Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-14
Taxi Drivers Launch
Joint Action 10 Limit
Cabs; Talk Of Strike

VIC eohiSdD liiIQSCly UclllIlu uc-
mands for limitation on the num-
Der of cabs in Washington. union
leaders and independent operators
announced today they will try
diplomacy once more before con-
sldering CITY, wide strike
A committee of seven, appointed
at meeting last night, called a
conference today to work out joint
demands 1t will present to the Public
Utilities Commission and to Con-
gress. The committee includes rep
resentatives of two cab unions and
independent operators.
Voting to form the committee at
a rally in Pythian Temple, 300 driv-
ers last night agreed to strike in 81
days unless the PUG or Congress
takes favorable action on their de-
mands. Union leaders on the COM
mittee pointed out. however. that
they could not commit their men,
bership to carry out the resolution
passed at the meeting. The strike
question would have to be presented
at regular union meetings for final
decision, they said.
Want Positive Action"
A spokesman for the AFL Taxicab
Operators, Drivers and Garage EN-
ployes expressed the opinion that
nothing will be gained without DOS
tive action. The union still is
scheduled to vote on a strike next
Thursday.
E. A. Glenn. president of the
National Transportatio ton Co. and
chairman OF the meeting last night,
declared that the AFL strike four
months ago failed" because it did
not have the entire industry behind
it and called for joint action this
time.
John R. Peters, president of the
United Taxicab Drivers, accused
the House District Committee of
"defrauding" the drivers at =
"phony" hearing where it decided
to pigeonhole three different bills
limiting the number of cabs in
Washington
He complained that union repre-
sentatives were not permitted to
cross-examine witnesses. The House
Committee was not interested in
charts offered by the union because
the members had made up their
minds before they came into the
room." Mr.. Peters said.
He reported that Chairman Nc
MILAN, Democrat, of South Caro-
lima gave as his only reasons for
pigeonholing the three bills as that
he didn't know what the Districts
population would be in 1947 and
that the cab service in outlying areas
is inadequate.
Population was no excuse for
ignoring the bill reaffirming PUC's
authority to limit the number of
cabs, he said. while inadequate rates
alone account for poor service In
outlying districts.
1900 Cabs on Streets.
Estimating there are 1900 cabs on
the street, he predicted there will be
another 1000 in four months unless
something is done to limit the num-
Der OF licenses. Earnings of cab
drivers would drop from SIS cents an
hour to 40 cents, he said.
Edward Williams, president OF the
Federation of Taxicab Drivers, COM
posed of colored hackers, said the
firm he works for Is answering all
calls for cabs for a 3O-day period
just to show the PUG that it will
lose money doing it and that the
demand for call service is not nearly
SO great as witnesses told the Dis
trict Committee.
Mr.. Glenn said. that the joint
committee would take the best sec
tons from the three bills now before
Congress and demand a full hearing
from the House District Committee.
If that fails, it will then decide on
what action to take, he reported.
Dollar Opposes Move.
E. Erwin Dollar, chairman of the
Taxicab Advisory Council asserted
today that large feet owners are
behind the unity move and are
using the unions to foster a limita-
ton on the number of cabs 50 that
they can raise their rental prices
So long as cab drivers continue to
condemn public officials to whom
they must look for benefits they
won't get what they need, he added
If the drivers would stop talking
limitation, there would be fewer
men trying to get in the business
before the deadline, Mr.. Dollar said.
Although agreeing there are too
many cabs, his group is against any
limitation at this time. Mr.. Dollar
said he doubted that anything could
be done to limit rental fees be-
cause Congress won't tell a man
what he can charge for his COM
modify"
U. S. Savings Bonds are the safest