Evening star., 1942-07-08
Drivers Quittinq
Over New Rates,
Cab Farley Told
Only ; Of l,51l Vote
For Fares Ordered
By Commission

Most Washington taXicab drivers
would rather 60 out of business than
operate under the schedule of zone
rates set up June IS by the Public
Utilities Commission, members of
the commission were told today in
conference with 40 representatives
of the drivers at the District Build
ing.
Edwin A. Glenn, president of the
United Taxicab Drivers, Inc, told
the commission some drivers
already had Quit because of the
current confusion over zones and
rates. He said that during the first
six months of this year more than
1000 applicants had filed for identi-
f1cation papers with the Hack IN
spectors' Bureau of the Police De-
partment.
ITO load these men down with
complicated system would be hard
ship to both the drivers and the
public" Mr.. Glenn said.
Serious Turnover Forecast.
IF wartime conditions in the cab
industry continue" the turnover of
labor among drivers is going to grow
more serious" he added
Asked by Chairman Gregory
Hankin how the commission was to
determine which zone system was
least complicated, Mr.. Glenn pro-
duced results of two-day balloting
held by his union, during which, he
said, only three out of ISL drivers
were satisfied with the commissions
schedule.
Objections to the order of June
Is were listed as follows:
Too much time is required at the
end of each trip in figuring out the
fare.
Conferences on the rate usually
left the patron confused.
Many of the drivers themselves
were unable to understand the
schedule.
Even those who could understand
the system found it difficult figuring
out the rate of fare in the poor
light of a cab at night.
Unions Demands.
The union is asking for retention
of the old zone system in existence
before June Is. with minor modifi-
cations and for increases in rates
to 30-50-70-90 cents. 1t also asks
higher rates of $3.50 for the first
hour and so cents for every Is min
utes thereafter when cabs are hired
on time basis.
drivers expressed themselves in the
union vote and the results were:
Favoring the removal of Mr.,
Hankin as chairman Of the PUC,s'
1,470: against, IA. ,4-x - =.
Favoring continuance of negotia-
tions, l,439;; against, 43.
Favoring another vacation" If
efforts to settle the dispute are
unsuccessful, 1,401; against, IS.
Conferences planned also to con-
slider a "simplified" version of the
complex zone structure set up in the
PUC's order of June IS. This plan,
presented in petition to the COM
mission Monday by the Combined
Cab Co.'S, Inc, comprising Arrow,
Bell, Checker. Premier, Washington
and Yellow, includes minor revisions
in zone boundaries and removal of
all extraneous markings from the
official PUG zone map.
Unions Recommendation.
The unions recommendation is to
retain the old zones in effect before
June Is with certain notifications
and to increase rates to 30, so, 10
and 80 cents. John H. Royer, jr.,
president of Combined, has indi-
Gated his organization would not be
opposed to higher rates.
Today's conference was scheduled
chiefly to establish a basis for re-
hearings on the PUC's rate order.
Mr.. Hankin has indicated, however,
that he hopes minor issues between
the PUG and the drivers can be
settled during the proceedings.