Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-17
Zoo TAXIS READY
TO INVADE CAPITAL
Big Fleet Is Reported Waiting
, at Philadelphia Pending
| Sale of Company Here.

Reports of an invasion of Washington
by feet of 1000 additional taxicabs,
operated by uniformed drivers on fiat
15-cent zone rate, reached traffic Off
Gals yesterday as william A. Van
Duzer, director of the department of
vehicles and traffic, took steps to break
up the exclusive taxicab parking con-
SESSIONS around leading hotels.
The 1000 new cabs, said to be
owned by one OF the countrys largest
taXicab operating companies, are sup
posed to be in Philadelphia, awaiting
orders to proceed to Washington. Tho
order will be given, according to infor-
nation received by traffic authorities
as soon as negotiations are completed
for the sale to the taXicab combine OF
one Of Washington's oldest taXicab COM
panies
Brown and Roberts Hear of Plan.
Rumors of the impending upheaval in
the taxicab situation were heard by
both Inspector E. w. Brown, director
Bureau, and William A. Roberts, as
sistant corporation counsel, who, as a
member of the legal staff of the Public
Utilities Commission. has been active
in the preparation of new rules and
regulations to govern the operation of
public vehicles. Credence was given
the information because of the source.
The coming of 1000 additional cabs,
operating on a 15-Cent fiat rates cents
under the existing zone cab rates eX-
pected TO renew the taxicab rate war
which District officials sought to pre-
vent by the order requiring cabs to
- 1ofA h1r IC ~ f1c
January 10. Enforcement of the order
has been delayed, however, due TO legal
developments and the action Of Justice
Adkins of the District Supreme Court
in remanding the meter case to the
Public Utilities Commission.
Van Duzer to Curb a." Tags.
Trafic Director Van Duzer's entry
into the muddled taxicab situations was
inspired by Assistant Corporation
Counsel Roberts, who is determined to
make an issue of the use of IL" lettered
tags by taXicabs.
In letter to owners of cabs now
carrying IL" tags, Mr.. Van Duzer in
formed them that their vehicles here
after would be required to carry H"
or hackers tags unless they are to be
dispatched from a private garage for
a previously specified service" Cabs
stationed at parking concessions around
hotels now carry IL" tags. These We
hicles are not supposed to pick up fares
on the street. Vehicles using H tags
are not permitted to use the hotel
parking spaces but are required to park
on public hack stands.
Would End Parking Monopoly.
The effect CT Mr.. Van Duzer's order
1t was said, will be to open UP hotel
parking stands to all taxicab COM
panieS and to end the monopoly which
one concern has enjoyed for many
years.
The plan Of Mr.. Van Duzer is to
issue IL" tags only TO motor BUSES and
vehicles engaged in a sightseeing or
hourly service contract business.
ANY person desiring Il tags, except
for buses" said Mr.. Van Duzer, must
under oath. give a statement that the
service to be performed is exclusively
a livery service under which the We
hicle is dispatched from a private
garage for a previously specified and
agreed service under terms and con-
ditionS established prior to such trans
portation.
These vehicles do not use public
hack stands and do not accept pas
sengers otherwise than Specif1ed-that
the vehicles are used exclusively in
contract carriage in the nature of a
sightseeing service on hourly rates, and
that the vehicle is not employed in an
ordinary taxi or hacking business"
Independents Oppose Fee.
The exclusive taxicab parking con-
cessionS around hotels long has been
a target of criticism. chiefly by the
Independent taxi operators. The United
States Bureau of Efficiency also con-
demned the practice several years ago
in special report to the District COM
missionerS based on an exhaustive sur
vey by its experts of taxicab parking
conditions. The bureau was particular
ly bitter in its condemnation Of the
action Of the hotels in charging the
taxi company a fee for an exclusive
parking privilege on the public streets