The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-04-10
SANDER VS.. Hackdrivers.

1 SIander vs. HRckdrfvera.
To THE Ed. P. c. ADvERTIsER-Sir It is
manifestly unjust for you to classify all
hackdrivers working for livery firms in this
city as thieves and robbers. You most Ger
tainly make this grave insinuation when you
write that owners of vehicles are helpless
tools and junior partners in their own bust
| ness. Fortunately for the intended victims
1 your remarks are not borne out by facts. If
such imposition was complained of from the
Fashion, Dodd's or Hawaiian Hotel Stables,
some weight might be attached to what at
present may be termed your Aims5 and
puerile accusation. On the contrary, proofs
of honesty are numerous. Not the least is
that the majority of drivers work for the
same owners all the year round.
A dead beat in the hack-driYing occupa-
ton springs up occasionally and is easily
detected and like newspaper crooked en-
ployec. or any other gross cheat, is fired out
on time
Neither are drivers the hardened and an
charitable sinners as at times represented.
Take. for example the illustrIous editor
WHO lost his reckoning on the homeward
course one night in the suburbs Of Honolulu.
friendly hackdriver took the wayfarer in
tow and restored him to the bosom Of his
family. no fare coIIected.l The unkind
est cut of all was that that very same editor
shortly afterwards wrote scathing article
Iamsuting the horrible dopravity of hack
fends in general.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, your attention
is directed to a malicious looking report Of a
squabble on Richard street model hack
mem The same paragraph clearly, Shows
that the reporter knew nothing to the
cause of the trouble, yet he would stab in
the dark We cannot discuss the hack rules
which you admit are faulty, while our char
acters are being so unceremOniously at
tackled. The drivers are determined to sec
themselves justified. 1 am, etc,
s. HAcKMAN.
We print the foregoing just as we
ceived it, to show the public what the hack
drivers, upon cool reflection, have 10 say
for themselves. In reply TO the charge Of
habitual extortion and systematic violation
of the regulations, they say that once upon
a time newspaper editor ''fell by the way
and hackdriyer acted the good Samaritan
and took him home. This is by no means
improbable, nor is it at all surprising that
the man of letters should prove ungrateiul
and rail against hackmen If it had fallen
ont otherwise there would have been cause
for surprise indeed; but the hackmen miss
the point of this incident which is to let
wayfarers alone, unless they are certain Of
their fare. 1t will be seen, however, thatno
defense is made for what everyone knows to
be a gross abuse. Nor is the fact that hack
men are steadily employed any proof of
their honesty, as they aHege. On the con-
trary, it is proof of a close understanding
among themselves, and consequent inability
Of employers to replace atshort notice men
whom they know TO be cheating. We also
know what the better class of the public
think. Hackdrivers would do we'll to
change their methods while there is yet
time, or radical change will be forced upon
them. Every reputable citizen knows that
the charges made by the ADVERTISER
are not merely true, but that they
fall very far short of the reality. Cumu-
lative evidence of the most trustworthy
character is forthcoming, if need be, of ex
protes is against barefaeed cheating have been
made. We do not say that there are not
honest hackdrivers. 1t would be very
strange among such a number if there were
not few. But we are not dealing with in
dividnals, we are dealing with a class. In
conclusion, we hayeAsinply to add that the
hackdrivers, in the foregoing communica-
ton, furnish strong inferentiaI evidence of
the truth of every charge the ADVERTISER
has brought against them. And, further
more, We may as well say once for all that
when the regulations are changed, they will
be issued in such shape az shall effeetually
stop the frauds now perpetrated upon the
public under the existing loosel y-drawn
rules. Touching Wednesday nights affray,
and the vile language attributed to hack
men, the drivers concerned in the matter
may set themselves right by giving such in
formation to the police as will lead to the
conviction of the men using it.-ED. P. G.
A