Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-17
PUBLIC VEHICLE SERVICE
Reports of Hack Inspector Show Decided
Improvement.
Plans of Superintendent of Police
when Congress Shall Grant
Increase of Force.

The reports made during recent weeks
by Hack Inspector Lamb show decided
Improvement in the condition of the public
vehicle service in this city. Since Major
Sylvester took charge of the police force
a number of changes in the service have
been effected.
The latest move in the line of improve
ment is the requirement on the part of the
authorities that each public vehicle shall
always keep in pocket, in a conspicuous
place. a number of leaflets showing the
rate of fare allowed under the law and
also giving the number of each vehicle.
Passengers are supposed 20 take one of
these leaflets, and. in the event of subse-
quent trouble, no difficulty will be expert
enced in locating the driver complained of.
The numbers of the licenses are printed
on the Sl'IS.
On the back of each slip several sections
of the police regulations are printed for
the instruction of passengers. They are
given as follows:
I'm cas- of any disagreement between
the driver and the passenger of a hack,
the same may be referred by the passen-
ger to the nearest police station. whittier
the driver shall convey him without dis
cussion or delay. and the decision of the
lieutenant of police or other officer in
charge of such station shall be conclusive;
and in case the passenger is about to leave
by raj road, stage or steamboat, such dis
agreement shall be summarily decided by
the police officer or principal police officer
on duty at the station or other place of
departure. If decision is in favor of the
passenger the driver must carry him from
police station to his original destination
without additional charge.
Outside the City.
Fare to points outside the city of Wash
irgton shall be charged by the hour, but
vehicles dismissed outside the city limits
may charge 25 cents additional.
When a passenger desires to have bag
gage carried with him the driver shall be
entitled to make charge not TO exceed 25
cents for each trunk and 10 cents for each
large valise or bag. Each passenger shall
charge such other small packages as can
be conveniently carried within the hack,
and the driver shall load and unload all
baggage without charge
This method of assisting and protecting
passengers is somewhat similar. it is stated,
to the method in vogue in Paris.
There are about 415 licensed vehicles in
this city, and the stands set apart for
them will accommodate only about half this
number. Under ordinary conditions it is
believed by the authorities that not many
more than half of the vehicles are out at
one time. The fact that there is not room
enough for all of them is frequently given
as an excuse by drivers who are arrested
for lettering about the streets, or crab
bling" as the soliciting Of business is term
ed. Because Of this condition of affairs
Maj Sylvester has been looking over the
public stands and arranging for the placing
of additional vehicles at each. 1t is prob
able, also, that several new stands will
be designated
The Ancient Cabs.
Last year. when Major Sylvester started
out to improve the service, he put on two
inspectors, and by working night and day
they succeeded in getting rid of the old We
hicles which were unfit for use. A number
of them were on the verge of collapse, it is
said, in addition to requiring action on the
part of the health authorities. The result
was a decided change for the better in the
appearance of many of the vehicles, and
the owners have since reported an increase
In the number of passengers. Recently an
old vehicle was found on the street and its
owner was arrested and fined. Last year
seventy-seven arrests were made and forty
one cases were settled out of court. There
were only five cases of overcharging
Some trouble has been experienced 1t Is
said. in having cab drivers observe the
rules of the road. If all would obey them
Major Sylvester thinks, their example
would be followed by the drivers of other
vehicles and there would be fewer acct
dents. When Congress gets generous and
gives the District sufficient number of
policemen, Major Sylvester says he will de-
tail officers at points where streets and
avenues converge to direct the movements
OF vehicles. 1t IS also the intention of Ma
1or Sylvester to have more policemen on
duty along the crowded thoroughfares. with
authority to compel drivers to stop and
allow pedestrians to go over the crossings
without fear of being run over On account
of the size of the force, however men cam
not be spared for this duty now.