New-York tribune., 1902-04-12
WANTS COMPLETE CAB LAW
NEW ORDINANCE SHOULD COVER ALL
THE PRESENT ONES.
MARSHAL BROWN GIVES HIS VIEWS TO THE
MERCHANTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ING OF CABS AT THE HOL-
LAND HOUSE

| An outline of the cab ordinance be pre-
| sented by the Merchants Association is con-
tanned in a letter received yesterday by Marshal
| Brown. of the Bureau of Licenses. This letter.
after specifying complaints against certain cab
men, whose numbers were published in yester-
days Tribune, and demanding that their licenses
be revoked, takes up the ordinance in the
following manner:
In accordance with our previous conversations
with you since December last we will within a
few days submit suggestions looking toward an
effective revision Of the present ordinances gov
erning public vehicles, especially those ting
to hacks Our investigation shows there is no
effective inspection at the present time and
therefore that the existing ordinances are in
effect unenforceable. primarily because the
great mass of detail relating to the subject Is
imposed by a statute personally upon the Mayor.
and it is physical impossibility for him to take
proper cognizance of it. We shall suggest,
therefore. enlargement of the discretionary
powers of the chief of the Bureau Of Licenses
prime essential of the desired reform. Our
suggestions will likewise cover many details as
to the form and scope of the provisions for in
Spection and regulation.
In his answer Marshal Brown. after dealing
with the complaints. gives the following express
sion of his personal feelings and opinions in the
matter:
1 note with satisfaction that it is the intention
Of your association to urge the adoption OF some
suitable and sufficient ordinances regulating the
licensed hacks of the city of New-York. and. as
/ have told you personally L shall be giad 10
cooperate with you in securing the enactment
1 particularly pleased to observe that you
contemplate ample detail of regulation In which
our present ordinances very deficient. 1t
seems to most important that this new en-
actment should be full and precise as to per-
nit the repeal of all former regulations upon
the subject matter that to find all the law
the subject it would be necessary to look
nowhere else than in this last ordinance Part
of the confusion of the present situation arises
from the necessity of constituting the successive
ordinances more or less inconsistent.
The hearing of the cases in which the Mer-
chants Association is the complainant will be
held at Marshal Browns office on Monday at :
o'clock. So complete was the evidence sub
mtted by the compIainants that Marshal Brown
informed them that he did not regard their pres
ence as necessary.
A representative of the grievance committee
of the West End Association called on Marshal
Brown yesterday and made complaint in the
manner in which cabs and carriages are allowed
House 1t is alleged that sometimes the entire
sidewalk is lined two deep, and that this con-
sttutes serious menace to passing traffic. The
West End Association demands that the car
riages shall be compelled to wait in Thirtieth-st
This action is in line with the decision of the
West End Association to support The Tribune
in its efforts to improve the cab service in the
city.