Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-15
Plans Shaping u p
For Metered Taxis
I'd Trial Runs
Scheduled Here
For Next Week

A legislative proposal to give
Washington taxicabs a metered
fare system appeared shaping
UP for congressional considera-
ton as plans for new rate tests
next week were disclosed.
House District Committee Clerk
William N. Mcleod declared,
however, he has not decided
what recommendation to make
to the committee on the subject
next month.
Amid reports he would recon-
mend that meters be installed in
District cabs, which now operate
under a zone fare system, he re-
iterated previous statements he
has come to no conclusions as to
what proposals his final report
will contain.
New Trial Runs Slated
Mr.. Mcleod is continuing a
study of the taxicab situation
ordered by Committee Chairman
Mcmillan, Democrat of South
Carolina. He described plans for
new trial runs next week.
Operating with drivers, repre-
sentatives of the Hack Inspec-
tors Office and meter manufac-
turing companies, the cabs will
make different tests for compar-
ison with others completed some
time ago.
Mr.. Mcleod said he wants re-
suits Of the new trial runs to-
learn whether the costs to riders
will be closer to the current
charges based on zones rather
than previous meter charges.
The meters will be set to
charge IS cents for the first mile.
5 cents for one-fourth of each
additional mile, and 50 an hour
for waiting. This waiting charge
figures out at 5 cents for each
112 minutes.
Meters manufactured by three
different companies will be used,
as they were on nine different
cabs during the recent trial runs.
Previous Trial Results
Results of the previous trial
runs on meters several days ago
showed that under some rates
the costs to customers were
higher than the fares based on
present taxi zones. On the other
hand. some other rates showed
that the metered charges COM
pared favorably with the present
zone rate charges.
Mr.. Mcleod pointed out that
meters set to charge rates effec-
tive in New York city showed
charges considerably higher than
zone rates here.
They were on the basis of rs
cents for the first one-flfth of a |
mile. five cents for each addi-
tional one-f1fth of a mile, and 1
81 an hour waiting time.
Under the New York city
metered rate. he said. the total
charges on 16 trips by metered
cabs here ran up to $17.65, nearly
twice the total cost of Is trips
charged on the zone rate. at
s9.40.
Slight Difference
On the other hand, the met
cred charges most comparable to
the zone system in effect here
we're based on IS cents for the
first mile, S cents for each addi-
tional one-third mile. and 50 an
hour for waiting.
The total cost of 16 various
metered trips through different !
sections of Washington was )
$3.50 compared with zone {
charges Of $3.50.
This experience" Mr.. Mcleod I
said, "debunks the fears of the /
public that the cost of metered I
taxi rides would be so far in
advance of the present zone sys- I
tenn charge to make use Of meters i
impossible. because of so much i
higher charges"
Mr.. Mcleod said he was hoping I
the new trial run on a slightly i
different rate base may give
more information for the use of ,
the District Committee.
He emphasized, however, that ,
even If Congress should authorize 5
meters instead of the zone sys- 4
tenn, rates would have to be !
ordered by the District Public :
Utilities Commission. 4