New-York tribune., 1902-04-28
BLAMES PUBLIC CABMEN.
SAID TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER
| CHARGING.
W. H. SEAICH DISCUSSES THE SITUATION
FROM A PRIVATE OWNERS
POINT OF VIEW

William H. seaich, proprietor of the Opera
Livery Stables No. 30 East Thirty-second-st'
recently talked freely concerning cab abuses IN
this CITY. His main point was that public cab
men were responsible for most of the overchars-
ing Naturally this view is at direct variance
with that held by the public licensed cabmen-
Mr.. Seaich said:
IT own three hundred horses. many excellent
carriages, and I employ a large force OF men.
have contracts with the Waldorf. the Holland
House. Hotel Cambridge, the Park Avenue Hotei
and the Ashland House to supply them with
cabs and carriages at short notice. have built
up a fairly remunerative business, and because
of success the public hackmen have started
against this a querulous complaint that the
whole guilt of overcharging falls on the head of
us proprietors.
IT pay to the city for special licenses $25 for
every cab allowed on the private stands about
the hotels with which hold contracts. In ad-
dtion to this license pay So for each carriage
and So for each hanson as a regular license.
The special license imposed a number OF
years ago. The public hackfnen tried to brow
beat the Board of Aldermen into making it 500
The tact that pay this special license proves
that I have a sole right to the use of these
stands. Section i3 of the license ordinance gives
me this when it says no other licensed hack
shall come upon or use said stand The
whole trouble. confusion and the great number
of accidents hear about are due to the fact
that, against the law, the cruisers, or public
cabmen stand on specially licensed ground and
solicit passengers from this vantage point. They
are particularly bad on the Thirty third-st. side
of the Waldorf 1 have seen fifty Of them there
at time. We have appealed again and again
to the police. I have sent complaints to the
Mayors marshal until l sick and tired OF
1t. These cruisers are the ones who do the
overcharging They are a miscellaneous, ire
sponsbe lot, whom one seems to be able to
control. They charge what they like. Every
charge that my men make is recorded on the
books of the hotels from which they take pas
sengers. Very little cash goes through the hands
of the drivers except in the cese where persons
in the hotels who not guests call for cab
and pay for the ride when they have reached
their destination.
The public hackmen complain that private
stable hacks pick up customers from the side
walks beyond the private stands. confess that
this is done. cabman is tempted to get
dollar two a return trip, and thus compete
with the public hackmen. but have placed or
ders all over my office stringently forbidding
this practice. do not think the habit gen
erai one.
Suppose the Waldorf could not have one
responsible person to whom they could look TO
to supply their guests with cabs. Suppose they
had TO depend on the cruisers and their fiuctu-
ating. inordinate prices. How could the Wal
dorf. that little city, have system OF cab BOOK
keeping. Of starting, etc. as ii does now? Pub
lie cabmen have only hansons and cabs. Last
Sunday sent over eighteen Victories in thirty
minutes TO the Waldorf. besides brcughans,
single and double: cabrtolets and buses. These
rigs OF the best quality. Guests demand
that there be numbers on the carriages In
which they ride. They would not step into
carriage unless the driver was In livery. Hotel
proprietors must hire good rigs from responsible
parties. to whom they can go when n complaint
comes up
Now to rates: From the Holland
House or the waldorf 10 the Grand Central Sta
tion charge 80 cents: TO the Long Island
ferry 70 cents to steamer points above Canal
St 81 80: below Canal-st.. 81. These rates
for hansoms and cabs. Then charge 81
hour for shopping trips. and The city
has nothing to do with our rates any more than
owns. But have regular schedule OF
prices: regular customers know what these
prices are. and rarely receive a complaint.
! have told you these facts to strengthen my
argument that We property owners have repu-
tation to sustain. and that these complaining
public drivers unduly caustic and unreason-
able
Private stands are legal, and have been de-
clared such. I have thirty cabs about the Wal
dorf. All licensed. in spite of what other
cabmen may say. L sure l wish some
abuses could be effected. I have recently talked
with members or the Merchants Association
and with the Mayors marshal concerning these
matters. / hope some permanent good may
come from the resolutions asking for relief from
the overchargng which are now being prepared.
and which will. understand. be submitted soon
to the Board of Aldermen"