Evening star., 1899-03-06
INSPECTOR CROFT REPORTS.
Is of Opinion That Complaints Against
HacLsEien Are tnfOunded.

Is of Opinion That Complaints Against
HacLEien Are Unfounded.
1t Will be recalled that complaint WAS re-
Gently made to the District Commissioners
that the cabmen occupying the stand at
the corner of NJ street and Connecticut ave-
nue. are accustomed TO overcharge their
customers. The Commissioners referred the
matter tc Policeman Samuel A. Groff. the
! hack inspector, who has reported that in
his opinion the extremely bad weather oc-
casioned the complaint on the day mention
ed by the complainant. the 18th of last
month. the horses being so exhausted
travelling the heavy roadwayS that they
were unfit for immediate service. Officer
Croft does not explain why animals unit
for in mediate service were occupying the
stand, but says the cabulan complained or,
No. 142, did not occupy the stand that day.
He also states that SO far he has been un-
able to ascertain who was the OFFENDING
party.
Mr.. Roteriean Buchanan Of 2oI5 Q street
subsequently wrote the Commissioners that,
having seen the first complaint In The Star,
he wished to say that he could corroborate
it, saying that his experience with the cab
men on that corner has been similar to that
mentioned by the first complainant
Il recall" he wrote. that once they all
refused 10 take me somewhere for the legal
rates This conspiracy among these
hackmen has been going on, TO my know
ledge, for at least four years, and beg
your honorable board, Tor the SOoQ Oh alL
interested, to put a stop to It
Mr.. Buchanan's complaint was also re-
ferred to Hack Inspector Gron. who has
reported to the Commissioners as follows;
After thoroughly investigating the WITH
in complaint, l lind that some time ago
gentleman. who may have been the COM
plainant in this case, called at the hack
stand at 18th and NJ streets and ASKED
for conveyance. He said: i VIII pay SO
much and no more for the service The
hackmen showed him our hack card and
explained that they were entitled by law 10
more than he offered. He then said; Now.
if you don't want this job / can get others
who will be glad for it, He then left the
stand in an unpleasant mood. Be that as
it may, when the writer says There exists
a conspiracy for at least four years 10
my personal knowledge he is greatly mis-
taken. Such an arrangement could not
possibly exist, except for a very short
time, before | would have knowledge Of 81,
as my frequent visits to the various Lack
stands. and the many honest, taltht mack
men who would only be too glad to fmme-
diately inform me of such transactions,
would surely make such thing impossible.
/ must, in all candor, say that our mack
men are very often criticised un1usty.
Nevertheless, these communications have
constrained me to see nearly all OF our
hackmen, lecturing and cautioning them
against all and any violations OF the law.
In forwarding the reports of officer Croft
to the Commissioners, Chief Sylvester
stated that a delegation or cabmen from
the stand denied to him the allegations
made against them. As to the alleged con-
spiracy among them. he said he does not
believe such a condition could be maintain
ed for any length of time without discov-
cry, as the readiness Of persons imposed
upon to report the same as police expert
ence and the records show, would, in his
opinion, stop such an undertaking without
much delay. The police department, he as
sures the Commissioners, Will continue to
do the best it can to keep down complaint.
Replying to the complainants, the Commits
sioners will communicate to them the SUBJ
stance OF the reports made to them.