The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1932-05-07

bHVLOH LuIICuO uTLUGTS OU0T-
charge for rides, are underpdid
for their services, are irlSulted
By their passengers, and are
under peonGge, The Washing
ton Times assigned reporter
to become a t1Ticdb driuer for
several days and study the
situation first hand.
BY JOHN A. SHEA
The present 20-cent zone sys-
tenn, under which tSzicabs here
are operated, is not only de-
priving drivers of an adequate
living wage, but the companies
that own the cabs admit they
are near the breaking point due
to slim financial returns and
the wrecking of their cabs be-
cause Of excessive duty as a
result of the low flat rates.
I talked to the heads of most
of the companies owning cabs and
they said that many drivers are
wa AA4AS 04AAAOOO Ct 1IOu1O q udy.
In the days of the meter sys-
TEN, the cabs we're kept most of
the time on street corner stands
and remained there except when
hauling passengers. Under the
present flat rate system, it is diff.
ficult to keep drivers stationary.
The drivers say causing means
more fares.
Little Rest Given
TaxicabS now are given no rest
periods. In my assignment by
The Washington Times to get first
hand information on the taxicab
situation in Washington, have
visited the garages of the princi-
pal companies where the cabs
have their home. I saw every
day scores Of drivers waiting to
take out cab as soon as the pre-
viouS driver returned it.
1t can be safely estimated from
my observations that one person
in every IS in Washington is a
taXicab driver.
Records at the District Building
show there are 1865 taxicabs IL
cenSed here and the number is
growing each day. I was told
last night that one company
which leases cabs to drivers is
about to put on 100 more cabs
to accommodate men wanting work
and that one of the larger COM
panies has to purchase many more
cars, to replace cars too far gone
TO be repaired and others to
fight the keen competition.
Too Many Cabs
Washington has more taxicabS
than Philadelphia, Cleveland, San
francisco, Pittsburgh and Buffalo
combined. Some of these cities,
of course, restrict the number of
ncabS.
Because of damage done to
cabs due to their constant opera
stion owners have to employ many
more mechanics in the repair
shops. The repair work neces-
sarily must be rushed and due to
that fact it is not long before the
machines are again broken.
While repairs are made drivers
must be idle. So while this end
less cruising means more employ.
2ment, damages throw many more
out of work.
Both owners and drivers are
discouraged by the order of the
municipal authorities forbidding
cruising on F, G and Seventh
Streets. They say these thorough
fares we're profitable.
. It is a well known fact that
since establishment of the low
flat rate system taxi accidents
have increased greatly. Drivers
must compete to make a living
wage and have observed that
they violate traffic regulations in
their efforts to beat other cabs
to waiting passengers.
Fatigue Dangerous
After driving a cab for more
than IL hours I noticed that I
was simply played out. My brain
did not work properly and I could
not think quick. My eyes were
tired and they became .watery. 1
talked to hundreds of taxicabs
drivers and told them how I
felt. They all admit they get
that way after driving long hours.
A person tagged out is not a
competent person to drive a car.
q was told. Drivers are breaking
physically under the strain, and
Nat unless higher rates are paid
Tor riding in cabs, they would not
be surprised to see more acct
dents due to the physically unfit
condition of the men at the
wheels.
While serving as taxi driver,
I noticed the work of the traffic
policemen. found that they aid
the drivers whenever they can in
congeSted traffic, and give taxi
men with their passengers the
right of way whenever they can.
$1S to $50 Average
A study shows that modc-n cab
operators in most of the large
cities in the world have adopted
the taximeter and in many cities
the taximeter is required by law.
The only driver I found who
say they are making a fair wage
are those who own new Gals.
They claim they are making from
SIS to So per day. My talks to
them show that because their