Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-20
Board of Trade Would Place
Operation on Common
Carrier Basis.
TRADE UNIONIST EDITOR
PROPOSES HIGHER RATES
Says Tariff Should Be So High That
Cabs Can't Compete With
Street Cars.

The Washington Board Of Trade to-
DAY placed itself on record in favor of
requiring financial ability OIL the part
OF taxicab operators to indemnify the
public from negligence on the part of
drivers. 1t also suggested the Public
utilities Commission demand that, be-
lore 1uu licenses are granted for the
operation OF taxicabS, the company or
individual operator indicate in whom all
liability rests, so that. in the case of
suit, court service may be promptly car
ried out.
The board suggested that. since the
operation of taxicabs for public trans
portation is distinctly a common carrier
function. it should be subject to COM
mon carrier regulation
A report containing these recon-
mendations was read to the Public Util-
tiles Commission by Claude w. Owen Of
the board at the opening Of the second
day OF the commissions public hearing
into the taxicab situation.
Urges Public Call Boxes.
o. H. Steger. cab operator. speak
ing for 40 other independent OPP
orators, suggested the municipality in
stall call boxes at all hack stands, open
to the use Of all hackers, and paid for
by assessments against the hackers
using the stands.
John B. Colpoys, editor Of the Trades
Un1onlst, speaking for the Washington
Central Labor Union, favored the re-
turn Of taxi meters and suggested rates
be fixed so high that the taxi business
would not compete with the street cars.
He said the city could do without taxi
cabs, but it could not do without street
cars. He wanted the profits Of the
street car companies to be high SO that
they would be able to pay decent SAL
aries to their employees. The taxi busi-
ness. he said, is skimming the cream
away from the street car companies.
and he predicted that, when the need
comes for the car companies to cut ex-
penses. the employees will bear the
brunt of 1t first.
He said taxi driver should be en-
titled 10 minimum Of $1,000 a wear
and should get one day of In seven
and should not be compelled to work
more than IL hours a day
Mark Lansbursh Speaks.
Mark LAnsburgh. president of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation. whose letter to the commission
complaining Of chaotic conditions In the
taxicab industry was the immediate
cause OF the present hearing, appeared
TO amplify the position taken by his as
ISOLATION. He favored the return of
meter cabs, under strict regulation by
the commission. including compulsory
indemnity or liability insurance, and
promised the commission the cooper
alton OF his association in any effort to
obtain legislation to meet these needs
sernard Henning: an independent
driver who claimed 81 years expert
ence as . hacker, said regulations
should be enacted to protect not only
the public and cab operators, but also
the drivers, who, he added. have for
many years been kept in a state ap-
preaching chattel slavery. He sug-
gested limit on the number of drivers
and working hours, guaranteed salaries
and adjustment Of the rental system.
The last he particularly denounced
as racket" preying on the unem-
ployed, saying the contracts under
which cabs are rented to drivers make
the drivers virtually the slaves Of the
lessons
Sees 100000 IN Taxes.
M 8. Glueck. accountant for the In
dependent Taxi Owners Association.
estimated the taxi industry pays the
District Government approximately
100000 q year in taxes. OF this,
$3.50, 900 Is In gasoline tax, $4,000 in
personal property taxes and $4,000 for
licenses.
H. e Young. representing the Gen.
trail Business Mems Association, said
his group was in favor of nat rates and
opposed to meters.
William j. Brown. president Of the
Black and White Cab Co. and the yell
low Taxi Co., said he had operated
meter cabs for years until forced by
competition into the flat-rate system,
and that he was strongly In favor Of
the meter system. In the fiat-rate sys-
TEN. he said, the short haul Is a burden
on the rider and the long haul . bur-
den on the operator With the meter
1t Is possible to keep a much better sys-
tenn Of cost account and there are fewer
complaints from passengers.
He said he was strongly in favor Of
compulsory insurance for operators and
that his concern always had carried 1t.
He also favored issuance Of a certifi-
cate Of convenience and necessity by
the commission before any cab should
be allowed on the street.