Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12
SHARP MEASURES
PLANNED FOR CURB
OF TAXI CONGESTION
Utilities Body Aroused by In
crease in Number and
Sporadic Rate Wars.
UNIFORM FARE RATE
AND INSURANCE SEEN
Bitter Competition Unimproved
After Warnings and Hands
Off Policy.
BY JAMES E. OHM.

Thoroughly aroused by the ever-in-
creasing number of taXicabS and the
sporadic rate wars between independent
and organized taxi companies the Pub
lie Utilities Commission, it was learned
yesterday is planning drastic steps to
put Washington taxicab business on a
sound, well regulated and economic
basis.
A limitation on the number Of cabs
a uniform rate OF fare and compulsory
liability accident insurance are the
three cardinal features Of the tsXicab
control program under consideration.
Legislation will be required to compel
the operating companies to carry liza
bility insurance, but the commission
thinks 1t can bring about reduction
in the number of cabs by abolishing
the so-cslled fiat rate service and order
ing meter rate. This plan also would
automatically establish a uniform rate
Of fare.
The commission has been tolerant OF
the taxicab situation for long time
partly because OF the unemployment
situation and partly because it believed
the problem would adjust itself in the
course of time. Instead of improving
conditions have grown worse. Now the
commission means business-threatS are
to give way to action.
Resistance Is Expected.
The taxicab control program will not
be put into effect without some re-
sistance. Taxi owners, particularly
those operating on fiat rate basis, are
expected to strepuously object but the
chief opposition is coming from Rich
mond B. Keech, peoples counsel, who is
opposed to restricting competition and
limiting the number OF cabs.
Keech, however, believes in reason
able regulation and compulsory acci-
dent liability insurance, but he points
out that Washington is enjoying lower
taxi fares because Of the influx of the
independent operators, providing low
nat rate service.
The number of taxicabs in actual
operation is not definitely known. The
best gauge available are the records in
the once OF Wade H. Coombs, Superin-
tendent of licenses, which show that
since January J registration tags have
been issued for 3,515 public vehicles
an increase Of approximately 200 over
the number issued in the first three
months of 1880.
Actually there may not be 3,5l5 pub
lie vehicles in operation at this time,
Traffic officials and members of the
commission, however, are confident
that at least 5000 are plying the
streets.
Whatever the number, the commits
sion feels there are too many for public
convenience and necessity. In fact.
Washington is said to have more taxi
cabs per capita than any other city in
the country. New York, which has
never complained about a taxi short
age, it was pointed out, has che cab for
every 5000 persons. The ratio in WASH
ington is thought to be about one cab
per 800.
Excess Of Competition.
The worst evil OF this excess Of taxi
cabs in the opinion Of the commission.
is excessive competition and its attend
ant ills-unfair methods and recurring
rate wars A number of such instances
already have been reported.
The commission looks upon the taxi
cab operations as a big business which
should be properly regulated, and con-
siders the unrestricted competition now
existing in Washington as a blessing
neither TO the companies nor the pub
lie. And it also regards a uniform rate
Of fare as necessity in view of Wash
ington's large floating population The
zone system adopted by independent
operators, 1t was declared, gives drivers
an opportunity to victimize strangers.
The corporation counsels Office al
ready has been called upon by the COM
mission for a ruling as to its authority
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