The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-04 00:00:00

THE LONDON CABMEN AND THE NEW

TRAFFIC ACT:

Yesterday nearly all the cabdrivers of London
seabed plying their avocation between the hours of
four and seven. At the principal railway termini
that step, as may be imagined, caused • great
deal of inconvenience, but the absence of the usual
supply of cabs was taken advantage of by a num-
ber of persons who earned money by removing luggage,
parcels, &c. During the entire of the evening the streets
presented a comparatively desolate appearance, not a cab
being visible, except in a very solitary instance, during a
walk of several miles from the suburbs to the heart of the
City.
Last evening, at seven o'clock, the cabmen assembled
in thousands in Easter-hall, where they held a meeting,
for the purpose of offering their decided protest against the
clauses is the Metropolitan Street Traffic Regulation Act
affecting their interests. The large ball was literally
crammed, and the yrooaedings were of the most animated
character. A large number of those composing the meet-
ing mode an appearance as early as 6 o'clock, and the
interval between that hour and that at which the chair was
taken was turned to account by Noisy knots of cabmen,
who angrily and indignantly discussed the manner in which
they have been dealt with in the Traffic Bill.
Mr. Ceowsa took the chair amidst enthusiastic cheering.
Mr. CROCKER, the secretary of the committee, than
stated at considerable length the measures taken by that
body in opposition to that part of the traffic act aff=
cabmen. Ile said that as an opinion prevailed
that they wanted a strike he denied that such was the
case, adding that they were fully aware what a strike
would cost them. They might be subjected to further
burthan, but what they could not understand was giving
more power to Scotland-yard. (Loud cheers.) It was
satisfactory to bear that the public and the House of
Commons were beginning to awaken to the fact that cab-
men were oppressively taxed. The duty question must of
necessity come on for consideration, and the payment of 201.
a ar for WI. of work was too glaring an injustice to be
left further unnoticed. (Cheers.)
Mr. BALDING then moved the first resolution, as follows :
—" That this meeting declares there is no trade taxed so
heavily as that of the hackney carriage, who have to pay
181. 5s per year for duty and 11. per year for license for
the working of each cab, or every 501. worth of property ;
therefore we ask for the abolition of the duty, and subject
only to the annual license payable in advance, and that
we memorialise the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the
attainment of the same."

