Evening star., 1939-02-08
Boundary Changes
Urged in Taxicab
Rate Hearing
20-Cent Charge in Each
Zone Provided in
Livsie Plan

Zone Provided in
Livsie Plan
Opening hearing on the ques-
ton of proposed changes In taxicab
rates and zones, the Public Utilities
Commission today heard A. l..
Livsie, chairman of the Independent
Rate and Zone Committee, a group
of owners and drivers, explain this
committees proposal for changing
the boundaries of several zones,
adding so-called auxiliary" zones
and changing the system of fares.
Mr.. Livsie charged that the pres
ent zone system was inequitable to
both the public and the taxi drivers.
He claimed that the present system
of fares with charges 20 cents, 80
cents, SO cents and 10 cents for the
four zones should be changed so
that there would be 2O-cent charge
for each zone.
This would place the basic pro-
posed rates at 20, 40, 60 and 80 cents,
but would also increase the fare on
certain crossing of auxiliary zone
lines. Objections were raised to Mr..
Livsies plan by those who intimated
that 1t was designed to favor the
companies operating a telephone
system with call boxes In the outly-
ing territory. Mr.. Livsie, however,
contended his plan would not dis
criminate in this particular.
Exhibits Submitted.
A number of proposed changes in
the zones and fares were before the
commission as IA exhibits were sub
mitted at the opening. Several of
these exhibits, however, were from
those opposing any change.
The hearing was scheduled on
plea Of the taxi drivers that they
needed additional revenue to reim-
burse them for the cost of COM
pulsory taxicab liability insurance.
Mr.. Livsie, in presenting the plan
of the Independent Committee, said
he was the driver-owner of
Diamond Cab. He sumbitted two
maps in color which we're hung
on the wall at the hearing to illus
trate the difference between the pres
ent zone and fare system and the
one he proposed. His letter to the
commission submitting the plan set
forth that the petition was signed
by l,468 drivers and oWner-operators
OF various associations, companies
and individual owners,
Sees Loss of Revenue.
Asked by Chairman Riley E. Elgen
of the commission about the effect
of his plan on the income of taxi
cabs, Mr.. Livsie estimated that for
about six months he would antici-
pate loss of an estimated 10 per
cent in gross income, but he
believed that taxicab riders would
favor the plan and would bring
back the revenues eventually. Ques-
toned further by Chairman Elgen
as to the income of taxi drivers. Mr..
Livsie estimated that the average
gross receipts of taxi driver varied
from s8.75 to SO daily, provided he
really works"
Expenses, however, take so much
OF this gross, he testified, that the
average driver gets net income of
only 50 to $3.50 for a 12-hour day.
Erwin Dollar, who said he was an
independent owner and operator,
questioned Mr.. Livsie as to why the
only change made in zone ! was to
reduce its size without placing in 1t
any auxiliary zone lines.
Denies Group Would Benefit.
When he tried to get Mr.. Livsie to
admit the proposed plan then be-
fore the commission would benefit
most the cabs with telephone work
Mr.. Livsie fatty denied the intima-
ton. He said that there was large
amount of work realized by all kinds
of taxi cabs from riders who hailed
them on the street in the outlying
sections as well as in the downtown
section of zone l.
Leon Shimberg. who said he
represented Diplomat Cabs, also
questioned Mr. Livsie about zone /
and telephone work.
The most elaborate plan before the
commission which was to be dis
cussed later in the day was pre-
sented by Local Taxi Cab Drivers
Union, No. AT, which also outlined
new zones and auxiliary zones, but
differed from the first plan pre-
sented by running an auxiliary zone
line through the middle of the down.
| town section between the Capitol
and the business area. This plan
was adopted by the local headed by
Anthony Barry, president, and Ed
ward T. Kidney, secretary-treasurer.
This union is affiliated with the In
ternational Brotherhood of Team
sters, Chauffeurs. Stablemen and
Helpers, of the American Federation
of Labor
Changes Opposed.
Among the communications to the
commission which asked for no
change whatever in either zones or
fares were letters from the Mid-City
Citizens Association, the West End
Citizens Association, George A.
Martin, 1918 N street NV, and Mrs.
Kathleen Donaldson, 1899 Penn
street NE.
Another proposal from several
taxi drivers, headed by T. H. Lloyd,
would allow the zones to stay as they
are, but increase the fares to Is cents
for the first zone; IS cents for the
second, 55 for the third and Is for
the fourth.
Under authority of Congress, 1t
was explained at the hearing by
Richmond B. Keech, vice chairman,
the commission has no authority to
consider establishment of meter
system for cabs but must confine
itself to the zone system.
There were early indications that
4la1 Ia i<xl,4 Ecs,rf daNS