The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-05
TINCAER IS WRATnY.
Caught Hackmap Violating the
City Fare Ordinance.


For some time it has been suspected
that the hackmen Of the city were vio-
lating the hack-fare ordinance passed
August 8, 1902, by charging more than
the ordinance permits.
Friday night one of the hackmen at
the Santa F'e depot was caught red
handed in most fragrant violation of
the ordinance, and the person who
caught him was the wife of a member
of the city council, Mrs. George w.
Tincher of Potwin.
Mrs. Tincher returned home .unex-
pectedly Friday night from an out of
town visit, and when she arrived at the
Santa Fe depot at IL 55 there was no
one there to meet her, and the cars had
stopped running. She went directly
from the train and got into hack, tell
ing the driver to take her to her Pot
win address.
How much do you expect to pay for
this?" asked the hackman.
''I expect to pay the ordinance rate,
so centS,'' said Mrs. Tincher, who hap
pened to be posted on the law.
II can't take you out there for 50
cents" said the driver. ''It will cost
you a dollar and a half"
It won't pay it," declared Mrs. Tinch-
er climbing out of the hack. She then
tried to make arrangements to go out
in an omnibus, but failed in this also.
The busman did not want to take the
| long trip any better than the hack
driver did.
There's a good warm fire here in the
depot said Mrs. Tincher, land I'll just
stay right here till the cars begin to
run She went into the waiting room,
and met William Butler, the night depot
master, who inquired why she had not
started for hom. She told him the stu
alton, and also explained to him who
she was. Mr.. Butler Immediately be-
stirred himself and conzEaenced to do
some active telepho1-e stunts. He noti-
fed some of the hacsxtnen of what had
happened and what was likely to be
the result of it. Before long q hackman
appeared at the depot, and approaching
Mrs. Tincher politely offered to take her
to her home for fifty cents, the legal
rate. Mrs. Tfncher was satisfied with
this and went home in the hack
| Now the question is what the city
will do about it. AS might be expected,
lCouncilman Tincher is considerably
agitated about the matter, and threat
ems to make trouble for the hackmen.
He said this morning:
"It has been intimated to me by five
or six parties that the hackmen were
taking advantage of women travellers,
ii and strangers who do not know the
city laws, by charging them more than
the rates provided by the ordinance.
Now the thing has come to my atten-
tiOn in a way which precludes any pos
sibility of doubt, and L propose to see
what the city wants to do about it. If
that hack ordinance is to stand in its
present form. it has got to be. en-
forced.
Mrs. Tincber did not think to ask
the mama of the hackman who refused
to take her home. but anticipate that
there viii be no trouble in finding out
who it was. 1 certainly shall investi-
gate the matter.
This ordinance in the form it was
passed, was prepared by the hack1nen,
and was supposed to be exactly what
they wanted. Some of the councilmen
at that time had hard fight to have
the rate of fare reduced to 25 cents for
short trips and so cents for longer
hauls. The vote was so close that it
happened that my vote decided the
fate of the ordinance. 1 voted for the
ordinance which the hackmen wanted.
1 may decide to. introduce an amend
ment to this ordinance now, reducing
the rates. I wonder how that would
suit the hacknnen? It seems to me that
they have violated the confidence which
1 placed in them when I voted for a so
cent fiat rate"
The hack ordinance makes these pro-
visions in regard to rates:
| Between the hours of a. m. and 1 a.
m. of the day following. so cents for
each passenger to all points within the
city limits.
Between the hours of L a. m. and 6
a. m. rs cents for each passenger, with
a maximum charge for additional pas
SengerS of $25
The ordinance also embodies a section
allowing very llDtIdl RACES 1OI udChl1CI
renting hac cks by the hour. 1t was this
section which the haclxmen were especial
ly anxious to have adopted.
/ The ordinance provides a fine of from
IS to s25 for each violation.
| 1t was urged by the hackmen that while
so cents might be a trifle high for hauling
| a passenger from the depot to hotel up
town. that the so cent rate to outlying
points within the city limits would coun-
| terbalance the high rate for short hauls
If it is to be the policy of the hack
drivers to extort money from people
frr-l1r hoy Si6 a
| it is about time something was done.
| Mrs Tincher showed the hackman that
| in this instance, at least, he had made a
! mistake in selecting his victim