Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-28
Limit on Cabs
Urged by6 al
House Hearing
Opponents to Get
Chance to Speak
Next Monday
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS

OJ AAhAOAO D' NOOEAeO
The House District Judiciary
Subcommittee today heard six
witnesses urge legislation to limit
the number of taxicabs here and
scheduled for next Monday
morning a hearing to listen to
opponents of the pending meas
Iure.
The bill would authorize the
Public Utilities Commission to
fix the number of vehicles to be
licensed as taxicabS. This num-
Der. the bill indicated, would be
a reduction" to the number the
PUG finds adequate to serve the
public necessity and convenience.
The number could be changed
from time to time.
Endorsing the measure at to-
days hearing were Representa-
tive Tumulty, Democrat. of New
Jersey; Lloyd Harrison, repre-
Isenting the District Commits
SlonerS; George E. C.. Hayes,
chairman of the Public Utilities
Commission. and spokesman for
the taxicab business.
Questioned by Subcommittee
Chairman Harris, Democrat of
Arkansas and Representative
Alternately, Democrat of Missis-
sippi, witnesses explained that
the bill provides that taxicah
licenses now in effect would
not be reduced except by vol
untary surrender OF through
forfeiture.
Would Prevent Monopoly
Mr.. Harrison emphasized that
one provision of the bill would
prevent any one corporation or
firm from obtaining a monopoly.
This same proviso. he empha-
sized, would preserve the ratio
of taxicab control among cor
porate, individual or other types
of owners"
Speaking for the Associated
Taxicab Operators. Inc, Of which
he is executive vice president
was E. Erwin Dollar. He told
the committee the legislation
was needed because the present
number of taxicabs licensed to
be operated in the District "is
for greater than is needed to
meet the public demand"
$500 Cabs Now
Replying to Representative
Alternately, Mr.. Dollar said that
if the bill became law he would
recommend to the commission
that the number of licensed taxi
cabs (now listed as about $1,000
be reduced by half. But he en-
phasized such reduction should
not be fast nor harmful to pres
ent license holders.
Charging that there are toe
many part-time drivers on the
streets who hold other jobs, Mr.
Dollar estimated here were about
10000 men and women alto
gether who have personal lie
enses to drive the much smaller
number of taxis authorized to be
operated.
Mr.. Abernathy said he was
"unalterably opposed" to any one
selling a taxicab license. EverS
precaution should be made and
perhaps the bill amended, the
legislator said, to prevent sale
of licenses. A severe penalty
should be provided in the bill
against such sale, he said.
James Shenos. counsel for the
Associated Taxicab Operators
quoted figures he said showed
that taxi drivers here were in
such large proportion to the
population that each driver had
only about n possible customers
in the national capital whereas
taxi driver in Boston has a
potential of 526 and in New York
City $50 to draw from.
Others Favor Bill
Among other witnesses APP
proving the bill were Floyd
Montgomery. editor of Taxi
Topix; Alden T. Keeting, vice
president of the yellow Cab Co.
and Raymond Montgomery,
chairman of the board of Diplo-
mat Cab Association, who pro-
posed an amendment. He sug-
gested, speaking for colored
drivers, that the bill be changed
to include a seven-member ad-
visory council with racial repre-
sentation to advise the P. U. C,
He also urged the committee to
consider very carefully" what
contribution the part-time driver
makes TO the community.
He declared the part-time
driver here constitutes a reserve
service which is an important
part Of any we'll organized in