Evening star., 1939-02-09
City Cabs Poll
On Rate Boost
Questioned
Former Official of
Association Rups
Method Used

Dispute over the validity" of a
petition signed by ITO drivers of
the City Cab Association opposing
any increase in taxi rates arose
before the Public Utilities Commits
sion today as it continued public
hearings on a variety of proposals
for higher rates and changes in zone
boundaries.
Controversy resulted from testi-
mony by Stephen j. Bachman,
president of the City Cab Associa-
ton, to show that ITO of the 200
members of the association opposed
increased rates and that the great
majority of 2,34l City Cab patrons
likewise opposed either higher rates
or changes in zone boundaries.
A challenge Immediately came
from Arthur S. Harder, who said
he formerly was an officer of the
City Cab Association. He demanded
to know why the City Cab Associa-
ton had passed a petition among
its drivers instead of having the
question debated and voted on at
an open meeting He undertook to
cross examine Mr. Bachman as to
whether there was a tie-up between
owners of the association and COM
panies which financed the sale of
cabs to its drivers and with a COM
pany which is handling their COM
pulsory liability insurance.
Validity Challenged.
Mr. Bachman declared his COM
pany had no rental" cabs and re-
fused to be questioned about cab
purchases and insurance and then
declared, Il am not on trial"
Commission Vice Chairman Rich
mond B. Keech asked Mr.. Harder if
he was challenging the validity Of
the City Cab drivers petition. And
when the latter said emphatically,
Il am" Mr. Keech told him he
would be allowed to present any
witnesses or evidence he had later.
Mr.. Bachman's report on a ques-
tionnaire given to City Cab patrons
showed that 2065 had opposed an
increase in rates and that but 276
approved higher fares. He reported
that 1929 voted against changes in
zones and that 4l2 requested
changes.
A. S. LenoX, chief sponsor of one
Of the plans for increased rates and
zone boundary changes. argued that
the Bachman cab-rider question:
naire results did not agree with
sentiment for an increase in rates
he said had been expressed by citi-
ZenS' association leaders.
Urges Zone Changes.
Harry S. Wender, speaking for the
Southwest Citizens Association, op-
posed any increase in rates but
urged the commission to make
changes in zone boundaries which
would call for higher fares within
various zones as now in effect. He
suggested especially a division of
zone l, which would call for a 10
cent increase in a ride from down.
town buildings to Union Station.
Mr. Wender also insisted the num-
ber of licensed cabs should be re-
duced and argued that provision of
many more cab stands in congested
areas would reduce the traffic
problem.
Proposals that the Utilities Com
mission be given full power to regu-
late the taxi industry and to limit
the number of cabs were indorsed
by Wilbur La Roe. jr., who appeared
for the Civic Affairs Committee,
Washington Federation of Churches.
He said.
Street congestion. caused in part
by cruising taXicabs. and accom-
panied by drunken driving, hit-run
driving and other aspects of diff
flcult traffic problem, has made our
streets almost unsafe
He argued that in other fields of
transportation it is recognized a
person does not have right to en-
gage in public transportation merely
because he wants to, but that Ger
tifcate of convenience and necessity
is required.
DCCldIcS I1OuTS lOU LOHS.
Mr.. La Roe said many drivers are
in half starved condition and are
compelled to work many more hours
than it is safe for them to work
because of fatigue, but said he felt
that proper regulation was more
important than the immediate ques-
ton of rates of fare.
Four different formal proposals
are before the commission, and sew
eral new suggestions bobbed up at
yesterdays session of the hearing
While views of various groups were
conflicting as to zone boundaries
and rate schedules, the drivers all
sought increased revenues they
claimed were needed due to the
cost of compulsory taxi liability in
surance.
Substantial support also was given
to requests by some speakers for
enactment of the bill to empower
the commission to reduce gradu-
ally the number of taXicabs licensed
by the District as permits are VOL
unfairly surrendered or revoked for
cause.
Yelled Threat of Strike.
A yelled threat of strike if the
commission should refuse to grant
a rate increase came yesterday from
one witness, Albert Marcus, Fed
eral Cab Association member.
William Nick. Clayton, represent
ing the Federation of Citizens As
sociation, recalled that that body
had promised to help the taxi driv-
ers obtain an increase in rates, pro-
vided it was justified by the addi-