Evening star., 1942-06-02
Rail, Air Terminals
Question Powers Of
Utilities Commission
Assert Full Rights
To Exclude Cubs From
Pickup Service

Spokesman for the Civil Aeronau-
tics Authority, as operators of the
Washington National Airport. and
representatives of the Washington
Terminal Station today challenged
the power of the District Public
Utilities Commission to issue any
order affecting operations at these
transportation service PLACES.
Declarations to this effect were
made at the opening session today
of the public hearing called by the
PUG to determine whether the
commissions emergency taXicab
pickup service order conflicts with
contractual obligations between taxi
companies or associations (notably
the Diamond Cab Coz and the rail-
way terminal, the airport and vari-
Gus hotels, apartment houses and
other places.
Representatives of Wardman Park
Hotel, the Westchester Apartments,
and other places were prepared to
testify as to the need for assured
taxi service, which they feel might
be adversely affected by require
ment by the P. U. c. that all Wash
ington taxicabs must be used in
the morning and evening rush hour
pickup service.
Will Study Concessions.
The commission plans to consider
whether the public is adequately
served by taxicabs at places of con-
cession, and whether it is in the
public interest that exclusive ar
rangements for such places should
be permitted.
Chairman Gregory Hankin called
as the first witness L. J. Rosenwald,
chief of the Bureau of Industrial
Conservation of the War Production
Board, who has been coming to
Washington frequently by train.
He testified that there were many
occasions when there was large
number OF persons at Union Station
awaiting cabs and that cabs were
few.
Diamond Cabs have the station
concession. Mr.. Rosenwald said
that more than once" other cabs,
bringing passengers to the station,
had refused to take him away from
sion rule
George E. Hamilton. jr., represent
ing Washington Terminal, said he
had appeared to answer questions
but that this did not mean the
terminal corporation recognized
that the PUG had any jurisdiction
which would permit it to issue any
order to the terminal.
Says Concession Is Necessary.
Much the same position was taken
by Douglas D. Crystal, representing
the CAA and the Commerce De-
partment, who explained that Con-
gress has passed legislation to au-
thoriZe the CAA to enter into
any lease or contract essential to op-
erations of the airport. He added
there was no streetcar service to
the airport, that bus service was in
adequate, and that an exclusive
cab concession was necessary.
D. w. Weaver, representing the
owners of Wardman Park Hotel, ar
gued that the place was isolated"
and had to depend in part on cab
service.
John J. Wilson, representing op-
orators of Diamond cabs, insisted
that the commission should give no
tice and later grant a hearing on
arguments made by the group in
fighting its inclusion in the pickup
service. He brought out that in
addition to the Union Station con-
cession, the Diamond operators
have charge accounts for special
service to trainmen of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, employees of the Cap
ital Transit Co.. for emergency serv-
ice; the British Air Commission,
Australian and Canadian Legations,
Sibley Hospital, Veterans Admins
tration and newspapers.