Lord Echo, M.P., here made his appearance on the
platform, and on being reccgnised, was greeted with
entkusisatic cheering and waving of bats. He was accom-
modated with a seat next the ohaimru.
Mr. Commies seconded the resolaticm. and in doing so
mentioned es an instance of the heavy taxation which be
paid to government that the amount of that taxation was
four times his rental. He was in favour of free trade in
cabs, and instead of entrusting the inspection of cabs to
Sir R. Mayne he would leave that teak to the public, who
could select the good from the bad cabs. It was a mistake
on the part of • large number of persons to suppose that
the best cabs were in Pall-mall and other fashionable
parte of the West-end, and that that resulted
from the fares paid in those places. Cabmen really did
not get at the West-end the increase which it was
imagined they received, because when my lord somebody
wanted to go from the Conservative-club to Palace-yard,
he walked to Cockspur-street, and then drove to the house
for a "tanner." (Laughter and cheers.) As a proof of
the unremunerative nature of • cabman's occupation under
existing law, he wished to mention that in the year 1866
his partner and himself took in 2,7841. 13s. 2d., and spent
2,772 i. lls. 6d., thus leaving 121. to be divided between
them at Christmas. He challenged Paris to produce such
swift and expert cab-drivers as those in London. (Cheering.)
The resolution wasthen putand carried with acclamation.
Lord &elm, M.P., who was vociferously cheered, then
addressed the meeting. He said he was there because he
sympathised with the present movement. He thought the
life of a cabman was • hard one, and that his state was not
affluent, and with reference to the legislation which was
the subject of the meeting, he thought it was perhaps
rather hasty and migh4be mended. (Cheers.) What he lad
suggested to Mr. Hardy was that the operation of this
clause in the Metropolis Act should be suspended until
• committee of the House of Commons had gone into the
whole question next session. (Enthusiastic cheers.)
Those who upheld the free trade view as applied to cabs,
stated that free trade in cabs, as in other things, would
result in rivalry and competition, which would produce a
better Leticia for the public, and cause the character of
such conveyances to be proportionate to the pecuniary
capacity of those requiring them. They bad not only to
consult the requirements of the rich and poor in this
matter, but between the two there was • class, the members
of which, if they wished to have a good convey.
ance to go dinner or meet their friends, must pay
10a. 6d. a night for • brougham. What was wanted
was something between the cab at • shilling and
the brougham at 10s. id. The question at to what would
result from free trade in cake, or from a difference in the
description of cabs, was one which could be disposed of by
inquiry and discussion. On that account he had urged
upon the Home Secretary, as he now urged upon the meet-
ing, the advisability—nay, the necessity—of full inquiry
into the whole question. taking evidence from other towns
in the country and endeavoaring to make the state of the
traffic as regards conveyances in this metropolis satisfactory
alike to parties—viz. the public, the proprie-
tor, and last, though not keit, the cabman. (Cheers.)
When he saw Mr. Hardy on Friday it appeared to him
that the right hon. gentleman did not receive these re-
marks unfavourably, addressed as they were in the
interests of all concerned. He had suggested to the secre-
tary the advisability of appointing a deputation to wait on
Mr. Hardy, adding that he would willingly accompany
them. He had since seen the Home Secretary and the
Earl of Derby. but as they were both required an their re-
speedy° places in parliament, he was unable to obtain a
definite understanding on the subject. However, if at this
meeting • deputation, composed of three cab proprietors
and three cab-drivers, were appointed, he would accompany
them to Mr. Hardy, who had empowered him to say that
at 1 o'clock to-morrtw (this day) he would be prepared to
receive such a deputation. (Loud cheering and waving of
hats.) He had no doubt that in the interval the Earl of
Derby and Mr. Hardy would meet and talk the matter
over, and be should be very much surprised if the HOW.
Secretary was not prepared to give a favourable considera-
tion to what they bad to say. With regard to the lamp
question, be thought that what was sauce for the goose
was sauce for the gander, and if lamps were n for
cabs, Pickford's vans and gentlemen's carriages sh be
provided with them. (Loud cheers.) He had travelled in
France before the time of railways, and in that country
there was • law relating to lamps which was universal in
its application. He remembered having aeon, while tra-
velling on the confines of France and Italy, common cares
carrying little lights when proceeding through the moun-
tains at night. He had seen the resolutions which were
to be submitted to the meeting, and it appeared to him
that they wanted • little alteration. In the next resolu-
tion the word " bungling " was used as applied to the legis-
lation complained of. That might be true or not true; if
they liked he would admit it, though as • member of par-
liament his withers were wrung by it—(laughter)—hut
they had an object to smin, and they should remember the
old saying, that " hard words broke no bones." He there-
fore advised them to modify the resolutions se as not to
-contain anything threatening or insulting to the House of
Commons. The boast of Englishmen was that they were
• law-loving and law-abiding people, and he hoped that
that assembly, wishing to obtain the reconsideration of as
act of the BOOM of Common., would not pan • mediation '
pledging themselves to resist the law. (Cheers.)
Mr. SELLCS then moved the second resolution, the word
" bungling" having been previously erased, in accordance
with the request of the noble lord. It was as follows :
" That this meeting do protest against and rigidly oppose

that piece of legislation called ' No fare to be less than one
shilling when taken standing on a stand, and sixpence
when off,' for it will create more sixpenny grievances,
more litigation with the public,. and greater wear and
tear with oar cabs and hones—making the trade worse than
before, as there are not half sufficient standings foe
our cabs."
Mr. G. SMITH seconded the resolution, which was car-
ried unanimously.
,Mr. HARDY moved the third resolution, which in its
original shape expressed the determination of the meeting
to resist the law compelling the use of a lamp. The resolu-
tion, in its altered form, was to the following effect :
" That the whole of the proprietors and driven at this
meeting pledge themselves, individually and collectively,
to endeavour by all lawful and legitimate means to obtain
an alteration of the law that compels us to have ' • lamp,
properly trimmed and lighted,' whereby we are made sub-
ject to its ruinous liabilities by oppressive regulations ;
and we further declare that the use of one lamp on •
four-wheel cab is thoroughly impracticable, even if we
burn candles, as set forth by Sir Richard Mayne in the
14th regulation, sent to us by his authority."
Mr. Stairs, in seconding the resolution, said that the
power vested in the police, as regarded the use of the lamp,
would be abused in numberless instances. When
triad and rain extinguished the lamp, he wished to know
what protection the cabmen had against an arbitrary fine?
He then referred at some length to the hardships to which
cabmen were exposed, and, in alluding to his own trials,
mentioned that last Sunday, although he wax out in the
drenching rain from nine in the morning until night, he
I had actually been compelled to take out of his private
parse and to give to his master to make up the money for
which his cab had been let ont.

curried unanimously :--•711;itall reton.....ass:lnVed is
Me 'meting do declare they wi l not send a cab to be in-
spouted, nor give notice for inspection, andthat all their eats
be withdrawn from the streets at 4 o'clockevery day till the
filet Monday in January, unless tho act relating to the
compulsory use of lamps be rescinded ; and they further
pledge themselves, if not complied with apt* that time to
throw in their plates and work their property as Prilste
proprietors, which will be only one-fourth of the present
duty."
A fifth resolution, approving of a deputation to the
Home Secretary, was then put and carried, and the pro-
ceedings ended with a vote of thanks to Lord Rich* and
the chairman.