Evening star., 1951-02-15
Taxicab Drivers
Earn Too Little,
Hearing Is Told
First Witness Tells
PUG Thut Hackers
Work Too Hard

The taxicab drivers of WASH
lngton are nearly unanimous" in
the opinion that they do not get
a Just return on their investment
and labor. the Public Utilities
Commission was told today.
Jack H. Royer. chairman of the
District Taxi Committee and first
witness in public hearing on the
petition for a 10-cent increase on
per-zone fares, made the state
ment.
The taxicab industry, he said, is
a vital part of the defense pro-
gram. An interruption to the in
dustry would seriously affect Gov
eminent business, for no other
utility could carry the extra pas
senger load. he declared.
Other Changes Asked.
The taxi drivers also are ask
Ing a scent zone increase on
group riding rates, as well as some
changes in group riding regula-
tlons and zone boundaries.
Mr.. Roger told the commission
that the taxicab is no longer a
luxury, competition is keen, cruis-
Ing is necessity and traffic is
more congested."
To make enough money to paw
his bills, the driver must work
long hours, competing with traffic.
until he gets the required number
OF fares. These factors take
their toll from his nervous sys-
tem." Mr.. Roger said.
He continued, 1--WE contend that
a rate increase will allow the
driver to make his required daily
amount in less hours, in less
cruising and in receiving less
nervous strain.
Would Permit Vacation.
"It will allow him at intervals
to take off at least two weeks a
year to relax and allow his nerv-
GUS system to be revitalized and
refreshed. The public will benefit
by having a fresher. more con-
tented and more alert driver"
Rates are the same today as in
1912. Mr.. Roger declared, and the
drivers will offer evidence that the
cost OF operating a taxi has in.
creased more than go per cent.
the cost of labor has increased
more than SO per cent and the in
vestment of the operators has
increased with the increase in
cost of cabs.
Mr.. Roger. president of Che Pre-
mier Cab Association and of the
Combined Cab Service. Inc, said
the taxicab industry here is oper-
ated differently from that in any
other city in the United States.
Elsewhere, it is mostly a company
operation. Here. he said, more
than rs per cent of 5000 cabs are
owned by the drivers. The rest
are rented to drivers at fiat rates.
There is approximately one cab
to each 100 residents, or more per
person than in any other city, he
said. More than half as many
residents use taxis as do streetcars.
New Zone Line Proposed.
The requested change in zone
lines will affect very few residents
OF the zones involved, he said, out
will increase taxi service to thou
sands of riders who wish to 60 to
the circus grounds or the Armory.
Cabs do not play" those places
because of the loss of time and
money, Mr.. Roger said. The sug-
gestion is that a new zone line be
created at Seventeenth street from
Bladensburg road to Barney Circle
and in the far Northeast at South
Dakota avenue.
The drivers are asking that low
er group-riding rates be limited
to instances in which two or more
persons enter a cab at the same
place at the same time. Also, the
drivers want to limit the same
general direction" requirement Of
group riding to five blocks.
Alternative Proposed.
Edwin A. Glenn, president of the
National Transportation Co., Inc.
suggested an alternative to the
proposal to the limitation Of
group riding to persons entering a
cab together.
He proposed group riding fare
increases of from 10 to 20 cents
rather than the originally pro-
posed cents.
Under the drivers original pro-
posal, one person entering a cab
in which there already were other
passengers would be charged
single-fare rates.