Evening star., 1946-06-26
300 Cab Driver;
Strike toForce
Taxi Limitation
Leaders Challenge
Police Figures on
Incorporating Cars

Several hundred taxicab drivers
went on vacation" in Washington
today in a demonstration to urge
limitation of hackers licenses and
other measures.
The exact number of idle cabs was
not known. An estimate of Hack
Inspector 1t. Joseph Harrington
would fix the figure of nonoperat-
ing cabs at about 300 Normally ap-
proximately 1000 of the Districts
1900 cabs operate between 7 and
10 am. 1t. Harrington said.
Strike leaders did not estimate the
number of drivers cooperating. but
said the police figures were too low.
1t. Harrington, who promised
police protection for those drivers
who wished to operate, said only two
false rumors of violence had been
reported
Although the strike leaders claimed
the public was feeling the pinch
and would continue to until their
demands were met, there appeared
TO be an abundance of cabs operat-
ing.
At Union Station, where police
were stationed as we'll as at other
important points, service was slower
than usual but all requests were
being filled.
The starter there said a canvass
had revealed that all major COM
panies had some cabs on the streets.
He predicted nonworking drivers
would return after -four or five
hours of watching the working
drivers collect the fares.
Strike Called Vacation"
Called at meeting of 700 cabbies
last night, the strike was labeled
vacation" by the six-man Steer
ing Committee headed by John
Rogers Peters, president of the
United Taxicab Drivers, Inc.
Three hours after the strike
started at 6 am, Mr.. Peters said
absence of cabs on the streets spoke
for the strikes effectiveness. He
did not estimate the number Of
drivers participating.
Mr.. Peters said the strike would
bring to the public's attention that
James H. Flanagan, chairman of the
Public Utilities Commission, was not
working for their best interest and
that Chairman Mcmillan of the
House District Committee had taken
an arbitrary attitude in dealing with
proposed cab-limiting legislation.
The number of "pickets" patrolling
the streets in their private cars was
military secret" Mr.. Peters said.
Take Numbers of Cars.
They are taking license numbers
OF cabbies 'scabbing and they will
be put on record for the next 10
years." Mr.. Peters added. The re-
suit will be to blacklist the working
drivers in union circles, the strike
leader explained.
Reasons for the strike were three
fold: Cd Limitation in number OF
cab operators licenses to 500 for
every 100000 persons in the Dis
trict. co extension of rate zones
to slightly increase fares and 90
clariflcation of conflicting rules ad-
ministered by the Public Utilities
Commission
The fact that $3.50 hack drivers
licenses are now out in the District
not only has created a grave eco
nomic problem for drivers them
selves, but has added to the traffic
hazards and parking problems of
the District, Mr.. Peters insisted.
The strike was called at a bolster
GUS three-hour meeting of drivers
at Laborers' Hall, 525 New Jersey
avenue NV. Only a few hands
were seen in protest to the strike
call.
Steering Committee Named.
The six-man committee appoint
ed to steer the strike was with but
one exception the same that called
last week on Chairman Mcmillan
and asked for immediate action
from Congress on the cabbies' prob
lens. Edwin A. Glenn, former presi-
cent of the United Taxicab Drivers,
resigned as committee chairman
and Mr.. Peters took his place.
Organizations represented at the
meeting in addition to United Taxi
cab Drivers were Taxicab Operators,
Drivers and Garage Employees, Local
935 (AFL), and the Federation of
Cab Owners and Drivers Organiza-
tions, which comprises II colored
cab companies and l,400 colored in
dependents.
The United Taxicab Drivers claim
1,600 members and the AFL union
1000 members.
c. G. Hathaway, president of the
Veterans Cab Association, denied
in a statement that the 200 members
of the association were striking.