Evening star., 1942-07-07
Prospects Dim
For Early End
OF Taxi Dispute
PUG Will Discuss
Four Zone Plans With
Drivers Tomorrow

Prospects Of an early settlement OF
the controversy over taxicab zone
rates seemed more remote today
than they have for several weeks
as the Public Utilities Commission
faced discussion of four separate
zone schedules at conference be-
tween the commission and drivers
representatives. in the District Build
ing at 10 am. tomorrow.
The only point on which all
parties were agreed was that it would
cost the public more generally to
ride in taxicabs when the dispute is
finally settled
The latest proposal for zone-rate
changes to be presented to the PUG
was Submitted s yesterday in the form
of a petition by the Combined Cab
Service, Inc, comprising Arrow, Bell,
Checker, Premier, Washington and
Yellow. Combined's plan contem-
plates simplification of the complex
zone map ordered by the PUG June
Is, and recommends several changes
IN boundary lines.
The petition was based on 300
affidavits signed by drivers, accord
ing to John H. Royer, jr., president
OF Combined. Mr.. Royer said the
balance of the 1000 drivers identi-
fled with the six companies are ex-
pected to sign before the conference
tomorrow.
Voting on Third Plan.
Meanwhile, drivers were still
voting today on third plan pro-
posed by the United Taxicab Drivers.
Inc, which would retain, with GER
tain modificati tions, the Old zone map
in effect before June Is and still
being used by at least 500 cab drivers
by permission of the PUG.
The unions proposal also asks an
increase in.rates to 80, so, 10 and 80
cents. Although no rate increases
were asked in Combined's petition,
Mr.. Roger indicatce his organization
would be willing to go along with
the union on a higher schedule.
The only schedule which appeared
w lAoFC llOPC VI OIL N1Ndl WOO
the old one with it's four basic zones
and rates of 80, 40, go and 80 cents.
The petition filed by Combined
asks that all thoroughfares other
than those marking zone or divi-
sional boundaries be removed from
the PUG map and that it be divided
| simply by four zone lines and six in
tersectlng divisional lines. 1t also
recommends that the eastern boun-
Diary line of the second zone be es-
tablished along Montana avenue to
Bladensburg road Bladensburg road
/ to Seventeenth street and south to
the Anacostia River.
Boundary Changes Suggested.
The southern boundary line of the
zone. the petition suggests, should
run along the Anacostia River from
seventeenth street Sc. to P street
| Sc, west on P street to the Wash
ington Channel.
Other changes asked are: Third
zone, northern and eastern bound.
ary lines changed to Peabody street
NV. to North Dakota avenue NE.
TO Thlrty-flfth street, south on
Ihlrty-fifth street across the Ana
costla River to Clay street NE. to
Bennlng road NE. to Minnesota
avenue, south on Minnesota avenue
to Sixteenth street Sc. then to w
street and west on w street to the
| Anacostia River.
Ihe unions proposal contemplates
the following new boundaries on the
old zone map:
Zone l, U street between Ninth
and Eighteenth streets NV.
IWenty-second street up to S street.
and an imaginary extension of the
zone line across Florida avenue on
Eighth street NE.
Zone 2, Randolph street to War;
Ger street NV, south to Michigan
avenue, east on Michigan avenue
70 FRANKLIN street, east on Franklin
street to Twelfth street NE. south
to Mount Olivet street, east to Bla-
densburg road, south to Seventeenth
street and south on Seventeenth
street to M street S.E.
Zone 3, Peabody street NV. as
northern boundary, anad an imapi-
nary line from R street and Blad-
enSburg road NE. to Minnesota
avenue at Benning road.
| Edwin A. Glenn, president of the
union, held out hope that some of
the problems, at least, would be
settled at tomorrow's conference.
Groundwork for Rehearing.
The commission, which YESTERDAY
agreed to allow neWspapermen to
be present at the discussions, said
no effort would be made, however.
to settle anything at that time, buc
that the groundwork for re-
hearing of the PUG order will be
laid.
Earlier, Gregory Hankin. PUG
chairman, had said that if only
simple things" needed to be ironed
out, they might be settled tomorrow.
He also declared that if the group
representing the drivers is too large
to permit an orderly conference.
other means" might have to be
used to arrange details for another
hearing.
Ballots on whether to call another
vacation" and whether the removal
OF Mr., Hankin as PUG chairman was
favored were also being distributed
to drivers voting on the unions pro-
posal. Voting will end at 10 o'clock
tonight.
Mr.. Glenn said he expected 1000
members and about IS per cent of
non-member drivers to vote. Yes
terday's balloting, while not yet tab
ulated, he said, indicated drivers
were strongly favorable to all the