Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-28
LAW GOVERNING VEHICLES
Regulation Revived Against Broken-Down
Hacks and Offensive Drivers.
Police Given Instructions to EnfOre
observation-disclosures Action Re-
specting Licenses.

Many complaints have been made to the
District Commissioners recently respecting
the conduct Of hackmen, expressmen and
hotel and boarding house porters and run
ners at the railroad stations, it being charg-
ed that they are exceedingly annoying to
the travelling public. A number of COM
plants have also been made respecting the
dirty and seemingly brok en-down public We
hicles which are permitted to stand about
the railroad stations and wharves, as well
as on many Of the public hack stands. One
of the complainants was Senator Mcmillan,
chairman of thu Senate District committee,
who, in a letter to Commissioner Wight.
stated that 1t is almost impossible to set
either at the Capitol or at one of tho rail-
road stations, a decent vehicle. He inquir-
ed If it is not in the power of the District
Commissioners to make such regulations as
will provide suitable carriages for the ac-
commoda ton of the public here.
Commissioner Wight. who has immediate
charge of such matters, and VINO has been
considering the subject for some time. has
found that there is sufficient law under
which to protect the public, and at the same
time do away with unclean and broken
down vehicles. He discovered, among other
things, the following law, section 20 of the
act of the legislative assembly of August
%, 1871:
He Uhe inspector of hacks shall have
further power to condemn any vehicle for
public hire which is unclean, very badly
worn or in an unsafe condition. An appaal
from his decision may be made to the sup
erntendent Of police, whose decision, which
shall be in writing, shall be final.
Still In Force.
Mr.. Wight has consulted the judges OF
the Police Court and Prosecuting Attor-
ney Pugh as to whether this law is still
in force, and they have informed him that,
in their opinion it is. Therefore Mr.. Wight
has directed the superintendent of police
to take such action may be necessary
to enforce not only this law, but also the
law governing the conduct of hackmen, eX-
pressmen and hotel porters and runners,
whose importuning of the travelling pubnc
at the railroad stations and wharves has,
according to the complaints received, be-
come an intolerable nuisance. Under the
instructions which the superintendent OF
police will at once give to policemen, driV-
ers of hotel 'busses and hacl<men will be
required to stand close to their respective
vehicles, and drivers of public express
wagons will not be allowed to leave their
wagons for greater distance than five
feet. No hotel porter runner or
driver agent of public express wagons
will be permitted to occupy the pavements
for the purpose of soliciting patronage, nor
will they be allowed to follow up people
for the purpose of soliciting their patron
age.
Commissioner Wight does not, or course,
desire to interfere with the legitimate cali
ing of any one, provided they prosecute
their business under the law and within
proper bounds, but he is determined to pre-
serve order at the railroad stations and
Wharves and to protect the travelling pub
lie from The annoyances to which it has
been and is now being subjected. And,
while he will not endeaVor to drive any one
out of business. he viii make every effort
to provide the public, by the enforcement
of the law of 1871, with decent and safe
public vehicles.