Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-27
PROS AND CONS
Does District Need
New Cab System?

would increase rates, reduce them
or produce about the same revenues.
William N. Mcleod, jr., clerk Of
the House District Committee, had
six local outfits test nine meters
from three different manufacturers,
with the meters all set at different
rates. Although the meter readings
differed from zone charges on var
ious trips. they averaged about the
same as the single fare zone rate in
that area.
In Congress should order the use
Of meters, however, the setting Of
the rates undoubtedly would be left
UP to the Public Utilities Commits
sion, which could fix them ct the
level it felt would properly balance
the interests Of the public and the
industry.
The Rental System
Today in Washington taxi COM
panies either rent vehicles or the
right to use their "colors" to the
drivers.
The Yellow Cab Co, for ex-.
ample. has $50 cars for rent to
licensed hackers, according to
Alden T. Keeting, general mana
ger and vice president. The price,
based on a 24-hour day, is Sc for
q 1856 automobile, $3.50 for a 1855
car, IS for 1854 model and $3.50
for a. 1858 cab.
In renting its ''colors" at the rate
Of Sc a week, the company paints
a licensed drivers Car as a Yellow
Cab and pays $3.50 in insurance
premiums. giving the hacker the
privilege of using company call
boxes and cab stands, and even the
company radio frequency. If he
wants to buy his own radio. Yellow
has 479 such associate owners"
Mr.. Keeting said.
The company is one Of SIS fleets
operating last year. There were
10 just after World War II, and
five in 1910.
There are also 10 associations Of
driver-owners-or drivers buying
on the installment plan-and SGT
independent cabs.
Supporters of the limitation plan
want to ban the licensing Of new
taxis unless the total number of
such vehicles drops below some set
figure. It has been urged to let this
figure be fixed at the current NUM-
Der of such licenses, to avoid run
ming present license holders OF the
street. Another proposal has been
to set the figure below the current
number in hopes that as Licenses
are forfeited, allowed to lapse or
given I'D. the total would drop to
the set figure.
Limitotion Pros and Cons
Supporters Of the limitation pro-
posal contend that if only limited
number of cabs may be operated,
companies and associations will
have an opportunity to select more
careful and courteous drivers, keep
irresponsible drivers from obtaining
cabs and provide better police SUI
pervision.
Limitation supporters also say
this viii cut taxicab accidents at
least 40 per cent and take out of
the taxi business the finance COM
panies and automobile dealers
which seek driver buyers without
regard to their responsibility.
Critics Of the plan contend it is
designed to create monopolistic
conditions and .centralize cab own
ership and operation in the larger
cab companies and associations.
They say it would force many driv-
ers out of business and deprive
them of chance to earn a living
or to supplement their incomes.
What, they ask, would be cor
rect" number of cabs for WASH
ington which now has more cabs
for its size than any other city?
And If taxis were limited, they
say, many people who now use cabs
to get around the downtown area
would use their own cars instead of
leaving them parked for the day
thus adding to central area traffic
congestion.