Evening star., 1933-02-05

After the comDfaDl0n had passed m
order requiring the installation Of
meters, the rates to be IS cents for the
nrSt miles and cents for each add
tional one-third mile, the City Cab Cor
poration and the Bell Cab Co. appealed
to the District Supreme Court. After
exhaustive hesrinGs, Justice Jesse C.
Adkins, on March ~. 1882, rendered an
opinion a6kming the commtsdon's Or
der.
Before It could be put into effect,
however, the Blanton rider was adopted
and the commission frustrated In its
effort to compel the installation Of the
meters.
When the dispute over the meter or
DER was taken to court the City and
Bell cab companies were joined by Peo-
pies Counsel Richmond B. Keech and
George Sullivan. representing the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations, In op-
posing tts approval.
Those favoring the zone system were
agreed on four general arguments In its
favor:
l: It affords lower transportation
costs to the public
2. Taxicab passengers know In ad-
vance the fare they will be required to
3. There Is less likelihood under the
zone system Of an overcharge to strane-
ers in the city.
4. The installation of the meter sys-
tenn would throw considerable number
OF men out Of work.
Meter System Advocates,
In addition to Justice Adkins and the
Public Utilities Commission, the meter
system Is favored by the Yellow Cab Co.
many Of the Diamond Cab drivers and
an undetermined number of the tnde-
pendents They have advanced the fol-
lowing arguments In support Of the
meter:
!. The present zone system Is dis-
criminatory and it IL not possible to de-
wise non-discriminatory zone system
In the District.
2. The zone rates are unreasonably
low and in many instances are below
cost The earnings Of the entire tn
dustry are inadequate If fair wages are
to be paid to the drivers.
8. The zone rate Is possible only
through the exploitation of rental
drivers. The rental Is paid first and
the driver compelled to work unrea-
sonably long hours for insufficient earn.
ings.
4. The owner-drivers are compelled
by competition to adopt the same sys-
TEN and to work the same long hours.
In many cases they are losing money.
5. The long hours will seriously i'm
pair the efficiency Of the drivers and
endanger the public Serious accidents
are likely to occur as q result
6. The system increases cruising In
congested areas, causes drivers to re-
fuse Improbable haulS and causes
frauds and disputes.
T. The additional income from the
meter system would make it possible
Tor drivers and owners to pay for La
bility insurance, thereby ahording
greater protection to the public.
3. The installation Of the meters, II
the l2-hour working day u enforced,
will not materially reduce the number
Of drivers employed. Those eliminated
will be part.time drivers, reckless
drivers and others not considered de-
sirable by the operating companies.
Regardless Of whether these areu-
ments make out q good case for the
meter, 1t is agreed by virtually all Of
the parties that the present zone rates
cannot continue long in existence.
Leses Cents . Mile.
One Of the leading companies has
estimated 1t loses cents for each mile
20.O00. Unless there is some improve
ment in conditions, either an increase
of zone rates or the compulsory install
lation Of meters, this concern expects
to 20 out of business after the Inaugu-
ration. All of its cabs will be junked
and some 400 drivers thrown out Of
work
The Public Utilities Commission has
been asked Informally. although 1t has
no authority now to grant the request.
to consider increasing the zone rates
to IS, SO and IS cents, respectively.
for the three zones now generally used.
II such . schedule could be put into
effect. 1t probably would enable the
drivers to earn enough to live on with
out working excessively long hours. The
other objections to the zone system,
however, would not be removed.
And, what may be Of greater impor-
tAnce, the cloud cast over the authority
Of the commission and the courts to
regulate public utilities in the District
xr,iIl ~ 6nv dicrn1lod