Evening star., 1942-06-27
Taxi Drivers Denounce
Hankin Charges Of
Criminal Element
PUG Chairman Asked
In Statement if He
Understands Own Rates

Edwin A. Glenn, president of
United Taxicab Drivers. Inc, to-
day issued a statement denouncing
published remarks by Chairman
Gregory Hankin of the Public
Utilities Commission about GRIM
4nal element" among Washington's
taxi drivers in connection with the
strike Hast Wednesday against the
commiSsion's new rate schedule.
Mr.. Hankin was quoted as say
Ing he had heard reports some
drivers were charging either the
new or old rates, whichever hap
pened to be the higher for the
particular trip.
Mr.. Glenn said he was not sure
Mr.. Hankin himself understood the
new rate structure, citing a state
ment attributed to Mr.. Hankin in
which he said Mr.. Hankin gave
the wrong rate under his new
schedule for a designated trip which
was itself impossible because it
would have ended under the Cap
itol Building.
Glenn's Statement.
Mr.. Glenn's statement follows In
fun:
To-day the chairman of the Pub
lie Utilities Commission, Mr. Greg
ory Hankin, issued a statement to
the newspapers in which he openly
accuses the taXicab drivers of Grim
inal practices. A few days ago, this
same public servant" through the
same newspap pers, accused the taxi
cab drivers of being Axis agents,
and endeavoring to sabotage the
transportation of the Capital City
of the United States. 1 am very
much inclined to believe that the
only place where the transportation
of the District of Columbia is liable
70 sabotage is from the office of
the chairman of the Public Utilities
Commission, in the District Build
ing. AS far as the taXicab indus
try is concerned, there is no sabo-
tage there.
I'VE, the United Taxicab Drivers.
Inc, want all our members to use
either the old or the new rates,
but not both rates. We say that
if you wish to use the new rates
for a few days. to try to see if you
can use them and understand them,
do so. But you must use them
for the entire day, and not for
single trip Or. you may continue
TO use the old rates in exactly the
same manner.
Doesn't Know Own Rates.
IT am very much afraid that Mr
Nankln does not know his own COM
plicated rate schedule. Or, if he
Gid, he has not consulted a map
and he does not know this beautiful
city of Washington. In today's
newspaper he is reported as saying
that the rate from Sixteenth and
Decatur streets NV. to New Jersey
avenue and South Capitol street
under the old rate was 40 cents, and
under his new schedule of rates and
zones is 80 cents. Reference to
map will show there is no place
where New Jersey avenue and
South Capitol street intersect. If
they did, it would be under the CEN
ter of the Capitol Building. And
the proper rate, under Mr. Hankin's
new zones and rates would be so
cents.
IF he cannot understand his own
rates, how can he expect the public
or the cab drivers to understand
them?
This organization, the United
TaXicap Drivers, Inc, does not be-
lieve there is any attempt on part
of the drivers to 'gyp' the riding
public, and We certainly would want
any such action by any driver prop
erly prosecuted.
The thousands Of visitors TO
Washington tell us that the taxicab
drivers of Washington are the best,
the most courteous. and the most
considerate drivers they meet any
where, and that we render better
service ct a rate lower than else
where IN a city of like size. We
would like to refer Mr. Hankin to
the writings of noted columnist
In today's paper. under the heading
of These Charming People.
'Mr Richardson, former presi-
dent of the United Taxicab Drivers.
Inc. resigned this noon at special
meeting of the Board of Directors
ana was replaced by Edwin A
Glenn, former president and chair
man of the Committee on Public