The evening times., 1898-12-06
Do Not Like the Commission
ers' Recommendations.
RELATIVE TO CAB SERVICE
Views of Secretary Hodkinson, OF
the Hack Drivers Association.
Says There Is Marked Discrimina-
tIOn in Favor of the Pennsyivi-
MIA Cab System.


the recommendations made to the Pres
ident by the District Commissioners
in their annual report. AS soon as the
men had read the paragraph which re-
lates to the regulation of the cab stands
they gathered in knots and discussed the
situation.
The District officials are not very COM
municative on the subject. affirming that
all there was to be said from their point
of view was contained in the report and
in Commissioner Wight's recommenda-
ton. for 1t was the idea, although the
report is credited to the entire board.
The cabmen, on the contrary, are very
glad of the opportunity to talk, and when
a reporter. for The Times called at one
of the stands he had no difficulty in fId-
ing one of the men who was sufficiently
posted on the subject to give an intelli-
gent opinion from the cabmen's point
of view.
II desire to say that the paragraph
in the report of the Commissioners re-
lating to regulation of the public We
hicles is propounded in a discrimnai ing
and deceiving manner said John II. d.
kinson. secretary of the Hackmen and
Cab Drivers Protective Association. 1T
gives to a corporation not belonging 10
this city every possible advantage that
would tend to put several hundred cit
zens of the District out of employ ment.
In December, 1891, the District COM
, nittee presented bin before Congress
asking that the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company be given the riSht TO estab ism
a cab service at their station in this city,
and which, also, gives the Commiss on
ers authority TO abolish, des gnate and
regulate all hack stands in the DistIict
of Columbia. The bill passed and be-
came law in March last, and on Novem-
ber last the Pennsylvania Railroad lut
into service their cab system.
The Commissioners gave them eXclu-
sive right OF way at the station, which is
built on public grounds, and the cab
stand constitutes part of the public
street, at the same time directing the
local cabmen who had been earning a
living there for at least twenty-five
years to leave the stand and go el~e-
where, informing them that the order
would be strictly enforced.
u will admit that the Commissioners
! have power to abolish. designate and
regulate all hack stands in the d
Of Columbia. but / would very much
like to know who gave them the rgnt
To discriminate by giving the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad exclusive right of way on a
public cab stand?
II find in the report of the assessor of
! the District that the local cabmen have
| paid nearly 5000 annually for license,
| and their hearts and-fainds were stirred
J fg,.. Of h1in daTar Of
! ing a living by one man who had no le-
! gal right to commit such a disgraceful
| outrage. The report is r0Ihing less than
| a broad advertisement for the PennsylVd-
! MIA cab service The Commissioners also
/ gave them the authority 10 charge the
/ public extra for all baggage. For in
stance, any passenger carrying one trunk
/ and two satchels is compelled to pay the
eXtortIOnate price of 10 cents for fifteen
! squares or less, which would constitute
, one and a half miles. while they issue a
| standing rate of fare for the local cabs
| of this city, allowing a local eabman Ia
/ charge only . cents for the same dis
| tance, thus giving the Pennsylvania Cab
! Company the advantage of IS cents over
I the local cabmen. Should local cabmar
! charge passenger more than % cents he
! is subject to fine of not less than s. and
| imprisonment for a period not exceeding
! twenty days. Again, should passenger
desire two-horse vehicle he is compelled
to walk up Pennsylvania Avenue until he
| finds one. l know that there are scores
| of people who come to this city who dc
not like the idea of being compelled tc
ride in a cab that has an advertisement
across its side.
us all this done by the Commissioners
to promote the interests of the travelling
public. as the Commissioners state in Their
annual report to the President of the
! United States. or is it done to promote
the advantage of the Pennsylvania Cal
| Company?
THE cabmen of this city do not pro.
pose to be imposed upon, nor will they
tolerate such discriminating orders"