Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-21
TAXI COMPETITION
WITH STREET CARS
TERMED HARMFU u
William F. Ham Asks Utilities
Commission to Regulate
Cab Industry.
POINTS TO SUPERVISION
OF TROLLEY COMPANIES
Railway President Cites Taft Rul-
ing in Argument Before
Open Hearing.

William F. Ham, president of the
Washington Railway & Electric Co., on
the witness stand today at the open
hearing before the Public Utilities Com
mission on Washingtons taxicab stu
alton, asked the commission to regulate
the taxicab industry in such way that
1t would cease to be a competitive
menace to street cars.
Pointing out that street car concerns
are regulated by the commission in
minute detail. Mr.. Ham produced a
book of regulations governing such
matters as the display CT tail lights Oil
street cars, wheel housings, destination
signs, etc. He declared a street car
concern cannot even move car stop
without permission from the commits
sion.
Says Power Is Complete.
The same power CT regulation rests
In the commission with respect to taxi
cebs. he said, adding that with the
power goes the duty to exercise it.
The commission either. has power for
complete regulation, or else it has no
power, he contended, denying the conf
mission might have power to fix rates
for cabs and nothing else.
Mr.. Ham joined in the statement
made yesterday by President John H
Hanna of the Capital Traction Co.. re-
lating to the disastrous effects of taxi
cab competition on the street car COM
panies' finances If such competition
continues, the companies will be forced
to reduce equipment and eventually
might be forced to lay off employees or
cut their wages, he said.
In brief prepared by S. R. Bowen
the company'S counsel, it was commended
the commission has the right to end
rate war in the interest of the util-
tiles and the public alike The brief
quoted from decision of the late Chief
Justice Taft that ito regulate in the
sense intended, is to foster, protect and
control the commerce with appropriate
regard to the welfare of those who are
Immediately concerned, as we'll as the
public at large, and to promote its
growth and insure its safety"
Hits Less-Than-Cost Service.
Other decisions were quoted to the
effect that, even if a utility should
offer service at less than cost, a utility
commission should not allow the serv-
ice to be sold, because of the ultimate
ruin to the utility or its competitor
Or both, and the ultimate price the
public would have to pay in recouping
the loss of the victorious utility.
The brief also quoted at length from
regulations adopted by the District
Commissioners relating to the issuing
of licenses for taxicabs and insisted
the cabs, as common carriers, are sub
ject to complete control and regula-
ton by the Public Utilities Commits
sion.
Mr.. Ham called attention to the fact
that in 1919 the street car companies
petitioned the commission to allow the
institution of street car zones and zone
fares, and that the commission denied
the request. Yet the commission has
allowed thousands of taxicabs to operate
on a system forbidden to the street
car companies, he said. He did not
state whether his company would be
willing to institute a system of zone
rates at present.