Evening star., 1942-01-11
Dime Cab Pickup Service
Over Regular Routes Proposed
Honkin Suggests Ideo as House Group
Studies Transportation Of War Workers

A special service that would en-
able Government war workers to
taxi to and from work for q dime
was suggested yesterday as Wash
ington's taxicab operators and Dis
trict ofncials sought for methods Of
increasing efficiency Of the taxi
system to meet emergency condi-
tions.
The double -barreled problem
involving rapidly growing needs for
improved public transportation IA
cilities here and necessity for cab
owners to establish their service as
an essential public utility in order
to get tires or be forced out of busi-
ness-was aired before the House
District Committee.
Chairman Gregory Hankin Of the
District Public Utilities Commis-
sion disclosed that he is working
on a plan for a "10-cent pickup"
service but asked the committee not
to question him about details at
this time.
Patterned on World War Service.
His idea was reported. however, to
be patterned after the so-called
"jitney" service operated in WASH
ington during the first World War.
The "jitneys" were privately owned
cars that operated over prescribed
routes, with a scent fare.
Under the "10-cent pickup" plan
taxicabs also would run over a
regular route, but the fare would
be a dime instead Of nickel. Like
street cars and buses, the cabs
would pick up passengers along
their route as long as they had
room.
The general principles Of the
proposal found favor among the
taxicab operators. although their
spokesmen insisted such q service
should be confined to rush hours
and that it would be necessary for
some taxis always to be available
for routine operation-like answer
ing calls from isolated neighbor-
hoods and taking people to hospi-
| tails.
John H. Roger, jr.. president OF
the District Association OF Taxicab
Owners, whose 10 member compa-
nies operate $500 Of the 5000 cabs
here, said he had heard no discus
sion of the dime pickup plan in
particular. but that the whole cab
industry is eager to do anything 1t
can to increase its passenger-car-
rying capacity"
Willing to Cooperate.
1--WE have assured Mr.. Hankin,
he said in an interview, that we are
perfectly willing to operate In what
ever manner may be found fair and
most efficient.
Mr.. Roger withheld comment on
the specific price per person thai
might be involved, but indicated he
believed some sort of "jitney" serv-
ice or operation over scheduled
routes would be worked out.
There is no thought that this
service would operate except in the
morning and evening rush hours.
he said. Whatever such system is
established should be on an emer-
gency basis, too. reverting to normal
procedure when the emergency L
over"
He added that whether any
specific price could be set would
depend on the nature Of the service
established, pointing out that q
small, set fare might be practicable
for operation over definitely
scheduled route but would not be
fair If a cab would be expected tt
take one of q group Of passenger
to the War Department. another t<
the Capitol and another to George.
| town.
Association Holds Meetings.
He emphasized that any plar
adopted should leave an adequate
number of taxis free to answer tele-
phone calls. "Taxicabs take more
people to hospitals than ambulances
| do in WashIngton-and that is just
one phase of this problem" he said
The association he heads has beer
requested to work out its ideas o1
what the emergency program should
involve, Mr.. Roger said, and is hav-
ing frequent meetings in an effort
to draw up a detailed plan. The Dia-
mond, Yellow, Premier, Bell, Ameri.
can, Arrow. Washington, Checker
Federal and Blue Light cab COM
panies are represented in the asso.
citation.
This whole discussion will be use.
less, though-we will be out Of bust
ness-if the o. p. A. and o. p. M
do not see fit to give US priority fol
tires" Mr.. Roger commented rue.
fully.
Mr.. Hankin made clear at thl
District Committee hearing that hi.
40 cent pickup" plan was merely
part Of general program for i'm
proving the Capitals wartime mas
transportation service.
Taxicabs, he pointed out, already
are an integral part Of the mas
transportation system. A commits.
sion check December l6, he ex'
planned, showed taxicabs that da,
carried $4,000 passengers, or Is pei
cent Of the 1000, 900 carried b.
streetcars and buses.
The committee had before It q