The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-01
GTY'S ORPHAN
TAXI ORDINANCE
STILL is LOST
Proposed Drastic Cab Act
Never Introduced in
Council Session.


drastic taxicab ordinance ever
drawn. TO control the number and
conditions under which cabs could
operate in the city Of Indianapolis,
is becoming an increasing mystery
at the city hall.
A few months ago. Ernest E.
Ropkey. president Of the city coun-
Gil, before the ordinance would be
present for passage, spent con-
siderable time around city hall at
tempting to find a sponsor for it.
The ordinance drawn at the in
sistence Of certain city officials, by
James E. Deery, city attorney, was
refused by the safety board, works
board, legal department and city con-
troller. None were opposed TO pro-
visions contained in it, they stated
at the time, but they were not IN
a position to sponsor the ordinance"
Deery was on his vacation at the
time having just completed the
drawing of the ordinance after max
ing a survey of taXicab ordinances
Of twenty-eight leading cities in the
country.
Frantic Search for Sponsor
Believing that the provisions Of
the ordinance were being awaited
anxiously by members Of the coun-
Gil and the mayor Mr.. Deery mailed
the proposed ordinance to Mr..
Ropkey.
Upon its receipt, Mr.. Ropkey be-
gan his tour of city hall attempting
to obtain a sponsor He finally
called upon Mayor Reginald H Sui
Ivan and after that conference,
nothing more was heard of the pro-
posed ordinance. 1t is known, how
ever. that copies we're sent to Henry
o. Goett, city clerk, who in turn
would see that they were placed in
the hands Of councilmen and news
paper men upon its introduction for
passage.
1t never has been introduced.
That the city is Overcrowded with
cabs that are a nuisance to drivers
Of pleasure cars and commercial We
hicles long has been a contention
of various civic and business or
CARNATIONS of the city. Numerous
complaints have been received re-
garding the cruisers"
Provisions of the proposed ordi-
nance as sent to the city clerk to
await Introduction include:
Traffic Hazards Increased
The business of operating taxi
cabs upon the streets of the city of
Indianapolis is declared to be bust
ness affecting the public interest.
The rapid increase in the number
of taxicabs in the city of Indian
apolis has so increased the dangers
and hazards of travel upon the
streets of the city as to make it M
parative that more stringent regula-
tions should be employed. to the
end. that the streets may be rem
dered safer for the use of the gen.
eral public; that the congestion of
traffic on the streets may be minim-
lied, and that the use of streets for
transportation of persons for hire
may be restricted to the extent re-
quired by the necessity of the gen.
eral public
No person or corporation shall
engage in the business of operating
a taXicab, or taxicabs. upon the
streets of the city of indianapolis
without first complying with all pro-
visions Of this ordinance.
1T is hereby declared by the COM
mon council of the city of Indian
apOliS that the public convenience
and necessity can best be served by
limiting the number of taxicabs
operating in the city Of Indianapolis
to one taXiCab for each $500 of
population of said city. as shown by
the last preceding United States
census
Must Own Vehicle
The city controller was prohibited
from issuing licenses. under other
provisions of this section except in
accordance with the limitation.
Section d of the ordinance pro-
hibited The granting of license fol-
the operation of taxicabs unless
such persons or corporations shall
be the bona fide owner of such We
hicle."
Applications for licenses under
the law would have caused the ap-
phcant to deposit with the city
controller the certificate of title for
each taXicab," which would be re-
tanned by the city controller for
such period and time the vehicle is
used as a taXicab and licensed un-
der the provisions of this ordi-
nance"
Further control of the taxicabs
also was contained in a section
which provided the business OF
every licensed taxicab under the
terms of this ordinance shall be
carried on by the person or cor
poration under whose name the
bond or contract of insurance pro-