The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-16
COUNCIL TO Get
TAXI MEASURE
AGAIN MONDAY
Passage of Ordinance Is
Predicted for New
Cab Proposal.

Councilman William A. Oren pre-
dicted today that the controversial
proposed taxicab ordinance prob
ably would be passed at the city
Council meeting Monday night.
The ordinance, revised and
amended by the Safety Committee,
IS to be introduced for the fifth
time. Committee members are Mr..
Orden, Silas j. Carr, chairman: Mrs.
Nanette Dowd, Ross Wallace and
John Schumacher.
Mr.. Oren said that four of the five
committee members had agreed
upon the ordinance. which would
require vote of 5 to 4 for passage.
If all council members are present.
Limits Number of Cabs
The proposed ordinance would
provide financial protection for VIC
tins Of accidents in which the cab
driver was negligent, permit more
cabs, prevent cruising, revise license
and changes fees, fix the number of
taxi stands. hours of drivers and
provide for regular inspection of
cabs.
If passed, the ordinance is to take
the place of an ordinance enacted
several years ago. At present, ap-
proXimately $50 cabs are operated
here by 10 companies Based on the
1880 population figure, this. is one
cab for approximately every 1900
persons.
The proposed ordinance would
permit one cab for every 1000 per-
sons in the city. Another section
provides that property damage in
surance must be carried on all cabs
in addition to public indemnity
required for under the present or
dinance. All companies would de-
post $500 with the City Controller
to guarantee payment for property
damage which may result from ac-
cidents due to negligence.
Policies Would Be Required
Another requirement would pro-
vide for policy payable to the city
for the benefit of persons who may
suffer personal injury or death due
to negligence in the operation of
cab. The policy would be $4,000 for
one person and $4,000 for two per-
sons.
The ordinance proposes a license
fee Of $50 for each cab. The present
lee is $500 for the first cab and $50
for each additional cab. Licenses
would expire on June 80 of each
year. Stands would be designated
by the Safety Board subject to the
Councils approval.
Another section would prohibit
cruising, Safety Committee members
say this provision would reduce the
number of cabs. Companies which
do not permit cruising are said to
favor this section, which would allow
drivers to obtain passengers only by
a telephone call or signal.
Railways Have Complained
The indianapolis Railways, Inc,
has complained to the Council sew
eral times, charging that drivers DO
tanned passengers by cruising on
streets on which street cars and
trackless trolleys were operated.
Committee members said that under
the proposed ordinance, the railway
company might prosecute drivers
violating this regulation.
The ordinance also would provide
that the city Inspector of weights
and measures and the officer in
charge of the traffic division of the
police department make periodical
inspections of cabs and meters.
Drivers would not be permitted to
operate cabs more than eight hours
within an aggregate of "a hours.
The fares would be Is cents for
the first mile and one-half and 10
cents for each additional mile up to
five and one-half miles, with max
imum fare of SIS cents for any point
within the city. Cab company Off
Gals have been quoted as saying
that 80 per cent of the trips fall
within the 25-cent rate.
Daily Record Required
Drivers also would be required to
keep a daily record of all calls,
showing the number of passengers
transported, the time and place
where the passenger was secured,
the destination, and the sex of the
passenger.
Any person violating any of the
provisions of the proposed ordi-
nance could be fined up to $100 and
imprisoned for maximum of 80
DAYS.
Thomas Tarpey, city inspector of
weights and measures, said today
that if the ordinance was passed
his office would start an inspection
of cabs and meters Immediately.