New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-25
EXTORTIONATE CAB FARES.
HOW PEOPLE IN NETWORK CITY ARE
ROBBED.
THEY SHOULD PAY ONLY THE LEGAL RATES
EXCESSIVE CHARGES OF LIVERY
STABLE KEEPERS.


who provide and drive vehicles for public con-
vovance In this city are scarcely surpassed in out
"a geousness BY those OF The greedy pawnbroker
In Paris ore may be transported 20 any point with
r. the cd city walls FOR 30 cents, and similarly
reasonable rates of fare are charged in other
atlantic capitals In Boston Philadelphia. Balt-
more Washington, Chicago and other large Ameri-
can cities excessive rates are practically unknown
and the Nations great metropolis stands alone as
the one large city in which shamefully exorbitant
rates are habltually exacted Notwithstanding the
fact that the city ordinances provide scale Ok
legal rates sufficiently liberal TO insure large profit
to the cab or coach owner driver he VINO would
ride is swlndlei with astonishing frequency The
city ordinances on the subject have recently been
amended in some important particulars, and in
order TO show precisely what rates are now
authorized a summary of the principal regulations.
"a amended which went into effect on March IT,
IS here presented:
LEGAL RATES OF FARE FOR CABS AND COACHES
For conveying more persons any distance
I'm 2 cab sums not exceeding 80 cents for the first
mile or part thereof; and each additional half mile
or part thereof. % cents. For stops of over tve
minutes and not exceeding fifteen minutes. % cents.
For longer stops % for every fifteen minutes
or fraction thereof. II more than five minutes For
a stop not exceeding five minutes in a single trip
charge.
For the use Of a cab by the hour for shopping
or making calls. with the privilege Of stopping as
often and long may be required. or for con-
tinuous riding. such rates may be made as shall be
agreed upon in advance not exceeding 81 for the
first hour or part thereof and 80 cents for each
succeeding half-hour or part thereof but In case
no advance agreement is made. tn driver may re-
fuse 70 accept the hourly rate and charge the mile
rate
For conveying one more persons any distance
I'm a coach sums not exceeding 81 for the first mile
or part thereof and each additional haif-miie or
part thereof ~ cents. For stops Of over five MIN
utes and not exceeding fifteen minutes. % cents
For longer stops. IS cents for every fifteen minutes
For stop not exceeding five minutes in a single
trip Their, will be- no charge
For the use Of a coach by the hour for shopping
or making calls with privilege Of going from pace
to place and stopping often and long as may be
REQUIRED or FOR continuous riding. such rates may
b. made - shall D" agrc.d upon in advanc" not
exc,clng 81 % for the fret hour or part thereof
AMI FOR each succeeding half-hour or part thereof.
10 cents but I'm case no advance agreement Is made
tho driver may rrfus. accept the hourly rate and
charge the mile rate.
For conveying one or two persons In coach
from cline balls" the rate shall not exceed $ Tor
the first mic part thereof. AMI 80 cents for each
succeeding half-mlc or plrt thereof. Every adj
ditionaI passenger beyond Two VIII he charged %
cents mile.
~ cab or coach shall be driven hy the lime rate
at a pace less than i've miles an hour
Every owner or driver of any hackney coach or
baggage not - exceed hfy pounds in weight. with
ont extra charge but FOR any additional baggage NJ
shall be entitled 20 * 81 compensation AT - cents
piece.
Every hackney coach or cab must nave It's
license number prominently displayed on its side
lamps which must b. Kept lighted after dark WHILE
the y, ai,.e "a waiting for employment on any pubic
stand Every one mus; also have .ts number plainly
engraved n bod letters on a metallic Plate which
mus, b. conspcuousiy displayed ~ III times y
card which the legal rates are printed must hans
in pain sight inside Of every vehicle. at least two
feet above the under penalty OF the arrest and
firing OF It's owner driver and revocation OF his
license the amount Of fine being $40. Every driver
is required 10 hand passenger rate card before
he Is employed.
THEY MUST BE LICENSED
All hackney AMI livery or special cabs or coaches
and their drivers mus be- annually licensed. Fol
lowing Is the rate Of licenses: For hackney cabs.
g. for the nr.t ncens. and 81 for renewals; hackney
coaches. 81. AM 81 80 for renewals; special cabs s.
and 81 81 for renewai,r special coaches g. and s. 50
for renewals. drivers. - cents a year.
The official table Of distances between different
parts Of The city IS as follows:
From South Ferry Wa-s;.. y mile city Hail.
mile: Canal-st Il. miles; Houston-st > miles,
Fourth-st o.. miles: Fourteenth-st q. miles:
Twcnty -fourth-st.. 81. miles; Thirty-seventh-st.
miles. Forty-second-st.. q. mhes; Sixty-second-st
y. miles Eighty secondst.. 81 miles; onehundred-
and sccoud-st. "a miles; -hundr,d-ahH-tWehty
second-st. miles.
East and west from broadway to East River.
across Fourteenth-s,. mile. East River across
Twenty hirl-st.. mile: East River across Thirty
fourh-st. :. milo; East River. across Forty-second-
ST. mile: East River, across Fifty-nnth-st, Ia
miles. Hudson River, across Fourteenth-st Ia miles
HUDSON River across Twenty-thrd-st., II, miles;
Hudson River. across Thirty-fourth-st, IA miles;
Hudson River across Forty-sccond-st.. mile, Hud
son River. across Flty -nInh-st.. = mile.
All disputes about prices. time or distance shall
be settled by the Mayors Marshal. or by the
captain sergeant or other officer in charge OF the
polio. station to which the dspuants are nearest
the time Of the dispute.
| THE AMENDMENTS OFFICIALLY APPROVED
Mayors Marshal Daniel Engiehard. in convers-
| ing with a Tribune reporter regarding the amend
mens. expressed his approval OF them especially of
| one providing for the prompt settlement Of com
| plants against overcharges. Under the OLD or
| dinances persons who desired to make complaints
| were compelled lay them before the Mayors
Marshal. AT the city Hall. on one day and appear
before him. with the owners drivers against who
the complaints were made on the following DAY LOT
| a hearing. \ part OF two days being thus con-
| sumec by aggricyed persons while seeking redress
| many were deferred from making complaints ana
| the offenders escaped the consequences Of their
| extortlon. The new ordinances. however. provide
| that besides the Mayors Marshal. the officer In
charge Of any police station may receive complaints
settle them on the spot thereby obvating any con-
siderable loss of time on the part OF complainants
| COACHES AND FARES AT LINE BALLS"
| Another good amendment is for regulating the
rate Of coaches at Zine balls" where. on account
] of the confusion caused by large number. some
| times as many l50 being called at the same
time at the close OF great balls. 1t found neces-
sary to arrange them in line and have the first per-
| son making exit from the ballroom take the first
coach on the line the second person the next, and
| so on In consecutive order Formerly all the great
| balls were held In the Academy of Music. in Four
feminist and the rate then for one or two persons
| rid oh fhGnRg n
! Fifty-nlnth-st was ST. to which added charge
| at the OF 80 cents mile for each mile or
| fraction OF a mile north OF that street. each adj
| dtional passenger beyond two being charged %
| cents mile.
| When the balls began 10 be held further uptown
| at the Metropolitan Opera House. Forty-rst-st
and Broadway: Carnegie Hall, Fifty seventh-st, and
L L 49,. IL