The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-03
SAY IT IS UNF AIR.
Topeka Hackmen Discuss Ordi-
nance Regulating Fares.
Call Attention to Important
Feature Overlooked.
THE RATE PER HOUR.
No Provision Made Except on
Trip Basis.
Will Ask Council to Repeal the
Measure.

Measure.
The drivers of hacks will meet with
the streets and walks committee of the
city council on Friday evening, July IL.
to make a protest against the present
city ordinance relating to and regulat-
ing hack fares.
The hack drivers have united to Sc
cure the repeal of this ordinance which
they declare is unconstitutional. They
believe that they are able to put their
case before the committee of the city
council in the light that it will be clear
ly seen that the present city ordinance
is oppressive and inequitable, and that
the operation of the ordinance will have
tendency to drive men out of the bus
mess for the reason that sufficient
amount they assert. to keep above ex-
penseS may not be earned in accord
ance with the new law
Charles Robertson who has hack
stand at Sixth and Kansas avenue has
been prominent in the fight to have the
ordinance repealed. Robertson has been
in business in Topeka for twenty years
and declares that the terms of the new
ordinance are prOhibitive
The present ordinance describes bOun-
DIARIES ON each side of the city within
which hack drivers are only allowed to
collect a thirty-five cent fare; and out
side of which only fifty cents is allowed.
The ordinance does not take into con-
Sideration rate per hour, so that
hack driver who is called, say for in
stance, to a point in the city near the
southern boundary of the area in which
the th1rty-five cent fare is charged, ana
a passenger is taken from that
point to some point near the northern
boundary line in the city, the driver
must drive from his stand to the house;
carry the passenger across the city and
return to his stand, making from five
to six miles drive for which he is only
allowed by the provisions of the city
ordinance, q fare of thirty-five cents.
Then, perhaps, the hack has been called
for this fare by the aid of the A. D. T.
service. This costs the driver ten cents.
leaving a fare of twenty-five cents for
the drive.
This is unjust" said Chas Robert
son, after describing in detail the posi-
bilities of this situation. Under the
old ordinance passed in 1879 we were al
lowed to make a charge of a certain
sum per hour where. in cases of the
kind above suggested, the passenger
keeps the driver out an hour or two on
single trip. That was just ordinance
But that present ordinance was most
undoubtedly written by some one who
does not know anything about the bus
mess. This clause of the ordinance was
left out entirely and the hack driver
has no alternative in the matter at all
If the party desires to be mean, after
riding across the city.
If the 35 cent fare ordinance is kept
in force under the conditions prescrib-
ed in this ordinance III regard to dis
tances which a passenger must be car
ried for that fare, the hack drivers will
lose money. Nowadays a man has to
keep a better hack. must have rubber
tires, must make more repairs, ETC., to
get trade, all of which costs lots of
money. Feed is high Last winter for
instance. hay was high; ST per ton, and
now it costs considerably over a dollar
for chopped corn for the horses A hack
driver must also have two teams or at
in, r,-5o 10 how n
team if one horse should become sick
or tagged out from a long hard drive
And again, the present city ordi-
nance makes the lack drivers day 10
hours long. This is manifestly unjust.
Wages for night work in every profess
sion, no matter what line, are always
higher than wages for day work. The
old ordinance under which we have
worked here for 20 years. allowed us a
fare of so cents, and for time rates,
made a provision for charging 81. so for
the first hour and 81 for each successive
hour after that. This rate usually ap-
piled to one or more persons at one
time. The night rate was double the
I'VE will be forced to make a test case
and carry the matter to the supreme
court If the city council cannot see its
way clear to repeal the ordinance" said
Mr.. Robertson. 1.-The present ordinance
is clearly unconstitutional is class leg
islation and unjust, and we are advised
mat tACIC Ndn Dc IlO uOuDl u lie dC-
ton of the supreme court if the case is
brought to that court.
cens Reeye the 5 sRe LICENSE n tax
is unjust If we are selected to pay this
occupation tax, fail to see why it is not
quiring a special tax from . ali lines Of
business. I did my best to win out in
vdy Of M f1 fsSs the
other hack drivers. did not stand by me
ure from our point of view. It will be
much more difficult to secure decision in
@ snd have lae eomp heSe wt tSe
terms Of the ordinance in respect to the
Us to operate our hacks under the si present emf
hack fare ordinance
I'M In Topeda there are about twenty street
hacks. The liverymen are with the street
Proposition. and are ghtng e t hair o oare
battles in regard to the special tax ordi-
Keeping livery hacks they are EXEMPT 9aso from 01
the new special tax.
Among those who will come before the
council next week are Charles Robertson
Eelheimer, DeMoss & Penwell, G. H. CUP
H. G Lindsay, M L. Emmons. W. M
md MARBLE Bros
1T is not the people who have money
ng on the 50 cent fare: t is the people
for nothtng. ride ip sp6 aria e
luxury and should not be in
aulged In by any but those who can
POSTS. 1t costs a great deal to keep q
hack going and consequently it costs a
considerable sum to ride in one. A hack
originally costs from 1900 to 81, 6O0 to say
nothing of the team and harness. Simply
because lot of people sign a petition to
have hack fares reduced. it is not just for
The city to arbitrarily pass such an Or
finance I have doubt but that one
could go out and secure thousands OF
Egners to a petition to force the hotels
to sell meals for Is cents. But would il
be just? 1t is the same proposition with
US. We have our commodity. and we have
Dur price. 1t Is not unrea sonab le and we
should get 1t. When you go to a store
you always ind out what an article will
post you before you buy it. If you think
It Is too high priced you leave it alone
1t should be the same way in our bust
ness"