Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-04
Civic Federation,
Drivers League
Oppose Measure
By HAROLD B. ROGERS


Seven witnesses today opposed
"a bill authorizing the Public
Utilities Commission to limit the
number of taxicabs in WASH
ington.
One witness advocated the lin.
itation bill as the House District
Judiciary Subcommittee resumed
hearings on the legislation.
The subcommittee, headed by
Representative Harris, Democrat
of Arkansas, had heard many
proponents of the measure at the
earlier hearing last week. The
Commissioners favor it.
Another public hearing on the
bill was scheduled for Monday
morning.
Opponents Listed
Among opponents today were
spokesman for the Federation Of
Citizens Associations, part-time
cab drivers and an official Of
the Cab Drivers League.
Favoring the measure was
Harry c. Davis. president of the
Independent Taxi Cab Owners.
Inc. He said his group favored
the transfer and sale of vehicle
licenses but since the subcom-
mittee members had opposed
such sale, his organization would
go along with the intent of
Congress" Committee members
today voiced strong conviction
That the bill should be made
strong against such sale.
A vigorous attack on the bill
was made by Curtis v. Barr.
president of the Cab Drivers
League. He said the member
ship of this group was nearing
1000, but declined to give the
exact number.
Charging that his organiza-
ton was set up to "clear up
rackets" in the taxicab industry.
he said no new legislation was
necessary if District officials
would only enforce rigidly the
regulations already on the books.
The pending bill, Mr.. Barr
said, was directed at the re-
moval of the individual owner
operator" in the taxicab BUSH
ness. There is no provision in
the measure, he said, for any
public hearing by the PUG.
Suggestions on "Rackets"
At the request of Representa-
tive Williams, Democrat of Mis-.
IsiSsippi, Mr.. Barr promised to
submit in writing to the SUBJ
committee some specific SUCCESS
lions to correct what he charged
were the "rackets" in the BUSH
ness.
Two witnesses opposed the
measure as it is now written,
suggesting it should be amended
to clarity the situation faced by
automobile dealers and insurance
companies.
Jack BOLTON, president of the
Amalgamated Casualty Insur-
ance Co.. warned that the pend
ing bill would ruin the taxicab
industry here unless it were
amended to assist drivers to buy
new equipment.
Hits Curb on Resale
Lionel Kaplan, an official OF
an automobile sales group deal
ing largely in sales of cars for
taxi service. complained that one
provision of the bill would pre-
vent the company from resellinr
in the District for taxi service
a car which had been repossessed
or voluntarily returned to the
company from taxi service.
Mrs. Edward B. Morris, presi-
dent of the Randle Highlands
Citizens Association, filed a
statement for the group strongly
opposing the bill. She said il
would put premium on licenses
and that limitation of cabs
would be "unwarranted inter-
ference with the right Of free
enterprise.
1 Edward G. Wilcox, chairman
of the Public Utilities Commit
tee of the Federation Of Citizens
Associations, said the Fedora.
ton previously had opposed sim
liar bills. There was danger, he
said, of creating black market
in vehicle licenses to the adj
vantage of big corporations.