Evening star., 1943-05-04
PUG Considers
Group Riding
Fare Problem
Meets to Thresh Out
Solution After Heurinu
Taxi Drivers Views
BY DON S. WARREN.

acceptable and reasonable rates for
taxi group riding, as a result OF
Yesterdays siX-hour public hearing
on the issue
The re-opened hearing, a contin-
uatlon of sessions last January
produced at least one new develop
ment: Spokesmen for the cab in
dustry-including both drivers and
fleet executives-were pretty well
agreed on what they thought the
answers should be. But there una
nimity ended.
Members of the PUG indicated
they feel group-riding rates should
be on per-passenger basis, though
they nave not been all together on
the actual rates, and the industry
uSagrees with the basic principle.
Full Fares illegal"
The PUG also holds that the pres
ent rather general practice of charg-
ing prevailing full fares for group
riders is illegal, but some industry
SpokeSmen claim increased revenues
are resulting from an increase in
business instead of from an in
crease in rates"
Also, while the PUG insists its
proposals for riding rates
were intended merely to transpose
present "individualized" cab rates
into the same thing on a per-
person group riding basis. the OPA
has termed such suggested schedules
an illegal general increase" in price.
and cab spokesmen say they would
amount to decrease" in rates.
PUG members took comfort from 2
statement for OPA, given bv it's new
counsellor" to the PUG, w. Russell
German, that OPA recognizes that
1t is the province of the PUG rather
than the OPA to determine local
taxi rates. But this was overlaid
with a further statement bv Mr..
German that OPA still has the duty
under the Presidents recent execu-
tive order to seek to prevent in
creases in the cost of living and to
bring about rate reductions when
they are justified.
Delay Seen on Decision.
The PUG was to hold a regular
executive meeting today, but it
was indicated decision might not
be expected for perhaps several
days.
The majority of the PUC-Chair-
man James H. Flanagan and Enei-
neer Commissioner Charles w. Kltz
had proposed group riding rates of
zo-3o-4o-50 cents per person. for
the TOUR zones. Gregory Hankin,
minority member, had suggested
somewhat lower rates: 2O-25-35-45
cents per person. Both of these
schedules were ruled by OPA to be
a general increase" and therefore
contrary to price control law. - a
yesterdays hearing brought oil,
that cab spokesmen want the pres.
ent baslc zone rates of 3O-5D-70-a
cents to be applied to each party,
OF one or more during group riding
In other words, if five passengers
an board a cab together at the
Commerce Department and all &c
TO some one place in Zone | the
total charge would be so cents-3(
cents for the first two and a dime
extra for each of the other three
But II one passenger boards at Com
merce and four other passengers
board at four other points. and the
group goes to various destina tions
II all are within Zone /, the charge
would be prevailing full fare TO,
each five passengers, or 80 each, O,
$3.50 total.
Would Limit Bargain"
This latter might prove to be ar
exception. for the cab industry sue-
gests that under group riding, a
group" OF prospective passengers
going to the same destination
should collect itself and hail a cat
and thereby save haul and time for
the driver, and money for the COL
lective passengers.
otherwise, their spokesmen said
the riders are not entitled to "sav-
lngs at the expense of the driver
since they still would 60 from here
to there at price no more thar
II they got cab for individual
service. Under war conditions
they argued, there should be no bar.
gain rate simply because they rode
IN a cab with some other passenger
1t was evident cab drivers fea,
that II there is an order for a man.
datory group-riding rate, some of 6
group will pay nominal fares for 6
short haul, while the driver will bt
stuck for a bargain price" for &
long haul, to the second, third OF
fourth zone, for the remaining pas.
sengers on the same ride.
Efforts by PUG members to show
that with proper patronage of tht
group-riding system drivers shoule
make about the same as they art
making now fell on deaf ears L
would mean. said Jack Dolton O.
Blue Light Cabs. that drivers woule
be expected to carry the second pas.
senger from. say the Wallard Hote
to Chevy Chase for so cents.
All speakers declared their belle,
that at least one thing should bt
done: Present PUG regulations re.
gardlng division of fares for group.
riding are too complicated and in.
comprehensive for any driver O,
passenger to work out and must b,
substituted by something simple.
Police 1t. Joseph Harrington. hacl
inspector. and Edward R. Deane
of the Board of Revocation am
Aeview, added their voices to thi.
plea.
20-Cent Rate Denounced.
Harry Davis, representing Dia
| mond cabs. and Edwin A. Glenn. tn,
United Taxicab Drivers, Inc, wer,
particularly bitter in denouncing an,
rates beginning at 20 cents MI
Glenn said return to such rat,
might give Washington another
blackeye." apparently referring to
cab strike he once called over rates
Chairman Flanagan attempted tt
explain that the proposed rates were
not to be confused with 20-cen
rush hour. two-zone pickup" serv
ice, an early wartime measure which
had no great success. Mr.. Davi
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