The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-14
MAYOR GIVES
HIS ATTITUDE
ON TAXI ISSUE
Proposed Ordinance Mainly
Old Laws Codified, He
Tells Council.
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opinion and in the opinion of the
corporation counsel, difficult to coll
lect unless the city furnished some
inspection as a legal justification for
the charging of fees. He also OK
planned to me that there were other
loopholes in the ordinances i'm
posing license fees upon taxicabs
which might be done away with by
modifying to slight extent the pro-
visions of existing ordinances ap-
plying to the imposition of license
fees upon taxicabs.
In view of the facts stated by
him, and my understanding of the
legal problems involved, I agreed
with him that it would be advisable
to amend the existing regulatory
ordinances covering taXicabs by in
creasing TO a small extent the license
fees, by providing for certain in
Spections as to meters and the cabs
themselves, and otherwise taking
steps to guarantee to the city the
collection in full Of the taXicab Ii
cense fees for the ensuing year.
Qualification Is Decided On
mo mention was made during
this conversation of any general Or
dinances regulating taXicabs with
in the city or Of any changes in the
existing ordinances other than those
specifically dealing with the license
problem. The next information
coming to me concerning this mat
ter was when I read in the press
that a general ordinance had been
introduced regulating the taxicab
industry in its entirety.
Upon checking Immediately with
Mr.. Boetcher and with Judge James
E. Deery, corporation counsel, I
found that the following develop
mentS had taken place: When Mr.
Boetcher talked with the corpora
ton counsel with regard t. the pro-
posed amendment which ne had in
mind, Judge Deery informed Mi
Boetcher that there had been a
great many ordinances and amend
ments thereto passed from time to
time in the past regulating the tax
icab industry, and in view of the
fact that there had been no codi
fication Of city ordinances since
1925, the ordinances upon this sub
ject, as upon most subjects were in
great confusion, and it would be
advisable from the standpoint Of the
legal department for a codification
to be made of all the existing ordi-
nances and amendments thereto
upon the subject, embodying the
amendment proposed by Mr.. Boetch-
er, so that the whole matter of taxi
cab regulations would appear to-
gether under one ordinance.
Pursuance Section Is Added
"Thereupon, each codifying ordi-
nance was prepared by the corpo-
ration counsel embodying the
amendment proposed by the con-
troller'S office and also embodying
the provision that taXicabs oper-
ating in Indianapolis must carry
property damage insurance to the
extent of $1,000, and a schedule of
rates which was inserted at the re-
quest of most of the taxicab COM
panieS themselves.
Therefore, it is apparent that the
much discussed proposed ordinance
which is now pending before you is
merely a restatement of ordinances
passed from time to time and
amended from time to time under
previous administrations, and that
the only feature of the same which
originated under this administration
is that small part which had to do
with license fees, inspection Serv-
ices to be rendered by the city, and
with regard to the property dam
age insurance policy above men
toned; therefore, it is equally appar-
ent that only that part having to do
with such license fees, inspection
and insurance represents the ideas
in any way of this administration.
Asks Public Interests Be Served
Although I did not know that
any proposed ordinance Codifying
the existing ordinances and amend
mentS regulating taXiCabS was to be
submitted to your body, I neverthe-
elss feel that it will perhaps be bene-
fetal to have all of the existing
regulations of this industry brought
before your attention, so that the
whole matter may at this time be
gone into, and 1 hope before the
appropriate committee. and within
the Council as a whole, the ordi-
nance will be considered not as eX-
pressing the ideas of this admins
tration, except as applying to the
features of licensing, inspection and
insurance, but presenting a problem
which you will consider only from
the standpoint of how best to pro-
tect and safeguard the interests OF
the travelling public, the industry it
self. the general traffic conditions
of Indianapolis, and the license fee
receipts of the city, and you will, of
course. rewrite by amendments this
ordinance if you feel such amend
ments are necessary to accomplish
these purposes"