Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-09
CAB DRIVERS HEAD
ASKS HIGHER RATE;
ANOTHER OPPOSES
Present Schedule Is Below
Cost, Utilities Body
Is Told.
BELL TAXI PRESIDENT
| WANTS FARES KEPT
Advocates Limitation of Hacks to
Those Already on City's
| Streets.

Bernard L. Henning, who drove
horse hack years ago, today told the
Public Utilities Commission taxicab
operation on a 20-30-50-70 rate basis
is below cost failure" and asked
the agency to fix zone rates according
to a 20-40-60-80 schedule.
Leon Brill, president OF the Bell Cab
Association, which operates 312 hacks
argued for retention of the low basis,
and advocated limitation Of the num-
Der of operating cabs to those already
on the streets
Henning, organizer and president
of the Cab Drivers Protective As
ISOLATION, American Federation of
Labor affiliate, presented five-point
program for bringing order to the
chaotic hacking industry as the COM
mission opened the second day of
hearings, which will result in estab-
lishment by next Monday of set fares.
The red-faced, gray-haired old
time cabman said:
The fact that street cars and buses
are carrying more passengers than
ever before has proved low rates do
not induce street car riders to use the
low rate cabs.
Empties Paralyze Traffic.
THE long lines of hundreds OF
empty cabs are paralyzing traffic as
they cruise the streets in vain search
of passengers while street cars are
damned.
There is an appalling number of
accidents in which low-rate cabs fig
ure, but the high-rate hacks don't
seem to have such serious accidents.
The low-rate cabs drive so fast
and recklessly that people who or
dinarily would use taxis take to the
street cars and buses in self-defense."
Henning urged installation of fare
boxes in all cabs to prevent over
charging. and advocated abolition Of
the cab rental system in favor Of a
straight hired-driver basis. whereby
the driver would get 40 per cent of
the gross and the owner go per cent.
Chairman Elgen of the commission
protested that with the total taxi in
come now at about Ss,000.000 a year.
the 40 per cent division would limit
the average driver income to $40
year.
Henning, who drives on the 20-40-
5000 basis, said he crossed between
SIS and Sc a day, but r. w. Degar,
secretary Of the District Cab Associa-
ton, who followed the union head on
the stand, testified he crossed $795
q day on the 20-3o-50-70 schedule.
Henning called this low rate sim
pie insanity and said:
you can't say that driving man
from the Navy Yard to Decatur street
for 80 cents is anything but lunacy."
He also urged standard meter rate
of 20 cents the first mile and cents
each additional mile; prohibition of
operation on a daily or weekly basis,
and refusal to issue more hacking
licenses until business warrants.
Meter Power Defended.
He explained he believed the Com
mission has the power to regulate
meters although the 1896 appropria-
ton bill denied the use of funds for the
enforcement of a meter order.
Under guided questioning by Peoples
Counsel Roberts, Henning indicated he
thought it would be wise to issue the
meter order and take chance on its
being sustained in the courts.
Henning, as usual, found advantages
in the high rate to the driver in less
ened dead mileage" and consequent
saving on gasoline. He also contended
that the lower the rate, the lower the
tips"