Evening star., 1937-01-13

wait for word from your committee
before going back to work"
Grievances Presented.
Headed by George A. Martin, tie
committee, composed of eight inde-
pendent operators, presented their
grievances to members Of the Utili-
ties Commission at the District Build
ing. Upward revision of rates ap-
peared to be the principal demand.
An informal petition presented to
Riley E. Elgen, chairman; Richmond
Keech, vice chairman, and James L.
Martin, executive secretary of the
utilities group, set forth six points.
They are:
ITO discuss the advisability Of a
board of control for the taxicab in
dustry, with representatives from
among men behind the wheel to be
on the board as our official delegates.
ITO provide for legislation cover
ing the collection of fares through
and with the assistance of the Police
Department.
Rates. Here's two dimes, buddy.
Do you like them? Should there be
a revision of this?
That no more public vehicle
licenses be issued after this date for
operation of taxicabs. except to indi-
viduals who have been owners of one
vehicle since 1898.
Would Recall Cards.
THAT all Identification cards now
held by any one employed by the
Government or other full-time Jobs
be recalled at once.
Should there be discrimination Of
liability insurance? II taMcabs must
have it, why not all other vehicles.
This is Of vital importance"
Keech explained the commission
could act only on the demand for ad-
justment Of rates pointing out the
other demands would have to be taken
up by Congress.
Upon presentation of formal writ
ten petition. Keech assured the dele
gates hearing would be called. Under
the law. 20 days formal notice must
be given before a public hearing on
rates can be held.
The committee told the commission
members they would explain the law
at the mass meeting this afternoon
and indicated they would return to
the District Building with a formal
petition, II that is the will Of the
drivers.
Big Units Deny Strike Spread.
Despite the insistance of leaders OF
the movement that practically every
deet owner in the city was in sympathy
with the walk-out, officials of all the
larger taxi associations denied their
operators would participate.
Fearing a repetition Of the incidents
that led to the arrest of the nine driv-
ers, Police Inspector L. !. H. Edwards
issued a special order warning officers
to be on the lookout for possible VIC.
lence or trouble"
1t was reported that the commits
sion will be asked to increase the
first-zone rate now in effect from 20
cents to either 35 or so cents.
The strikers contend the low fares
set by the commission and the large
number of cabs operating in the Dis
trict make it impossible to earn q
livelihood by driving taxi,
Although the number of cabs taken
out of service to noon could not
be definitely determined, it was not
large enough to impair transportation.
Nearly All Stands in Use.
Nearly all downtown cab stands
were in use and the number Of cruising
taxis did not appear to have dimin-
ished appreciably.
In his warning to be on the lookout
for violence, Inspector Edwards cau-
toned police to pay particular atten-
ton to taxi stands near hotels, where
large numbers of drivers usually con-
gregate.
The intention Of the independent
drivers to promote q strike has been
known to fleet operators for several
days.
Members Of the Taxicab Union. at
q meeting Monday night, formally
voted against a walkout.
At that time, Adolph Hohensee,
president of the Union Taxicab AS
sociation. declared his drivers would
"do nothing to spoil the Presidents
party" adding:
The President is the best friend
labor ever had, and we will have no
hand in q strike that would spoil his
party"
Diamond, City, Blue Light, Pre-
mier and other large associations were
among those which reported their
drivers did not intend to join the
cfyikarS