Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20
ESQ INDEPENDENTS
RAISE CAB RATES;
FACE NOTICE FINE
Utilities Commission Not
Given Required To-Day
Information.
MAJOR TAXI COMPANIES
: REFUSE TO FOLLOW SUIT
20-Cent Zone Retained, but Limits
Reduced-0thers Increased
Up to 80 Cents.

Nearly $50 1noependenC tdlCaE
operators have boosted their rates with
out complying with required formanties
thereby facing the possibility OF q nne
set by the Public Utilities act at $2OG
a day for each operator, it was learned
last night
Oficials of the major cab companies
throughout the city said that theiI
organizations do not intend to follow
suit.
REPRESENTATIVES Of the independent
operators say they have notified the
Public Utilities Commission Of the
change. but admit that 10 days notice
which the commission requires, was
not given. The higher rate has beer
in effect since Thursday morning In
some cases and In others was f1rst used
yesterday.
scala say they hope eventually TO per-
suade all independent operators TO raise
their rates.
Zones Reduced.
The boost was accomplished by the
creation of q new and considerably
smaller basic zone, T.. D. Lef1ingwell
spokesman for the group. explained. He
defended the increase as an EFFORT to
obtain Giving wage" for the indepen-
dent car owners.
The new basic zone Is set inside the
old zone, where most Of the operators
formerly charged 20 cents. The rate
for the new zone also Is 90 cents.
The new and smaller 20-cent zone Is
bordered by North Capitol street, Flor
ida avenue, Twenty-second street and
Constitution avenue.
"a majority of the hauls In the city
are made within this zone, which APP
proximates the old city limits" Lefnng
well said, I'VE have tried hauling pas
sengers from downtown to Wisconsin
! avenue and Decatur street for 20 cents
and are losing money. It can't be done
with fair profit
The new accent area is the same as
the old 20-cent zone. It Is bounded by
Wisconsin avenue, Macomb street. De-
catur street, Monroe street northeast
Twelfth street northeast, Fifteenth
street northeast, the Potomac River
Water street southwest and p street
southwest.
Fourth Zone 30 Cents.
In the next zone, which corresponds
to the Accent zone Of most of the or
ganized cab companies. so cents will
be charged, while transportation to an
address in the fourth zone from down.
town will cost 80 cents.
Leflngwell believes the public viii
fare better in the long run by reason
Of the changed rates. cit should Dc
much to make Tor greater safety" he
said, cas- q driver on an unusually long
20-cent haul tries to get to his destina-
ton as quickly as possible, so as tc
save time and have a chance for an
other fare. Frequently patrons have
oo,,,rI aix.aI 41,ok S,-,,,a~S ..fRo-. ~av~.a 49,
cuse when they are given q distant ad-
dress so as to avoid long haul"
I'VE don't care what the big COM
panies do" he declared. IF one OF
them was to raise its rates it could not
compete with the other companies, since
much of the business of the organized
companies depends on calls by tele-
phone and naturally people would cal
the company with the lowest rate. But
our case is different. We do only q
pick up business and in the short
new scale we have carried almost a.
many passengers as previously. Driver:
tell me they are making much more
money than under the old rates."
LefingwelI Sends Lists.
Mr.. Lefingwell said he sent list Of
about so operators who had adopted
the new scale to the Public Utilities
Commission Thursday morning, another
! list Thursday night, q third list Fri.
| day and that he now has fourth list
| to be transmitted to the commission
The number of operators who have
made the change Is thought to tota
almost ESQ.
He explained failure to give the re.
quired 10 days notice to the Public
Utilities Commission by saying that Il
the independents disclosed their inten.
tons they were fearful the large tax
mission.