Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-10

u1s Out viii tne lQ6a, eNlueDlly, tuat
the reporter was sent out for the sole purpose
Of attacking the cab system of this city. Moth
ins, Of course, would be farther from the truth.
as any one will see from an unprejudiced read
ing of the story. In the single case Of over
charge which was reported in that column 1t
may be held technically that it was not an over
charge at all. At any rate, in the story the
statement was made that if it an overchargc
II was so small and 30 politely made that il was
paid willingly and without demur. At the same
time 1t is doubtful IL any one would claim that
the cab system of Washington is without its
faults, for even the cab driver himself admitted
that there might be n few black sheep among
his clan. The experience of the woman who
wrote her letter to The STAR printed on Thurs
day Is also itself proof positive that women are
not always treated even by cab drivers with the
consideration that is shown to large and lusty
men.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
The hack inspector in his recent report, which
is quoted below, is authority for the statement
that there is room for Improvement" 1t was
for the purpose of finding out just where this
improvement might be made to the greatest ad-
vantage that The STAR made his little
launt around the city. To say that everything
is as 1t should be would be as foolish AZ to say
that everything is bad, and the main purpose of
the article was 10 show what belonged under
each category 1t is certain almost beyond a
doubt that man who is familiar with the legal
tariff for cab hro in the city Of Washington
can ride more cheaply and more satisfactorily
here than in almost any other city Of America
As proof of this, in part. it may be said that
the same STAR reporter yesterday afternoon
took coupe, neatly gotten up and drawn
by good horse and driven by colored driver
in front of the War, State and Navy building
and drove from there to the corner of 18th
street and PENNSYLVANIA avenue When he dis
mounted he handed tho driver a quarter. the
proper fare. and it was received with q polite
thank vou. Whether the average woman or
an uasophisticated stranger in the city whether
man woman, would have been let off as
lightly would be hard question to answer
The experiences of number of women re-
counted to The STAR reporter before and since
the original article as written would make il
look as though there some doubt abou:
this being the case.
For the purpose Of finding cut Just what the
experiences Of cab riders generally are THE
STAR will print hereafter such communion
tlons as may be forwarded to it giving the ex-
perlences OF its readers with the jchus of this
city. All such communications must Of course
be signed with the name and address of the
writer. In of a supposed overcharge on
the part OF the driver the rider must state the
distance traversed-that ia to say. the points at
which the ride began and ended, the route
gone over and the amount charged. Only such
communications vouched for by respon-
sib,e parties cam OF course, be regarded.
TO ASCERTAIN THE EVILS OF THE SYSTEM
Again it must be said that the object of this
move is not to attack either the cab system or
the cab drivers, but solely and only to find ont
what the evils Of the system are. II any
cab driver of the city will but think over the
matter seriously he will see almost immediately
that II the people of this city, az well the
temporary visitors, can feel sure that they may
call any cab in sight drive to their desired des-
tination and then be charged the exact and
proper legal fare for that distance, or for the
time occupied. if by the hour, the number of
people VINO would make use of the cab fire.
quently would be very greatly increased This
statement Is well borne out by the case of the
woman mentioned in Thursdays STAR who
said that she rarely if ever took a cab because
she could not afford 20 pay the so cents which
was demanded of her for each trip. and was so
very much surprised when she found out that
the legal fare was only quarter. If the cab
drivers would only think of the number of fares
they have lost through that woman alone
they may realize that 1t is poor policy consid-
cred from a mere business standpoint to charge
a half a dollar for a quarter dollar job 10
show this. as well as to show the people gener-
ally what rights the public have in the premises,
was the sole and only aim of The STAR in its
now famous ''cab article" Such at least were
the directions given to the two reporters who
collaborated the article and such was their in
tention in the matter.
To ind out what others who are in a position
to speak authoritatively in the matter might
think on the subject STAR reporter yesterday
called upon Hack Inspector Croft to learn Of
the situation from his point Of view.
THE HACK INSPECTORS REPORT.
Inspector Croft when questioned said that he
did not care TO be interviewed. He said, how
ever, that he did not think there was another
city in the United States where there was less
overcharging by the drivers of public vehicles
He referred the reporter to his annual report
made only few weeks ago, in which he first
gives the number of licensed vehicles and a
synopsis OF his work during the past year. as
follows: Vehicles licensed 574 vehicles in
spected. sos: vehicles rejected, l6; vehicles re-
inspected and passed. Is; licenses transferred,
49, articles left in vehicles reported by passen-
gers, %; articles found in vehicles reported bv
drivers, 49, cases tried at Police Court, "a;
cases amicably adjusted 80; hack stands in the
city, IS, visits TO the various stands, 1874.
HIS INSPECTION OF THE vEBIcLKa
Following this he says:
have personally inspected all licensed pub
lie vehicles and rejected all unfit for service.
have found few not exactly in appearance
as / would want them, but have not rejected
them, because the substantialness which they
had is the most essential qualification. Trade
regulates appearances. Patrons always select
tne INES. appearing yehlcles, and owners, real
zing this, are seldom slow to discover that it is
to their financial benefit not to allow their We
hlcles to become very shabby in appearance
Ny frequent visits to the hack stands resulted in
"a marked improvement in the appearance Of
vehicles and benefited the service in general
All cases Of the slightest irregularity were inn
mediately investigated and the guilty par ties
held to strict account.
As much as l can learn OF other cities I be-
lieve that our hack system Is at presen. effectu-
ally second to that Of no other city. Yet there
is room for improvement.
respectfully suggest that your suggestion Of
the last fiscal year to the honorable Commits
sioners to license all drivers Of public vehicles
be again urged upon them. Also that provis-
ion be made to publish in pamphlet form all
the laws pertaining to the hack service. q copy
to be furnished each driver, that they may be
conversant with every detail and have no ex-
cuse to plead ignorance Of any Of the laws and
regulations.
In conclusion allow me 70 express my thanks
for your many untirinS efforts, kind acts and
beneficial suggestions for the promotion Of the
hack service. l must not neglect also to
acknowledge my appreciation of the earnest
efforts Of many of the officers Of your depart
ment to give to this representative city . repre-
sentative hack system.
TIE cABxANs SIDE
All stories have several sides and this story
is no exception to the general rule. The other
side this time is the cabman's side. What does
he think about il all? This il no. such an EASY