Evening star., 1902-03-24
Increase in Prices for Hack
Service.
COMMITTEE OPPOSED
PROPOSED PLAN ABOLISHES THE
25-CENT FARE.
Inspector Lamb Submits Compro-
mise Schedule and Argues in
Favor of Adoption.

The District Commissioners have under
consideration a new schedule Of hack rates,
making an increase over the charges now
fixed by law. The schedule was submitted
through Major Richard Sylvester by A. r.
Lamb, the hack inspector Of the police de-
pa rtment. The hack owners Of the city
have been petitioning the Commissioners
for some time to authorize a higher rate
They say that since the old schedule was
adopted prosperity has come to the nation
and the price of feed stuffs, such as oats.
corn, etc, has more than tripled.
The committee on the revision of the po-
lice regulations, Messrs. Daniel Curry and
Francis Nye. has reported against the
adoption of the new schedule at this time,
as was stated in The Star Saturday last.
'The proposed plan.' the committee says,
"abolishes the 25-cent rate altogether,
the minimum rate suggested being one or
two passengers-half hour or less-O
cents Probably the most steady patrons
of the hack service depot traffic excepteO
are congressman, public officials and jour-
nalists. They generally travel sngly,
short trips, and always in q hurry. The
proposed change would double the rates on
these patrons. besides removing from the
driver all incentive for speedy travel We
do not think the occasion demands this rad
ical change, and we believe that it would
call forth many and vigorous protests.
Would Not Prevent Disputation.
I'VE are doubtful also as to whether the
occasion for disputes between the driver
and the patron would be lessened under the
proposed system. for while there might not
be further occasion for dispute as to the
distance travelled, disputes as to the speed
of the vehicle. that the driver failed to call
of passengers to the time of
etc, might continually arise, the
driver maintaining always, of course, that
he was maintaining a speed of not less
than six miles an hour that he had re-
ported the time of starting to the passen-
ger. but he failed to hear it. etc.
1T has been requested that on account OF
the present high price of oats and corn the
hack rates should be raised but we believe
that it would be impossible to frame an eff
hcient sliding schedule of rates which
would meet the rise and fall in the price Of
horse feed. Besides, what is the misfor-
tune of the hackmen now will be their gain
when oats are abnormally cheap.
Favor Use of Cards.
I'VE are heartily in favor of the return to
the use of cards, instead Of folders to be
placed conspicuously in holders in the
hacks; and the revised regulations now In
the hands of the printer provide for the re-
turn to the card system.
when this subject matter was previous
ly under consideration the following
suggested by Commissioner
was adopted. and is now in
the revised regulations:
The driver OF any public vehicle who
may be required to travel. by the most
direct route, more than fifteen squares to
make response to call may charge an
additional twenty-five cents therefor"
ha which
from those upon the card submitted or
do not appear thereon, are copied from the
revised regulations, for the information of
those concerned:
Fare to points outside Of the city of
Washington shall be charged by the hour,
but the driver Of any public vehicle who
may be required to travel by direct route
to point Of destination not less than
two miles outside of the city limits may
charge 25 cents additional
"The driver shall be entitled to make a
charge not to exceed 25 cents for each
trunk, and 10 cents for each large valisc
or bag carried outside the vehicle; and each
passenger shall be entitled to have con-
veyed without charge such other valise or
small packages as can be conveniently car
ried within the valise. The driver shall
load and unload all baggage without
charge"
Inspector Lambs Report.
To meet the views of the committee, AS
expressed above, Inspector Lamb has sub
mtted a second report. in which he says:
THE principal objection of the commit
tee on revision Of the police regulations to
the proposed schedule of hack rates seems
to be the abolisnment of the 25-cent rate
and in order to meet and, if possible, over
come that objection. l have the honor to
submit the following as compromise:
"One-horse vehicles when engaged on the
street by passengers and used immediately
One passenger, fifteen squares or less. 25
cents; five squares additional or part there
Of, 10 cents. Under all other circumstances
charges shall be made follows: One
two passengers, half hour or less, 80 cents;
three four passengers half hour or less.
70 cents; each additional quarter hour
less. one or more passengers, 25 cents.
Two horse vehicles-One or two passen-
gers. twenty minutes or less, 50 cents: each
additional passenger, twenty minutes
less, % cents; each additional twenty min
utes or less. one or more passengers. 30
cents: after first hour one or more pas
sengers, each half hour or part thereof so
cents. Delay caused by driver shall not
be charged for. Time consumed in loading
and unloading baggage shall not be charged
for Vehicles shall maintain a speed not
less than six miles an hour, except where
the grade necessitates a slower rate. Driv-
ers shall call attention Of passengers to
time of starting.
at will be seen that this schedule pro-
who engage the vehicle on the street and
use it without delay.
An Instance Cited.
81 can best explain the reason for this
by stating case which, with many others
is constantly recurring.
"A person telephoned to a messenger
company for d cab and boy was sent to
hack stand with the message and with in
structiOns to collect 10 cents before giving
1t to any driver. After paying the price
the driver found that he must drive fifteen
or twenty squares or perhaps more to get
the passenger. and then after driving a
mile or more with the passenger was enti-
tied to charge but % cents, leaving him a
profit of Is cents. with perhaps two miles
or more to drive back to his stand
II am aware of the fact that the regula-
tions cannot take into account the price
paid for these messages, but even if the
driver received the full fare, 25 cents, it
would not be proper pay.
After making the drive necessary to
reach hotel or residence at certain time
a hack is almost invariably compelled to
wait for some moments for the passenger
and by the time the trip is finished the
greater part of an hour has been consumed,
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