Evening star., 1933-02-15
TAX|S ATTACKED
AND DEFENDED IN
SERIES OF T|LTS
Utilities Commission De-
ScribeS Conditions as
, Chaotic.
CONTENTION is ABSURD,
KEECH'S BRIEF ASSERTS
Big Companies Trying to Drive Out
Smaller Ones, Boylan Tells
House.

x4OuSCs
A furry Of exchanges on the taxicab
situation in Washington burst late yes
terday in several quarters These in
cluded statement by the Public Util-
tiles Commission, describing present
conditions as chaotic" brief filed in
the Court Of Appeals by Peoples Coun-
sci Richmond B. Keech denying 1t was
chaotic and a speech in the House by
Representative Holiday, Republican of
Illinois, in opposition to compelling the
taxicab operators to take out liability
insurance.
The commissions statement blamed
conditions on those who have blocked
the commission in its efforts to bring
order out of chaos" Nobody was named,
but the reference obviously was to Mr..
Keech, who has been the bete noir of
the commission in its efforts to get
rental cabs off the street and replace
them with meter cabs, and to the House
of Representatives. The House last
year by unanimous vote, wrote into the
District appropriation bill legislative
provision prohibiting the commission
from spending appropriated funds for
issuing any orders compelling the in
stallation of meters in cabs.
Cites 5000 Accidents.
The commissions statement points
out that last year there were approx
mately 5000 traffic accidents on the
streets, and that an average of 10 per-
sons per month were killed therein,
lowing to congestion of the streets"
taxicabS were responsible for all or any
Of these accidents.
Mr.. .Keech, in his brief, said "the alb
surdity Of such contention (that
present conditions are chaotic) Is best
manifest by the fact there are millions
in excess of those who formerly made
use OF the cabs now riding, plus the
further fact that an overwhelming ma
Jority of operators and owners are more
than willing to continue under the
present system of operation"
The text of the commissions state
ment follows:
''The Public Utilities Commission,
after a lengthy public hearing, and
based upon sworn testimony, issued an
order requiring taxicabs to be equipp I'd
with taximeters. It believed then az
believes now that this was a prop r
order and for the best interests of a
concerned.
Upheld BY Court.
1.-THE validity of this order and every
finding of fact Of the commission was
upheld by the Supreme Court of the
District Of Columbia, which stated in
so many words that the present zone,
rental cab system (these are insepara-
ble) was unjuStly discriminatory and
was an exploitation Of labor on the
part Of these rental cab agencies. In
view Of this pronouncement Of the court,
the commission cannot establish zones
or zone rates.
"In 1882, owing to the congestion in
the streets, there were approximately
5000 traffic accidents, an average Of
nearly 10 people were killed each month,
great property damage. The commits
sion has consistently sought authority
to require financial responsibility on the
part of the owners and operators of
taxicabs, the court having held that 1t
was without such authority, but has
been unsuccessful, the Congress from
whichsuch authority must be obtained
having failed to act upon the commits
sion's Recommendation.
1.-The commission considers the pres
ent taxicab situation, unregulated, with
the resulting congestion and accident
record, most deplorable and one which
for it, however, must rest SQuarely upon
those who have blocked the commission
in its efforts to bring order out OF
chaos"
Questions All Facts.
The brief filed by Mr.. Keech was as
intervenor in the case initiated by the
City and Bell Cab companies when they
appealed from the order of the commits
sion requiring them to install meters
in their cabs In 49 printed pages he
finds fault with all Of the findings OF
fact on which the commission based its
order" The question for the court to
determine, he concluded, was whether
the commission had authority as mat
ter of law to issue the order and wheth-
er the order, if based on legal powers,
is reasonable.
The taxicab situation was discussed
In the House again late yesterday and
demands made for Stricter regulation OF
the cabs as well as compulsory liability
insurance.
A meter instead of zone rate was
advocated by Representative Boylan,
Democrat, Of New York, who pointed
out it would result in giving the drivers
a living wage and improved working
conditions.
1.-The majority of the cab owners"
Mr.. Boylan declared, would not oppose
the compulsory insurance if they are
given a rate of fare that will enable
them to pay for it. But to impose
this insurance on the cab own
ers without giving them the
meter rates, their only possibility Of
paying for it, simply will result In driv-
ing the Independent owner out of busi-
ness and leaving the taxicab field to
the well-financed companies that can
get this insurance by blanket coverage
at lower cost, and who, with the bulk
of the independents out OF the way,
can then set their own zone rates"
Representative Holiday declared If
the cabs are required to be equipped
with meters, at will mean that thou
sand or so independent operators, for
the most part ex-service men, Will be
put out of business"
He said the Public Utilities Com
mission could regulate the taxicabs
without ordering the installation OF
3meters, but it had not tried very hard
TO do So