Evening star., 1935-07-23
CAB ZONE RATES
Of % TO 70 CENTS
FIXED IN DISTRICT
Charge of Dime Extra for
Over Two Passengers
Is Permitted.
EXCESSIVE LUGGAGE
FEE ALSO GRANTED
Union Drivers Immediately Pro-
test, Claim Fares Should Run
Up to 80 Cents on Zone Plan.

The Public Utilities Commission to-
day handed down its decision in the
taxicab rate controversy, fixing a 20-to-
7O-cent zone charge schedule with
some new supplementary charges. and
Immediately drew a challenge from
union drivers, who want 20-80.
The commission order, issued after
two weeks study of contradictory
mass of evidence taken at public hear
ings, is to be effective tonight at mid
night. 1t calls for charges Of 20. 30,
so and 70 cents in the present con-
ference zones.
Just a few minutes after the COM
mission made known its order Adolphe
HohenSee, business representative OF
the Cab Drivers Protective Union. de-
cIared taxi drivers will not work
under a scale of charges that will give
them only SIS a week" Hohensee
plans to call the union men into a
protest meeting at Typographical
Temple Monday night.
The commissions decision is de-
signed to place into use the zone rate
system followed by most of the taxi
cabs. ACCORDING to testimony taken at
the hearing. Hohensee contended for
adoption OF a 2O-4O-6O-8O scale. which
has been followed by some of the op-
orators.
Control Steps Sought.
The commission indicated in its
n
cision is but a first step in its efforts
to gain satisfactory control over the
taxicab industry. Riley E. Elgen,
commission chairman, announced that
the commission is considering an ap-
peal to Congress to give the regulatory
body power to limit the number of
cabs which may operate in Washing
ton; to require taxi operators to pro-
vide financial responsibility; to control
or abolish the rental system, under
which cab drivers now obtain ma
chimes for their business, and to gain
control over taXicab associations and
require them to keep books and record
on their business SO that the commits
sion will know the details of their
operation.
The commissions statement merely
said:
1T is the purpose of the commits
sion to request of Congress at the next
session legislation vesting the COM
mission with authority to regulate the
taxicab industry fully"
Chairman Elgen said the commits
sion did not contemplate asking Con-
gress to allow the commission to re-
quire meters.
Congress already has spoken on
that question, said Elgen.
Two years ago, previous commits
sion ordered the metering of all cabs.
This was appealed to court and the
commissions order finally was sus-
tanned there. But, meantime, Con-
gress forbade the commission to use
its appropriation to enforce the order,
and therefore, the Court of Appeals
said the commission could not do SO.
New Ban Set Up.
Congress at this session attached
further rider" to the appropriation
bill decreeing that the commission
could not use its appropriation for the
licensing of taxicabs this fiscal year
except under uniform rate and zone
order which the commission was to
issue.
In addition to fixing the rates at
2O-30-5O-7O cents for the confer
ence zones, the commission set up a
scale for additional charges.
These are: For personal services to
passengers, 25 cents; for each trunk,
so cents; for hand baggage, in excess
of two pieces, 10 cents each; waiting
time. 10 cents for each five minutes;
for passengers in excess of two, 10
cents for each passenger per trip;
for each stop over five blocks off the
direct route, 20 cents; for each stop
on the direct route, or for each one
less than five blocks of the direct
(See CABS, Page 81