Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-08-06
CODE TO INTENSITY
STREET CAR LOSSES
Traction Companies to Sign
Pact on Hours and Wages.
Costs Up 100000.
CONTINUED From First Page.)

NSOAShAoO0 VII : AHOS = O0N.Z
cars to work. But that is merely .
hope.
Trainmen on the traction ines-the
conductors and motormen-are now
averaging a 54-hour week The maxi
mum pay per hour is 81 cents, but the
average runs little lower, since some
of these platform men do not have a
full 54-hour schedule. The wage scale
under the industrial code, however,
would be based on the 54-hour schedule.
Labor Cost Two Millions.
The labor cost to the Capital Trac-
ton last year amounted to 81. 235 900.
For washington Railway & Electric it
was 81 ,049 900.
The Washington traction companies
will 20 in on the national code TO be
worked out by street railway executives
in all parts of the country. TINS cooe
has not yet been completed. and details
are lacking but it is reported that the
companies will seek 48 instead OF
40 hour week.
In the meantime the only taxicab
group in Washington known to be plan
ming to adopt a code is the Diamonds
independents, who own their own cabs
but are affiliated in a protective or
ganization called the Independent TAXI
owners Association.
The great mass of cabs, however,
operated by men who rent them by
the day are not expected to go on
code There is nothing in the RecoV-
erv Administration blanket code to
affect them. it was said, since the driv-
ers are working for no one but them
selves.
Drivers Work 80 Hours.
On the other hand, a 40-hour week
| code would Just about ruin these CAP
drivers Most of them are now merely
eeking out an existence working on an
average of 80 hours a week.
Reliable statistics, compiled by utility
experts who made a comprehensive
ANALYSIS of Washington's distressed
taxicab industry, show that the aver
age driver, is earning about 81 cents
an hour-l5 cents constituting the fee
| and IL cents the tips. This is the gross
income. Out of it must be paid the
rental fee on the cab, which ranges
from 81 so to So for II hours, depend
ing on the service furnished by the firm
which rents the vehicle. For So the
driver gets gasoline, oil and repairs
free. The man who rents Sl.5O CAB
must furnish his own fuel and pay Tor
repairs.
In spite Of the very meager income,
! the cabs have flourished in Washing
| ton Estimates show there was an
average of 1854 operating in the Dis
| trict throughout 1882, and that they
took in about 100000 in revenue, a
major portion of which formerly went
into the Golfers Of the street car COM
| panies. In other words, the money
which went to the taxi drivers amounted
| to more than one-half of the public
transportation revnue, although the
business is being carried on at los,
if figured on basis of wages to drivers
and protection to patrons comparable
with that paid by the mass Transports
ton carriers.
Depression Big Factor.
| The present taxicab situation IS due,
In large way to the general depression
and the willingness Of the drivers to
| work for so little pay as an alternative
to no work and no pay. This condi-
ton has been encouraged by the plan
| of association managers in renting, or
/ selling cars to drivers on daily pay
ment basis, under which the operator
pays for the whole vehicle in about a
year or less.
Public utility officials, however, feel
that the industrial recovery program
may automatically solve the taxicab
| problem, as many Of the men, now driv-
ing cabs on starvation income, will
return to their former fields of en-
ploynent as Jobs open up as result
Of application of the industrial codes.
| The Diamond drivers, who constitute
the Target organized group. have in
dicated, by their move to come under
the industrial code, determination to
stick in the business. A 40-hour week
will trim their incomes substantially.
but, it is said they expect a material
{ increase in business under the Blue
Eagle" to make up the losses from a
shorter work day. Like the traction
companies, the Diamonds will depend
on patriotic support, hoping to get some
of the business now going to other in
dependent operators who do not come
under the code.
Increased fares may be adopted, but
that question now is too far in the
background to provoke any comment
from taxi operators. The 20-cent zonc
rates, it was said, will be continued
until 1t is definitely learned whether the
drivers can make a living wage on a
40-hour week schedule.
In this respect the taxi operators
have taken the same position as the car
companies. Even though expenses will
mount under the code, the traction
companies realize that Washington will
not take to higher fare without i'm
proved service, and this will not come
until consummation Of the merger.