Evening star., 1935-06-11
Taxicabs

tCOnJlHueQ fTOm ElISt Fa&cJ
Diamond Cab and the union cab COM
panies and appealed to the press gal
lery to do q good act for the citizens
and the city's guests by publishing the
names of the cab companies that have
refused to join In conspiracy to hi
jack the city's guests. He named the
following: Bell, Blue Light, American,
City, Premier, Highland. General,
Minute and Yellow Cab Cos.
Threats of Violence.
Nichols charged that Diamond cabs
have forced other cabs into the curb
and have threatened bodily violence
to the drivers. Nichols explained that
there were only % out Of $500 taxi
cabs which can legally raise their
rates, because they had properly filed
notice 10 days previously with the
Public Utilities Commission. When
he was denouncing the taxicabs fer
boz sting the rates on the Shriners,
Representative Blanton, Democrat, of
Texas called attention that this in
Justice is also levied against some TO-
900 visitors and that outside of the
"a cabs that legally filed notice. all
other cabs are today operating lille
gally.
Representative Rankin, Democrat,
Mississippi, asked Nichols II 1t Is not
true that the Public Utilities Com
mission "is In on this conspiracy"
Nichols replied that the Public
Utilities Commission and the Com
missioners by their approval Of the
agreement yesterday have allowed the
Capitals visitors to be hijacked.
Quoting the public utility law and
regulation, Nichols emphasized that
there can be no increase in rate
schedules except on 10 days notice.
He pointed out that the only excep-
ton to the Today requirement under
the law Is In the event that any COM
pany wished to reduce its rates when
the Commissioners might agree.
Meanwhile, after conferences with
Representatives Nichols, May anc
Rankin, Representative Blanton be-
gan drafting resolution expected to
demand that the Public Utilities Com
mission rescind any order or agree
ment on the increased rates and that
it either revoke licenses or impose
fines unless the operators return tc
their posted schedule Of rates.
No Oflcial Action.
Informed of Representative Nichols
statement, Vice Chairman Keech Of
the Public Utilities Comission said his
body had taken no official action
pointing out that in its statement
yesterday it merely said it would per-
NIT filing Of rates Of 20, 40, so and SO
cents.
Accompanying this action, however
the commission tacitly agreed that
such rates would be effective immedi-
ately. Keech explained that men,
bers Of Congress are fully aware Of
the deficiencies in the present law,
which sets up a Today notice re-
quirement.
The new law governing regulation
Of taxicabs now pending in Congress
would enable the commission to ac-
tually exercise control over the mat
ters of zones and rates, Keech said.
Hohensee, who led the strike yes
terday, earlier in the day threatened
a new strike in the event the 35-cent
minimum was not reduced by Dia-
mond. and will seek to hold a confer
ence with members of the p. q. G.
present.
His strike peace plan was tossed
aside yesterday afternoon in favor OF
that proposed by Harry Davis, Dia-
mond president.
He was advised today by Chairman
Riley z. Elgin and Vice Chairman
Keech of the utilities commission ito
try to court public goodwill" by hold
ing to his 20-cent base.
Injury Is Feared.
Elgin said he thought the 35-cent
level "will hurt those who charge it,
but not those who do not charge it."
Twenty cents Is your trade mark.
When you wipe it out. you do yourself
irreparable HARM" Elgin told b. G.
Hohensee when the latter urged the
ascent minimum as a compromise.
The president Of the Cab Drivers Pro-
tectiVe Association, however, contend
ed the ascent compromise might
bring the settlement.
The p. u. C. win be empowered by
a pending law due for early passage to
set rates after public hearings, Keech
declared.
Hohensee said Representative Vir-
ginia JenckeS, Democrat. of Indiana,
9 member of the House District Com
mittee, had assured MIN Congress
would not permit the 35-cent mini
mum by the new law.
Meanwhile Diamond and Terminal
operators determined to adhere to
their new schedule.
Blue Light, Bell, Premier and City,
controlling about 1000 cabs altogether,
joined hands to retain the old rate
with the old zone boundaries.
Diamonds rates include new zon-
ing map which sets the eastern limit
Of the first zone at North Capitol
street, and raises the fare of q trip
from Union Station, where Diamond
has the concession, to downtown
Washington to so cents.
Davis said this morning:
st don't care what happens as long
as the driver is satisfied, and I think
the 35-cent minimum viii please the
driver. But we can't stay on It If the
other companies are going to charge
way below Us.