Evening star., 1935-07-27
UNION CABDR|VERS
PICKET OFFICE OF
UTILITIES BOARD
Elgen and Keech Targets
OF Placards in Rate
Protest.
TAXI GROUPS LAWYER
PREDICTS LEGAL FIGHT
Doubts Authority to Rule on
Rates-Report of New Strike
Attempt Is Denied.

Disgruntled union cab drivers today
posted four pickets outside the Dis
trict Building in an effort to induce
the Public Utilities Commission to
amend its recent zone-rate order so
as to permit higher fares.
The drivers, each carrying red
lettered placard. paced to and fro on
the E street side of the building, re-
fusing to say anything to queationers
and silently accepting the jeers of non
union drivers who parked nearby for
their regular car inspections.
Protests of the union drivers we're
aimed specifically at Chairman Riley
E. Elgen and Commissioner Rich
mond B. Keech. but neither of the
officials knew the pickets were out
side their offices until reporters in
quiries informed them of the fact.
They declined to comment.
Posted by Hohensee.
Adolph Hohensee, business agent of
the Cab Drivers Protective Union.
who ordered the picketing. earlier in
the day had issued a statement
through the unions attorney, Carey
Z. Quinn, disclaiming any intention
Of picketing the Public Utilities Com
mission and saying the fight against
the 20-30-50-70 cent rate would be
handled through the courts.
Il don't know what cur LAWYER
said" Hohensee declared. I'm no,
responsible for that"
The pickets were instructed 10 tai
10 no one. They also we're ordered
10 continue their pacing back arr
forth until noon and then qut "a.
the day.
We are union men the businszs
agent said. We don't beIieTe z lorz
hours and ve viii make today : Ehc-1
Gay The commission sz,t Es -r-s-
SoEk y. "A, ia hours. oE- ~ tr7c
believe n such hours
To Return Monday.
He said the men would D os-r -
the Sidewalk early Moccsy s-c VIZ
continue daily pickeszrS t1 a. T.
definite period.
Police virtually ignored TIE ts-c--
Stratlon- No additional men Ezs a.
signed TO the District Building.
The four placardS each bore differ
ent statements
The taxicab drivers demand the
removal of the public utility commits
Sioners for following the orders Of the
cab-selling and cab-rentins racket
eers." declared one.
The others bore the lettering:
I'VE want real men as public utiI-
ties commissioners
Commissioners Elgen-Keech dou-
BILE crossed the cab drivers"
I'VE demand decent rate Fair to
the public. Fair to the cab driver"
Kidded by Others.
Non-union drivers were loud in their
comment on the demonstration.
Who's going to buy you shoes?"
they called. Raucous laughter replied
Where's your business agent? Why
doesn't he walk" they demanded.
But the drivers pulling in for inspec-
ton were ordered to move on as soon
as the ofhcial check-up was completed
They were not allowed to remain long
er than necessary.
The statement issued for Hohensee
earlier by Attorney Quinn said:
Just now we plan to conduct legal
survey of the cab rate situation and
go into all angles of it. We do not be-
lieve the Public Utilities Commission
has the right to fix tax; rates, anyhow.
we are going to thresh the matter
out in an orderly, legal fashion"
Quinn sought to quiet reports that
another cab drivers strike was in the
ofhng.