Evening star., 1942-07-21
New Taxi Rates
Put In Effect
By Drivers
Glenn Claims Men
Still Have Choice
On Zone Systems

The recently turbulent taxicab
situation appeared today to have
settled down temporarily to gen.
eral attempt to put into effect the
new Public Utilities rates and zones.
But EDWIN A. Glenn, president of
the United Taxicab Drivers, Inc,
who called the June "a vacation"
strike, claimed he still held in his
pocket the authority by vote Of
union drivers to call another strike
whenever the situation justified it.
Leading cab companies announced
they recognized the PUG order eff
fective yesterday, and virtually all
the drivers in the city were said to
be attempting to obey the new
order.
Mr.. Glenn insisted again. how
ever, that under an agreement he
had with the PUG June "a to allow
drivers to choose either the old or
the new system, that it was per-
miSsible now for any driver to op-
crate on either one. He did not
say which one he was using in
driving his own cab.
Decline to Act Against Glenn.
Meantime, the Commissioners
were committed to policy of back
ing up the new PUG order They
took this position in a formal state
ment in which they also declined
to consider the recommendation of
two members of the PUG that Mr..
Glenn's hackers license should be
revoked.
Chairman Gregory Hankin and
James H. Flanagan of PUG had
asked the Commissioners to refer
Mr.. Glenns license to the Board Of
Revocation and Review for action.
On this the city heads said: The
Commissioners are of the opinion
that the facts presented do not war
rant such procedure
The Commissioners, however,"
the statement continued, recognize
the necessity for the observance Of
all orders. including those of the
Public Utilities Commission, and will
see to 1t that any violation thereof
is adequately and promptly dealt
with"
At the District Building it was ex-
planned the Commissioners have
wide authority to enforce the regu-
lations of the PUG. They can use
the police force. They have listed
not only the names, addresses and
pictures OF every cab driver licensed
IN Washington, but they also have
their f1ngerprints, and sometimes
confidential information concerning
their Character licenses"
Procedure in cases of complaints
against cab drivers involves refer
ence to the Board of Revocation
and Review of Character Licenses"
which would hold hearings. take
testimony and make a report to the
commissioners, who would sf1nally
act.
Number of Firms in Line.
Ofhcials of the Combined Cab
Services announced that, so far as
they knew, all the cabs of the Ar
row, Bell. Checker, Premier. Wash
lngton and Yellow companies were
using the new rates, 30, so, 70 and
9o cents for the four zones. and the
special rates for subZones as pro-
vlded in the PUG map, Diamond
Cab officials said their cabs were
opera tlng under the new orders.
AT the hack inspectors Office II
was said survey showed that yir-
tuaAy all cabs checked up were using
Cne new system. Taking a lenient
polcy IN enforcing the new reeula-
tlons the first day, the official said
tnat some cab drivers who had tried
10 use the old rates and ZONES had
found they would lose money there
by and were charging the newer
rates under the new zone map.
When Mr.. Glenn was asked how
many drivers were using the old
system, he Estimated late Yesterday
afternoon that it stood about 50-5o.
with half of the men trying out the
new plan, and half of them still
operating under the old one.
Asked what would be the next
development in the situation. Mr.,
Glenn said: I'VE are just waiting
for the next move of the Public
Utilities Commission. It's right on
their doorstep. The board of direc-
tors of our union Friday night re-
Jected the proposal of the PUG. We
are standing on the agreement Of
June "a, which allows us to use
either system, until all rates and
zones are settled. Our men want
that zone map simplified, so it will
be sane and sensible
Mr., Glenn said he had conferred
at length yesterday with Chairman
of the House District
Committee. and other members of
the committee on the whole situ-
alton, but no action had been taken.