Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-29
ROBERTS DEMANDS
COMMISSION CALL
TAXI RATE HEARING
Urges Public Utilities Body
to Anticipate Passage
of Regulatory Bill.
ELGEN FAV0RS DELAY
UNTIL CONGRESS ACTS
Peoples Counsel, However, Points
Out Cab Licenses Will
Expire June 80.

Demand for a public hearing early
in June on uniform rates of fare and
uniform zones for taxicabs was filed
with the Public Utilities Commission
today by Peoples Counsel Roberts.
A legislative provision written into
the 1886 District budget act. now in
the hands Of Senate and House con-
ferees. gives the commission power to
require uniform zones and rates. Rob-
erts advised the commission TO antic1-
pate enactment Of the bill, with this
provision as it now stands, and to pro-
coed to make an investigation and to
hold a hearing on the taxi problem.
Chairman Riley E. Eleen of the
commission said that body would
withhold action until Congress COM
pleted its work on the bill. He raised
the question Of the proprlcty OF the
commissions starting an official action
before Congress had enacted the nee
essary legislation.
Licenses Expire June 80.
It has been understood the commits
sion would make an investigation and
hold a hearing before it acted on uni
form zones and rates. Roberts made
the argument that taxicab licenses
will expire June 80 and that the COM
mission should decide on the uniform
zones and rates before the new
licenses are issued.
Elgen said that presented no prob
lem. because a number Of steps could
be taken to preserve the powers of
the commission if the bill is not
enacted in time for the question to
be settled before July !. 1t was suC-
cested that temporary permits might
be issued, that the 1886 licenses might
be delayed, or that some other means
could be found to insure obedience to
whatever rule is issued by the COM
mission.
Roberts explained that the District
Court OF Appeals had held uniform
zones to be discriminatory but commits
sion officials are convinced this would
be changed If Congress passes he
pending proposal.
Data on Cabs Suggested.
Roberts asked the commission to
collect data on the number of cabs
anu 1lNCllSCO - AAIC wv lt OH y Va
each cab. the assets and bylaws of
each taxi association, and the earn
ings of the various drivers and COM
panies.
Although learning that 10 individual
taXicab operators have taken steps
to raise their rates in anticipation of
the thousands of visitors who will be
here for the Shrine convention, Off
cials of four of the larger companies
declared today they plan no boost.
The 10 operators, who have only
( 10 cabs, filed with the Public Utili-
/ ties Commission during the past week
/ schedules calling for increased rates.
/ A Today period must elapSe before
/ has now no authority over charges
/ except to require posting of the rates.
Four Keep Present Rates.
| Whether the 20 operators proposed
! TO keep their higher rates in effect
permanently is not known by the
commission.
/ The managers CT four of the larger
/ companies and associations, when
questioned as TO their stand. insisted
| they had no Intention of following
suit.
I'VE have considered no change in
rates during the convention" one of
them said. That would be too much
like profiteering on the Shrine Wis
| itors."
Some of the 10 operators OF single
| cabs propose to increase their zone
rates from 20-4O-6O-80 cents to $3.50
95-sl.l0 and others are adopting me
tered operations. according to data on
| file at the commission.