time of
the cars on every trip.
There also is feeling at the COM
mission that the companies can in
crease business by adopting either the
pass system now in use in a number of
cities and also on buses of the Wash
ington Rapid Transit Co. or putting In
a scent zone fare for short hauls.
Either OF these plans, 1t was pointed
out, likely would increase non-rush-hour
riding and add to the rapidly dwindling
revenues OF the car companies.
The pass system, however, is regarded
as the better weapon with which to
combat the taxicabs than the zone fare.
A person in possession Of a weekly pass
emitting him to ride as often as he de-
sired, 1t was pointed out, would not be
so likely to jump in q passing taxicab
and pay cash.
Action In Week Likely.
Within week the commission Is ex-
pected to act on the taxicab question.
With utmost secrecy 1t is guarding its
plans, but there are rather pronounced
indications that the contemplated course
OF action viii have a twofold effect
reduce the number of cabs more nearly
te meet the requirements of public con-
yenience and necessity and establish a
uniform rate Of fare.
An order requiring cabs to operate on
meter basis instead of a fiat or zone
rate, 1t was pointed out. probably will
accomplish both objects. How MANY
cabs would be driven from the streets
by such an order Is purely a matter for
conjecture, but there Is a strong opin-
ion among utility experts that quite q
number of cab owners cannot afford the
expense of a meter.
Adoption of uniform fare, which can
be brought about by fixing a minimum
meter rate, also would have the effect.
1t was said, Of driving some OF the taxi
cabs out of business, because 1t would
put an end to existing throat cutting
competition. The amount of the min
imum rate that should be fixed, how
ever, is understood to be one of the
questions puzzling the commission. The
rate finally decided on, however, prob
ably will not differ materially from the
existing fiat scale, although 1t will be
based on a mileage formula rather than
a zoned area.
Regulation and Control.
Strict regulation and control of the
taxtcab Is looked upon by the traction
company officials as one method Of
throttling the existing competition.
Failure of the commission in the past
to exert what little authority 1t has in
law to regulate the cabs already has
left an unhealed sore at both the Wash
ington Railway 81 Electric and Capital
Traction Cos, where plans for improv-
Ing street car service have been held In
allegiance pending an oflcial move to
check the ever-increasing number Of
taxis.
In promuIgating new rules and regu-
iations to govern taxi operations the
commission, it is believed, will not 20 as
far as 1t would like to at this time. sim
ply because the authority is lacking.
The commission would like to compel
the cabs to carry liability and indefn-
nifty insurance, but IL has been told by
the courts that there Is nothing in the
public utilities act giving Il the au-
thority to do So But such authority Ia
10 be asked just as soon as Congress
convenes.
One Of the complaints of the car
companies against the taxi operators Is
that they are not required to show
financial responsibility, while the street
railway lines have to pay QUO large sums
every year for damage claims. In fact.
William F. Ham, president Of the Wash
ngton Railway 81 Electric Co. at the
recent taxicab hearing before the COM
mission, declared:
1T seems to me that there can be
40 question of the desirability Of anv
operator Of a public vehicle to have
'uch responsibility that the public will
lot suffer financially in case Of an &C
,ident."