Evening star., 1946-01-15
Police Alerted
To Stop Further
Taxi Violence
Four Hackers Report
Threats, Damage by
Unidentified Gangs

Speclal ponce details are
roaming Washington to sup
press any new outbreaks of the
violence which fared in the Dis
trict's AFL taxicab strike early
today when unidentified gangs
threatened and damaged the
cabs of four hackers.
The contending MISUNDERSTANDING
taxi drivers of Local 935 and non
union, working drivers-did more
talking than fighting, police indi-
Gated, with rowing pickets" of AFL
men urging nonunion men to. join
the work stoppage. City officials,
including Acting Supt. of Police
Harvey G. Callahan, held an emer-
gency meeting with a group Of
union and taxicab company oficials
at the District Building this morn
ing to plan protective measures for
working drivers.
The strike was called by the local
in an effort to force the Public
Utilities Commission to grant hear
ings on union-proposed rate and
zone adjustments. James H Flan-
agan, PUG chairman, has refused
to grant the hearings because he
holds present rates are fair and
reasonable"
Union President Threatened.
At the meeting today, Henry ].
Grange, union president, said he,
too, had been threatened by un-
identified persons, and added that
some damage" had been done to
his car during the night. He said
the wife of Howard Putnam, secre-
tary-treasurer of the union, also
had received telephone threats.
James Crockett, Labor Depart
ment conciliator who attended the
meeting but did not participate, said
the PUG has refused to meet with
representatives of the striking union
until the demonstration is termi-
mated. The conference, called by
Mr.. Flanagan, was attended by 1t.
Joseph D. Harrington, hack inspec-
tor, and Brig. Gen. Gordon r.
Young, Engineer Commissioner.
Mr.. Flanagan, referring to alleged
use by rowing pickets" of "off duty"
and "on-call' signs, asked Mai. Call
lahan to see that this abuse Is
stopped at once"
Cab Overturned.
Police reported two carloads Of
unidentified men overturned a cab
owned by E. Erwin Dollar, 43, of 640S
Eighth street NV, while it was
parked in front of his home at ap-
proximately 2:30 am. Mr.. Dollar is
chairman Of the Washington Taxi
cab Advisory Council, an independ-
ent group Of operators which op-
poses the strike begun at 6 am.
yesterday.
4 Mr.. Dollar. a hacker here for IA
years, said the attack on his taxi
was made following two threatening
telephone calls he received yester-
day and a subsequent appeal he
made to police for protection.
Mr.. Dollar brought his cab to
police headquarters this morning,
to have it checked for fingerprints.
Veterans Cab Damaged,
Police are looking for the operator
OF second cab whose windows were
; reported smashed during the night,
Authorities said they were very
anxious" to reach the victim because
he is believed to have Immediately
armed himself with a shotgun"
The third reported victim of the
labor war is William E. Winnie
25-year-old discharged veteran OF
three and one-half years service
IN the 18th Infantry Division. Mr.
Winnie, who lives at 4207 Lily Pond
drive NE, told police the windows
OF his cab were smashed with
hammers at 4 am. today by "siz
or eight men" He said the mer
approached him in a taxicab al
the driveway of the George Wash.
, ington Inn, New Jersey avenu,
! and C street Sc.
One of the men grabbed his arm
! the veteran told police, and tn,
S others demanded to know whether
$ he owned the cab or whether il
was Yellow Cab Co. property. Wher
| he answered that the cab was com.
! pany property, Mr.. Winnie reported
the men began to break the window,
with hammers.
Sidney Dyson, colored, 1900 blocl
7 OF New Jersey avenue NV, reportet
. gang of colored men waving mill
I bottles" halted his taxicab at Firs
, street and Florida avenue NE
shortly after midnight and threat
: ened him and his four passengers
The hacker told police he can posi-
! lively identify" one of the men.
t Reports varied widely as to tn,
e effectiveness OF yesterdays strike
Y with the union claiming 921a pei
i cent of the city's 5000 cabs out anc
t police maintaining the holiday
had no effect on service.
e miSsissinni pnIifirian