Evening star., 1942-08-30
0DT Assumes
Control Of All
U. 5. Taxicabs
Strict Regulation
Planned to Conserve
Cars, Cos, Tires
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.


In drastic move to conserve
tires, gasoline and vehicles, the
Office of Defense Transportation
yesterday took control of the
taxicab industry of the country
and announced that on Tuesday
1t will be placed under strict
regulation.
The order freezes the present size
OF the industry, estimated to include
more than $4,000 cars and bans all
cruising" No person not having
authority now to operate a cab may
place a vehicle in operation. Those
operating taxi services are prohibited
from increasing the number Of cars
In use.
Commenting on the order, James
H. Flanagan, who will replace Greg
ory Hankin as chairman of the Pub
lie Utilities Commission Tuesday,
said he thinks it can be carried out
effectively here. Work to provide ad-
ditional taxi stands throughout the
city has been going on for several
weeks, he declared, and should be
completed in short time.
Speed Limit Set.
Jack ]. Stuart, night manager OF
the Yellow Cab Co., said he doesn't
think there are sufficient taxi stands
yet to eliminate cruising entirely.
Suggestions to drivers following the
general stipulations Of the order
have been issued by his company
already, Mr.. Stuart added.
Officials of other cab companies
either could not be reached or re-
fused to make statements without q
more careful study Of the order.
The order states that cabs may
not be operated for any social or
recreational purpose Of the driver
or operator. Taxis may not be
driven more than 10 miles beyond
the corporate limits of city or
town, or more than Is miles from
the point of origin of the trip.
Speed Of the cabs Is limited to 40
miles an hour where no limit exists.
The vehicles may not be used for
making commercial deliveries Of
property" No cab may be driven
unless it is distinctly" marked as
q taxi.
Group Riding Involved.
A further provision OF the order
states that mo person shall operats
a taxicab In any municipality In
which 4 group riding plan for taxi
cabs is lawfully In effect unless such
person participates in the plan
wherever practicable"
Locally, spokesman for ODT
explained, this provision would not
have the effect Of forcing taxicab
companies or individual owners into
the currently used pickup service.
He said it might apply to Union
Station where a well established
plan for group riding is in opera
ton.
The official said the provision
would become effective If District
authorities took further steps to
promote group riding in cabs. The
section was placed in the regulation,
he explained, so ODT "will have
a foot in the door," adding that
plans were being formulated to make
wider use Of group riding in cabs.
In order that peculiar local prob
lens may be met, the action will
not be in the form OF national
regulation, he said.
Exceptions to Order Listed.
The order does not apply in the
following instances:
l. Persons carrying passengers to
Or from funerals.
2. The transportation of passen-
gers to and from work "by a person
driving an automobile between his
or her home and place of work"
3. The transportation of passen-
gers in connection with "emergen.
cles arising from accident, sickness.
death. public calamity, or military
necessity" provided an explanation
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