The times., 1899-06-14
THE. CAB STANDS At
HOTELS ABOLISHED
An Order Promulgated by the
Commissioners.
The Work of the Hackmen's and
Cabmen's Association.
Result of the Decision of the Court
of Appeals in the Railroad
station Case.

Since the organization of the Hackmen's
and Cabmen's Protective Association,
which was effected some months ago as an
outgrowth of the agitation by local ijehus
against what was alleged to be discrim-
ination against them in favor of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, which was granted GER
tain privilege at its Sixth Street station,
pot, the association has waged n vigorous
and effective fight in favor of its members.
In the matter of the railroad station cab
stand privilege the controversy was car
ried from court to court until decision
was rendered by the District Court of APP
peals holding that the District Commits
sioners had no authority to grant special
privileges to the Pennsylvania Railroad
cab service.
Attention was next directed toward the
special privileges which have been granted
to a number of local hotels during the past
decade, permitting them to maintain what
are known as hotel cab stands" in front
of their establishments. A number OF up
town hotels have been granted this priv
ilege which has allowed them to keep two
or more vehicles in front of their entrances
for the accommodation of guests. The
cabmen belonging to the association con-
sidered this unjust discrimination, and in
recently wrote to the District Commission
eTs protesting against the use of the
streets of the city for private hotel cab
stands unless that use is also open to all
cabmen in the District. He maintained
that under the recent decision of the Dis
trict Court Of Appeals no preference could
be shown.
Upon investigation the Commissioners
come to the conclusion that they could not
authorize stands for special vehicles and
yesterday issued an order annuiling all
former ones which had been promulgated
SO as to permit certain hotels to use the
streets for their own vehicles.
The letter of Attorney Baker which led
the Commissioners to take this action,
and which will probably rouse the ire OF
hotel men, referred particularly to the
stands in front of the Arlington Hotel, the
Hotel Gordon, the Shoreham Hotel, the
Hotel Raleigh, and said that there were
numerous others.
These cabmen,'' says the letter, claim
the right to stand there by virtue of special
permission from the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia. From my examina-
tion Of the police ordinances l find no
such order permitting the public streets
TO be used in the manner described |
am informed that this order is not crit-
ten, but a mere verbal preference given to
certain hotels, giving them authority to
use the public streets for the use of these
carriages, some of which do not pay any
license, as prescribed by law. Under the
decision of the Court OF Appeals, no such
unlawful preference can be given and |
presume that when / call your attention to
the matter, you, as executive, will either
revoke this order, or make such an order
as comes within the decision of the Court
of Appeals, which is as binding on you as
on all other persons in the District"
hass@ esrlN g-T Tp.r.
| the first official to whom the question was
referred by the Commissioners. After
lapse of several days he reported that dur
| ing May, 1887 a number of hotel proprie-
tors were granted the privilege of reserv-
/ ing spaces in front of their respective
places OF business for designated livery
firms, who provided carriages for the ac-
commodation Of the guests of such hotels
Major Sylvester reported that he had been
| informed that in the absence of authority
to issue such permits. no order was issued
to that effect, beyond giving the Police
Department oral instructions to allow such
privileges, subject to the pleasure of the
Board of Commissioners.
The result reported Major Sylvester,
was that Messrs. Leddingham and Whit
ticomb were allowed to stand four cabs
in front of Willard's Hotel, Allison Nailor.
1r., was allowed stand in front of the
RIGGS House, Mr.. Berry was allowed to
stand one cab in front of the Ebbitt House
and Mr.. Smith was allowed to locate cabs
in front of the Arlington. In May, 1894.
Mr.. Page was given the same privilege in
| front Of Pages Hotel. In the same year
the Howard House, upon the recommen-
dation of the Hack Inspector. was allowed
| two carriages. from a licensed livery stable,
| to stand in front of that hotel In 1896
by order of the Commissioners. w E.
Cralle, of the Arno Hotel, was allowed to
stand one cab in front of his house. In
1897, P. P. Murphy was granted a similar
| privilege for two vehicles, for the use
| OF the patrons of his house. In 1898, L.
| NJ. Fitch was granted like privilege in
| front of the Hotel wellington"
| Major sylvester said, in conclusion that
| from the best information at hand, includ-
| ing the decision of the District Court of
| Appeals, IN the case of the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad cab stand, the question resolved
| itself into one OF the authority OF the
Commissioners to establish stands for the
| special purposes of Washington hotels.
After having received the report of the
| Chief of Police, and having agreed that
they were without authority to grant per-
mission to establish private stands. the
| commissioners requested Major Sylvester
| to furnish list of such hotels as in his
| opinion should have stands in front of
| them, with the number of cabs that such
| be allowed on each stand. The Commits
| sioners also informed the Chief that they
believed they could establish hotel cab
stands for given number of carriages.
| provided no preferences were shown and
the first carriages at the stand permitted
| to occupy them.
In compliance with this request Major
| Sylvester reported several days ago that
he had talked with the managers and pro-
| prietors of the Hotel Shoreham, WflIard's
| Hotel, the Ehbitt House, the Howard
| House, the Hotel Wellington, the Raleigh
| Hotel, and the st. James Hotel. and ascer-
| tanned that none desired the establishment
| of stands in front of their premises if
they were to be used indiscriminately by
| other than regular hotel carriages
| Thereupon the following order was issued
| by the Commissioners:
"All orders or understandings of the
| Commissioners, written or oral under
| which hack stands have been located in
| front of hotels for the special accommoda-
| ton of such hotels are hereby revoked -
| The revocation of these agreements with
the hotel men makes it unlawful for any
stands for cabs or vehicles for hire in
front of any Washington hotel, and only
such cabs and carriages as have been called
| to convey passengers will be allowed in
| front of hotels and then, only while wait
! ing for the parties who gave the order for
| them.