New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-23
~ ACT OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

It is pleasant we'll as just to say, with such
apologies as may be due to Mr.. Samuel L.
Clemens for calling him 'out of his name"
when his civic rather than his literary quality
is under consideration, that Mark Twain has
performed an important public service in bring
ing an eXtortionate cabman to account. He
would have had the inward joy of acquitting
his own conscience if he had lost his case, but
as the affair turned out he has the additional
satisfaction of knowing that through his agency
one of the vehcular pirates who infest New
York has been temporarily reduced to the ranks
of the unemployed Possibly, however, that is
the one feature of the transaction which a
benevolent temper leads him to regret and he
may even be tempted to interest himself in be-
half of the unhappy cabman, with whom he
saws he has no quarrel the real criminal being
the public which suffers from an outrage Of
its own creation. But are inclined to hope
that he will not run the risk Of weakening the
salutary impression which his action is calcu-
lated to produce upon the cab drivers Of this
city They stand in urgent need of rigorous
discipline, and there is no reason to fear that
the wholesome lesson just administered to one
Of their number will be taken too much to heart
by the rest of them.
Not infreQuently some one holding by way
of charity or business. a brief for the cabmen
and downtrodden race, whose persistence in an
avocation which subjects them to grievous
hardships and pays them little or nothing is
of the insoluble mysteries. But general
observation fails TO confirm that sorrowful view
of the case. On the contrary it strongly sup
ports the belief that, in spite of being on the
whole a pretty poor lot. they lead a far from
intolerable existence. They almost invariably
demand larger fare than the statutory regu-
lations allow them, and are insolent if not
actually violent when they fail to get it. Many
Of them, moreover, being inordinately indolent
and shiftless, will actually refuse, when negoti-
atoms attempted in advance, to drive per-
son TO his destination for the amount specified
the cards which are concealed somewhere
about their cabs preferring to earn nothing
rather than intermit the practice of extortion.
1t would always be funny If it were not usually
exasperating to observe such obstnately stupid
adherence to a code Of rapacity.
Those who are constantly becoming the vic
tins of such methods of carrying on an impor
tant business would soon be relieved if all who
are able to defend their rights should follow
Mark Twain's example, or indeed. if only
comparatively small proportion We're to do So
OF course. there are many cases in which it
would require an excessive sacrifice to put the
offender through. but it is not creditable to the
National character that Americans so rarely
take the trouble to make their personal expert
ences the means of rectifying a general abuse
Mark Twain has done a practical thing in
public spirited way. and increased the obliga-
ton under which he has put the community by
emphatic declaration of his motives. 1T am
doing this he said yesterday TO the official in
charge Of the proceedings, 'Just as any citizen
who is worthy Of the name of citizen should
"do. He has no choice. He has distinct duty.
HE is non-classi1ed policeman. and is bound
"to assist the police and the magistracy in every
way he can. and give his time. if necessary. 70
"do So
That is conception of civic responsibility
which is too seldom exemplif1ed in this coun-
try, and the consequence is that in other coun-
tries existence is in some important respects
more comfortable than il is in the Tinted
States