The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-10
Progress Of the Inquiry into the ExtOriiOns
Of Public Hack Owners.
LACK OF PROPER INSPECTORS
Only Six Men to Superintend the
Cab Business Of the City.
INFECTIOUS CABS AND COACHES.


condition. earnings and practices Of those engaged in
the traffic II evident from the statements OF the
acknowledged leaders in the business that not only
do abuses exist but also much graver abuses than
first supposed They were numerous and outrageous
enough they at FIRST appeared but Il is beyond
that unless all ordinances heretofore enacted be
very materially amended, the people will be forced TO
take the matter Of reform into their hands, and
Hudiously seek TO abolish by energetic measures, the
lystem and those who profit by it Not word Of
proper has been offered by any OF the members
either of the Public Hack Owners Association tho
special hcentiates for the villanous extortions
loudly conuemnod and universally practlsed. The
sole put forward In feeble palalion OF the
faults laid bare based upon false promises and
not justified in fact They for the most part palry
and, must be said. untrue They are not
reasons at all; for Is 1t not selfevldent that the
statements made in these columns by
Me representatives Of the cab confratcrnities
have been purely recrkminative The Public Hack
Owners Association have studiousy sriven TO throw
the blame OF exorbitant upon the shoulders Of
the SPECIAL icentiates and the latter have as boldly
nung them back upon the former 1t is plain that
both are culpabie AMI must be dealt with by the
authorities A new ordinance should DO passed to
wipe tho biemishcs in those existing and to pro-
vide for proper inspection OF New York cabs.
THE SITUATION.
The situation at present among tho hackmen prom
sos small relief The rival factions arc ut daggers'
points, and actively engaged In disclosing every
thing reprehcnsible in each other. They have sought
the municipal authorities the best Of the quarrel
which, by the way, is mighty pretty as 1t stands.
On the hand the Public Hack Owners Association
collecting points against their adversaries TO BIO
submitted to tho Mayor in proper documentary form
for the action OF tho Corporation Counsel and the
special license holders working Ike beavers
the tables their foes Meanwhile the public
SUFFERS because nothing toward reduction OF rates IL
being done and each faction has Its adherents in the
Board OF Aldermen. 1t will be remembered that
$40 signatures Of employers Of the public hackmen,
and representing quite strong political clientele will
be appended to the first appeal mentioned; and on
the other side tas .',spondcnts wealthy and
mand a formidao4 body OF voters. Hence It may be
inferred tina. each will have very sturdy support in
HE Aldermanic Chamber. His Honor Mayor Wickham,
Indicated this indirectly when he called the HERALD's
attention the in which his of the latest
ordinance ovcrruled So that in this state OF
things Is not likely the citizens of New York
be benefited by the institution OF any immediate
FORM Still there Is certainty OF the thorough ex-
posure Of the prevailing abuses. The warfare is being
waged by the poor men on the hand and the rich
on the other The Public Hack owners Association
the most part OF the first class; special
icentiates OF the second. They opponents simply
through seli.nterest and not out oil any respect Tor
The people.
None OF the hacSmcn subjected to anything like
proper restraint They nomnally under the OF
the Superintendent Of Hackney Coaches, Carriages
and Cabs whose duties described by tho ordinance
under which he acts, are as foows:--
ARTICLE s.-or Tng SUPERINTENDENT or HACKNEY
COACHES: CARnIAGks AND Cans
ercsns the duties sppsr,anins 70 the office Of
den, Hacks the public stands and all places where
shall have power and authority to order away from the
p lighted and as required or no.
shenever the shall be improperly cbsructng the
uly whenever the driver person having charge q
any manner mis5ehoSes hnself co. : " ="
SIC. 2If any person having charge Of such hackney
such order Of the said officer be they shall for
severed from the driver Of such hackne,
carriage or cab :. generally and respees,iyely
that all the laws Regulating hackney coaches carriage and
srly enoned upon the person officer that he
The ad person os oer under the direction Of the Mayor
other person by him determine the
sns
skc All ordinances and parts q ordinances conflicting
Inconsistent with any OF the provisions OF tins ordinance
ssc .a.av,s ordinance shall take effect Immediately
Adopted by the Board Of Aldermen, February "a, 1918
Received irom his Honor the Mayor. March 1876 with
In board Of Aldermen March ls 1876. taken up
and adopted nowh sndng the objections oil his Honor
svor thereof
Under this ordinance Captain Leary OF the Twenty
Iixth precinct, is acting, aud lie has six inspectors,
officers detailed or the purpose OF seeing that all other
sections Of ihc law snail be complied with Let us see
what they The six men are bound 10 inspect the
sehicle OF every applicant Tor license, to ascertain
whether IL is properly fitted up aud strongly bu
Once the license granted the coach stand while
waiting for employ ment Mt any OF tho public stands
which are according to Article v. OF the ordinance at
the following places
stand No isou,h ferry Of whitehall street. along
stand No. 2-Broadway. around Bowling Green.
stand No. Sin Barclay street. west Of Washington
Stand No. 4-Murrsy street, between Washington and
stand No. SIN Broad street, from Stock Exchange to
stand 40. G-As Fulton Terry, along :hs market side.
stand no. 7--Brosdw.y. from north side Of Beetman
nree around in Chambers street. to west side Of new
Stand NO. sin Canal. west Of Washington street
stand No. e-in chathsm SQUARE. r.,u
stand No. li-south and west side Of Madison square
.n ssas he .s q
stand No i;,-on Fourth avenue between forssh and
stand No i4-At the Junction OF broadway and sixth
So north ia. Of aaa ss
street, from psa .yenas 20 sixth x,h
Seventh ana Eighth avenues.
aud Aldermen may eensnae, aud not heretofore desg-
Stand No lsA, all passenger steamboat landings Gfteen
minutes before the usual time % Of such passenger
stand No loAt all theatre. and other places public
hteen minutes before the conclusion OF the
form
stand No Coat all railroad depos ave minutes previous
the arrival OF all passenger trains
1.-The Mayor OF OF New York. with the ad.
rice OF the Aide each district
lime time designate additional In each district
be shall deem proper At which hackney coaches
stand while waiting for employ ment
sEc 31he driver ofany hackney coach or cab
ghich shall stand waiting tor employment
place than herein provided he liable hue OF S.
10 imposed by the Mayor his First Marshal aud 10
by she Attorney TO the Corporation
for the use OF the city.
INSPECTORS DUTIES
IL In nj Tho Glars n
stands 70 detect any violation OF the ordinance, either
on the part OF the proprietor the driver who by the
way, must likewise take out license for which he has
10 ray 81 III the coach be out OF repair dirty or
SOUND the horses bad condition, the Inspector -
supposed order 10 on the stand and report TO his
superior. But Is claimed by the officials at the
Twenty sixth precinct that these duties are lar too
arduous for the small NUMBER of inspectors, who could
not VISIT all these places the day by any possibility
fruc police detailed Tor special service at many
Of the points named have SORT OF control over the
hacks but tho men cannot 40 much toward regulating