Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-28
Lose 900 Daily Since Rate
SIashing Inception, They
Tell Commission.
PATRICK SAYS GROUP
DECLINES TO ACT NOW
Three More Independents Join Cab
Price Battle-All Operators
at Meeting.

Three more independent taxicab OPP
orators joined in the rate war today, q
few hours before representatives CT the
various taxi companies went into con-
ference with Richmond B. Keech. peo-
pies counsel, before the Public Utilities
Commission, to discuss peace overtures.
At the same time officials Of the
Capital Traction and Washington Rail-
way & Electric Companies, aroused by
the inroads the cut-rate taxis have
made into the revenues of their re-
spectve corporations, appealed to the
Utilities Commission to do something
to remedy very tense" situation.
The companies claimed their revenues
had fallen off to the extent of about
81 900 each day since the inception of
the rate war.
Hanna Leads Delegation.
John H. Hanna, president of the Cap
ital Traction Co., led the delegation OF
street railway executives to the COM
mission. With him we're G. Thomas
Dunlop, general counsel of the Capital
Traction Co., and A. G. Neal, vice pres
ident and controller of the Washington
Railway g. Electric Co.
The traction men, however, got little
satisfaction from the commission. Maj.
Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chairman, is
understood to have told them the COM
mission had closely followed the de-
velopments in the taxi situation. and
had even discussed it informally" but
that definite action at this time was
not contemplated.
The men who drive the cabs as well
as those who own them met with keech
in his office at the District Building at
2 o'clock this afternoon, hopeful OF an
early and amicable adjustment of the
conditions which led to the rate-slash-
ing outbreak. The outcome is expected
| to be an agreement on the part OF the
taxi men to stabilize rates.
Farley Sets Precedent.
Every large taxi company in the Dis
trict and a number of independents
who drive privately-owned cabs are
represented at the conference, thus set
ting precedent. because it marked the
first time since the advent of the nat
rate cabs, more than year ago, that all
taxi interests have come together for q
general discussion of their problems.
Keech is taking the role of mediator.
nc Gail OO HOLHlAlS ClSC DCSduoC "a 1AiS
lack of authority. Moreover, he believes
the taxi men should settle their own
differences through their own efforts.
and not by coercion. An agreement
openly arrived at, he declared, will be
more lasting and effective than any
order of the utilities commission de-
signed to restore taxi operating to nor
malcy.
Receipts Drop Is Per Cent.
The street railway companies graph
ically pictured their condition to the
Utilities Commission in series OF f1nan-
ciai statements showing revenue re-
ceipts during the period OF the rate
war, in comparison with the correspond
ing period of last year The Washing
ton Rapid Transit Co. also reported
that on Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-
day of last week its revenue receipts
were 2 per cent lower than last year.
while on the remaining days of the
week the receipts we're 10 per cent I'M
der 1890.
Receipts of the Washington Railway
& Electric Co. last Monday and Tues
day showed gains of S91427 and
81, 1881 over the same days last year.
while for the next five days the daily
revenue was below the corresponding
period of 1880. The decrease Wednes-
day amounted to $311.62. Thursday to
S991.45, Friday to $l.058.08. Saturday
to s1,07369 and Sunday to $762.34.
The report Of the Capital Traction
Co. reveals gains of $l97 and $3.50 for
!, last Monday and Tuesday and losses
Continued on Page 2, Column g.