The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-19
The Cab Question.

That we are to have system OF cheap cabs
in this city, and that very soon, there can be
no question. Indeed, SO much is already con-
ceded by those the reform will most affect
the owners of cabs, But this class of our
public servants differ as to the proper
method of attaining the desired end. The
Public Hack Owners Association ask for
uniform system Of licenses and rates, in
order that fair competition may be had in
catering for the public. This is a reasonable
and just demand, for it is absurd to expect
cheap cabs while certain livery men enjoy
peculiar privileges in their business. Give
all hack owners an equal chance to secure
custom. and place them on an equal footing,
and the cab system is not only simplifed,
but it is put on basis that can be under
stood by everybody The special license
owners arc evidently trying to fortify their
own position by asking for cab commission
or an increased number of inspectors. They
ignore entirely the question of charges, as
was to be expected after the HERALD's exhibit
of their method Of doing business
We now come to the consideration of the
real question. Will commission on cabs
or more inspectors give us cheap cabs
Judging from past experience it is quite
evident that this proposal will not solve the
difficulty. A more thorough inspection will
undoubtedly improve the cab service +; but
two or three hundred inspectors even could
not give us cheap cabs SO long as the present
scale of prices prevails. The new commits
sion will only add to the number of useless
Offices, for Of course it would be filled by
some political shack" who would pay more
attention to primaries than to the duties of
his Office. The cabs ought to be all licensed
alike, the rules for their government simpli-
fed, the tariff Of fares reduced to a reason
able figure and all hacks given the right to
solicit fares when returning empty to their
stations or stables. Then the police should
have full power to enforce the cab ordi-
nances, correct grievances brought to their
notice and maintain constant surveillance
over that class of vehicles. This would be
simple solution Of the whole trouble.
In another column will be found the views
of cab owners on the question now being
agitated. 1t will be seen that they lay all
the blame on the public, which, they say,
demands class of private carriages, instead
of numbered cabs That there is some
truth in this assertion cannot be denied, but
the cab owners ignore the fact that while
there is demand for elegant carriages by
those who cannot afford, or do not care, to
keep private carriages, the great mass of the
public are DESTROYS of securing the tempo
rary use of cabs at a reasonable and mod
crate figure. A merchant or q banker,
be he never SO rich, does not care
to have two horses, liveried driver
and IN elegant coach when he wishes
to save few valuable minutes in reach
ing his place of business Neither does
tourist, just arrived on our shores, look for
such a carriage when he wants to leave the
steamer and go to his hotel. The cab owners
might as well say that the public who
patronize cabs want plumes on the horses
heads and tiger in the rumble. Cut down
your prices, give good service for fair re-
Enumeration, Messrs. Owners, and you will
find your business increased and really more
profitable than it is now.