Evening star., 1942-02-01
Pickup Taxi Proposal
Derided by Schultz
As Traffic Clog
House District Committee
Will Be Asked to Have
Honkin Explain Plan
By WILL p. KENNEDY

Declaring the pick up" expert
ment for taxicabs, ordered by the
Public Utilities Commission Is
guinea pig" plan, Chairman Schultz
of the District subcommittee on
traffic. announced late yesterday he
will ask the District Committee to-
morrow to call Gregory Hankin,
chairman of the utilities group, to
explain the reason for such an or
der. He derided the experiment,
saying it would result in more
clogging and jamming Of downtown
traffic"
Mr.. Schultz is meeting with. the
District Committee at 10 am. to-
morrow to study further Washing
tons wartime transportation con-
gestion and related transportation
problems. He declared that he is
opposed to friend Hankin getting
the District tied up on this new
taxicab scheme, which will only con-
fuse and conglomerate the trafac
situation"
He added, IT don't think Mr.. Han
kin knows anything about how to
handle traffic"
Test Stars in Week.
The taxicab "pick up" service Is
scheduled to start operating a week
from tomorrow, for a 30-day trial
period. Cabs operating in down.
town areas would be permitted to
pick up as many as four passengers
during rush hours in the morning
and afternoon.
Mr.. Schultz emphasized that the
"pick up" plan makes no distinction
between taxicabs and jitney service
IF Washington is going to have
jitney service" he said, 1.-The cars
should be marked with proper signs.
If necessary, we will pass legislation
defining the type of service to be
given by taxicabs or by jitneys. We
have been playing the guinea pig
game in Washington long enough. "
Chairman Randolph of the Dis
trict committee announced he will
present three bills for considera-
ton by the committee tomorrow
before it resumes discussion of the
transportation problem and that he
hopes to get favorable report on
all three. First among these Is the
fringe" parking measure already
passed by the Senate. This author
ICES the District Commissioners to
acquire and operate municipal park
ing lots and garages on the out
skirts of the business area.
Representative Dirksen of Illinois,
ranking Republican member OF the
committee, expressed confidence
that favorable report will be made
on the bill he recently introduced
to control parking rates for auto
mobiles at private lots and garages.
The Public Utilities Commission Is
given complete control over the op-
Grafton of all private parking agen-
cies in the District under the Dirk
sen bill.
Barber Bill to Come Up.
The first measure which Chair
man Randolph intends to call up
for approval by the committee is
designed to force closing of all
Washington barber shops one day a
week, presumably SUNDAY. Licensed
BARRIERS would make a referendum
vote to determine the closing day
and the hours for opening and clos
ing all barber shops.
At the transportation hearing to-
morrow, those who have been in
vited to testify include Earry S
Wender, vice president and legisla-
tive representative of the Federation
of Citizens Associations; Washing
ton I. Cleveland, manager of the
A. A. A. Motor Club In the District
and George E. Kneipp, manager OF
the Keystone Automobile Club.
Chairman Randolph and other
members of the committee are plan
ming to sit in on Tuesday with the
Public Buildings and Grounds Com
mittee when hearings are continued
on the District defense housing bill