Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-13
Prince Georges Taxis
Start Set Rates Under
Tighter Code April |

Improved cab service in Prince
Georges County was foreseen today
as standard cab rates within the
county were established for the first
time by the county commissioners.
Meeting yesterday with nearly
100 cab drivers, owners and citizens,
the commissioners listened for more
than two hours to recommendations
of the Maryland Public Service
Commission and cab operators be-
fore adopting new regulations for
year, effective April /.
A fiat rate Of 80 cents for the
first mile, with 10 cents for each
addition third of a mile for one or
two passengers was established. The
commissioners also ordered a charge
of 10 cents for each passenger over
two and So an hour charge for wait
ing. Passengers, they said, should
be permitted two pieces of luggage
free.
Rates to Be Posted in Cabs.
The commissioners also ordered
posting of rates in a conspicuous
place inside the 800 cabs now in
operation within the county and the
keeping of manifest by drivers to
be retained year by the owners.
A more stringent set of rules. pre-
pared by Waldo Burnside, their at
torney, was adopted by the COM
missioners, who announced that q
hack inspector would be appointed
for the county. Among these are
the levying of IS drivers registra-
ton fee, instead of the present 81,
and new $25 owners registration
fee.
Taxi drivers were ordered to place
their Identification cards where
they could be seen" and were told
they could not work more than IL
hours out of "a. Names of the COM
pany, or driver if privately owned,
were ordered painted in letters of
at least three inches on both sides.
Bars District Cabs.
District cabs were hit under the
new regulations. The commission
ers requested that such cabs be re-
strained from accepting fares from
Maryland without a State license
County Superintendent of Police
Ralph w. Brown was told to deal
severely" with violators.
William A. Carson, chairman of
the commissioners, said residents
who are overcharged or know of
any violations should contact police
within 48 hours, giving time, date,
name, number and company, If
possible, for immediate action
against them.
The commission said the new rates
would be in force until proven salts
factory, or until meters, originally
ordered for the cabs, can be In
stalled.
Despite protests from drivers that
the proposed registration fees were
too high, the commissioners said the
new fees we're necessary to maintain
sufficient funds to support the pro-
gram.
Under Some Rates.
The new rates are cents lower
than the charge for the first mile by
taxis of the Suburban Cab Co., Will
liam v. Morris, owner reported.
j. Gilbert White, owner of the
Yellow Top Cab Co., Laurel, reported
new prices were agreeable to him.
Joseph S. A. Giardina, transporta-
ton engineer for the Public Service
Commission, Baltimore, who SUBJ
mitted their recommendations, said
the new rates were figured on a basis
of twice those of Baltimore.
A recommendationsby r. H. Nc
Callan, vice president of the re-
Gently formed Prince Georges Coun-
ty Taxi Drivers Association, that a
committee be formed to study the
situation was turned down by the
commissioners, who elected to make
final decision yesterday.
Yesterdays meeting was called
two weeks ago after the commits
sioners received numerous COM
plants of Oyercharpinr