Evening star., 1947-05-07
Board Considers
1axicdb Bureau
Inklonigonlery
Zone Systems Urged
For Suburbon and
Rural Sections

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Proposal for creation Of I Mont
gomery County Taxicah Bureau and
establishment Of zone systems in
suburban and rural areas are being
studied today by the county COM
49,
The proposals, drafted BY special
committee appointed In March by
Commissioner Wesley I. Sauter we're
made public ut meeting of the
board yesterday In Rockville. Ap-
proximately 250 cabs would be af-
fected.
Mr.. Sauter announced that 4 rub-
lie hearing on the proposed taxicab
ordinance viii be held at i.S0 pm.
May % In the Bethesda County
Building.
Under the recommendations. the
Taxicab Bureau would be headed
BY an inspector or supervisor with
one or more field inspectors.
License Fees Provided.
Expenses OF the bureau would be
paid by S. license fee for each
taxicab operator and an annual reg
tstration fee ranging from $50 to
81 900 for each vehicle.
The committee also called for 4
fair and reasonable zone systeI,
with uniform rates in the Bethesda
Chevy Chase and Silver Spring
areas, and In Rockville and Takonla
Parh. Another zone system, with
rates based on mileage, would be
set up for rural areas.
Opposition to taxi meters was
voiced by the committee on the
ground that they are virtually un-
obtainable.
In addition. the committee pointed
out that when available, the meters
would cost approximately $500 per
vehicle and their installation would
result in considerable depreciation
and needless loss to the owners"
Driver Restrictions Urged.
Another recommendation would
require applicants for taxicab op-
orators permits to be at least 21
years old and "of good moral char
acter."
The transfer Of registration Ger.
tificates from one person to another
would be prohibited, except in hard-
ship cases.
Finally, the supervisor Of the
Taxicab Bureau would be author-
lied to limit the number of taxicabs
in the county, If such action Is be-
lieved desirable 'in the best interests
of the public and the taxicab in
dustrys'
The Taxicab Committee Is headed
by former Trial Magistrate Einar
Christensen and includes Paul Tag
gart, Harrison Barnes, G. M. Hick-
man and Robert Wells.
The commissioners decided to &C.
cept the bond of Mrs. Genevieve H.
Wells. former Democratic member
Of the General Assembly from Mont-
gonnery County. as Trial Magistrate
Court Clerk in Silver Spring.
Il The commissioners first dixap-
proved the bond en- the Advice Of
their attorney, r. Barnard welsh,
who ruled that the board was en-
powered to name clerks to the three
county trial magistrates under
l945 act OF the Legislature.
Decision Reversed.
They later reversed themselves,
however. when Mr.. Welsh said
new law passed at the 1947 session
of the General Assembly gave the
appointment power to the trial mag
istrates.
approximately rs county resi-
dents, headed by Mrs. Madge Hahn
Longley, director of the County
Health Fund, urged the board to
approve Health Department requests
for health center in Rockville, two
additional rural nurses, an increase
OF $500 year in nurses salaries and
expansion of tuberculosis clinic fa-
cilities.
Speakers included Bernard Cas-
sell, representing the Crippled Chill
dren Committee of the American
Legion: Mrs. Felix Spurney, Ken
sington Health Center; Mrs. Dexter
Billiard, president of the County
Mental Hygiene Society and q menu
ber OF the County tuberculosis Az
sociation; Mrs. PGad Morehouse,
County Health Fund, and Mrs. Ste
phen G. Duvall, County Public
Health Lay Council.
The commissioners accepted the
designations of John s. Matthews,
assistant engineer In the county en-
gineer's office: John C. Russell, an
employe In the supervisor Of elec-
tions ofice; Dorothy Vane, public
health nurse, and Policeman Ernest
F. Lee.
The board heard protests by prop
erty owners to proposed real estate
assessments for about two hours.
William F. Carlin, Silver Spring
real estate man, was among those
filing protests.
EaI. fkus>L h. FIX