Evening star., 1942-07-01
Hankin Backs
Higher Rates
For Taxicabs
Statement to Press
Offers Suggestion
As Personal View


rates as provided in the disputed
new schedule may be increased were
contained today in statement to
the press by Gregory Hankin, Public
Utilities Commission chairman.
Mr. Hankin said this may result
from reconsideration of the new
rates by the PUG at the direction of
the House District Committee. which
brought about settlement of the taxi
strike last Wednesday by ordering
survey and permitting drivers to
charge either the old or the new
rates pending new determination.
Edward A. Glenn. leader of the
United Taxicab Drivers, Inc. which
sponsored the strike, has argued that
the new schedule would work
hardship on drivers in many in
stances, although Mr.. Hankin has
maintained the new rates would
mean an increase in revenue.
Issues Formal Statement.
In his formal statement today, Mr..
Hankin said that in view of all that
has been said and written, both true
and false, concerning the taxicab
situation, my friends have urged me
to answer the Misrepresentation
and to state my position" He said
he did not think it proper for a
public official ito engage In con-
troversies of this character"
Mr.. Hankin said he intended ito
let all that has been said go un-
answered. but he added that the
public was entitled to know his posi-
ton since it seemed odd that he who
has been responsible for getting in
creaSes in rates and other advan-
tages' for the taxicab drivers
should new seem to appear in op-
position to their welfare"
After giving his summat ton of the
new rate order situation, he said:
The new rates were computed on
the basis of cents per mile for the
operation of cab, and 80 cents
per hour for the time of the driver.
The cents per mile was arrived at
on the basis of the costs involved
at the time when the investigation
was made. The 30 cents per hour
was made analogous to the wage
scale of operators of buses and street
cars in the District.
Operation Costs Rise.
"Since the last hearing, I am re-
liably informed. the costs Of opera
ton of taxicabs have risen. notably
the cost of tires and gasoline. Since
the last hearing, also, the wages of
motor bus operators have risen from
80 cents to 81 per hour. ,
These changes, I think, should be
reflected in the earnings of the taxi
cab drivers. and the present contem-
plated review of our order will en-
able us to consider it in the light OF
the newly developed facts"
Mr.. Hankin emphasized that the
suggestion for increased rates was
his personal opinion"
The first point he made was that
up to now regulation of the taxicab
industry has been made possible be-
cause great majority of taxi opera
tors are members of associations or
operate as members of taxicab fleets
that each company and association
/ has been treated as a unit. Now 1t
appears, he said, I'VE must determine
definitely who represents whom:
that II the companies or associations
do not represent the drivers, I'VE
must consider what changes should
be adopted to make regulations
effective"
Mr.. Hankin's second point was
that the new zone rate system wa,
intended to simplify and equalize'
the taxicab rate structure and that
the reconsideration will give the
commission opportunity to de-
termine. on competent evidence
whether we have accomplished that
result or whether we have made the
rate structure more complicated
than it was"
His third point was that the new
rate schedules were intended to cover
the cost of operation OF the cabs
and to raise the earnings OF thu
drivers from 54 to 80 cents per hour