Evening star., 1942-08-25
PUG Stands PAT
Despite Threat
Of Cab Strike
Commission Decides
Not to Act Now
On Zone Orders

After reviewing its recent recon-
sideration of Its taxi sub-zone order
members of the Public Utilities
Commission today decided to stand
pat, despite threats of new strike
by cab drivers.
About the time Edwin A. Glenn,
head of the United Taxicab Drivers,
Inc, was discussing with his Board
OF Directors what to do about the
commissions action in canceling the
zone boundary hearing it had sched-
uled for Thursday, the commission
In executive session discussed
whether to make any change in its
orders and position.
Mr.. Glenn went into session with
his Board of Directors after being
notified of the PUC's decision.
Adds Nothing to Statement.
At l2:15 pm. James H. Flana-
gan, who will replace Gregory Han
kin as PUG chairman September /.
announced the commission had de-
cided:
mo further action is to be taken
at this time"
In response to questions from
reporters, he added:
THE commission has nothing to
add to Its orders and statements
already made"
Mr.. Flanagan apparently had ref
erence to the official statement the
PUG sent Chairman Randolph of
the House District Committee last
Saturday. 1t recited the actions the
commission had taken since June 20
to review its taxi zone order in
response to the committees advice
after 1t had brought about cessation
OF the June a strike In protest
against the sub-zone fare system.
In that letter the commission
asserted 1t had reconsidered the
case, had found that the evidence
supported its decision and that the
United Taxicab Drivers had advised
the PUG its request for zone changes
Gid not constitute petition" and
that thereafter a petition from the
Combined Taxicab Service, Inc, had
been withdrawn.
Yesterday. Mr.. Glenn thought he
had an appointment with the PUG
to ask them to clarity" their stand
on the question Of hearing, but it
developed during the morning the
commission had sent him letter
Saturday saying that If he would
put his request in writing the PUG
would consider whether such con-
ference would be desirable.
Assessment Question Arises.
Not receiving this letter yesterday
morning, due TO business ont OF the
city, Mr.. Glenn went To the PUG
Offices at pm. and found no COM
missioners there. Later. Mr.. Flana-
gan returned from lunch and invited
Mr.. Glenn into conference.
In the hope of preventing any
further dif1culties, Mr.. Flanagan
called his colleagues into conference
and later announced "tfe situation
would be reviewed this morning.
Mr.. Flanagan had been consider
ing whether the commission might
hold hearing without levying an
assessment against those groups
wanting zone changes, by not having
an ofncial transcript taken, or
whether an assessment should be
levied against the entire body of
taxi operators to have a hearing
with an official record.
Failed to Pay Assessment.
Plans for the Thursday hearing
were dropped after the United Taxi
cab Drivers and the Combined Cab
Service failed to pay initial $3.50
assessments for the hearing. Mr..
Glenn had written that requests of
his group for zone changes did not
constitute q petition" and there
after John n. Rover, jr.. for the
Combined group withdrew the Pc
tition he had filed. Therefore, the
PUG held, it had nothing before it
on which to act.
Before learning of the commits
sion's plan to reconsider the matter,
Mr.. Glenn declared "the integrity"
of the commission was "open to
question: adding that this applied
particularly to Commissioners Han
kin and Flanagan. They propose
a thing and then deny it. They
indulge In subterfuge," he declared.