New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-07
GARRY" IN LONDON.


The cab strike in London. which was recent
Iy threatened. did not materlalize. There was
much agitation of the subject, and much light
was thrown upon the conditions and tendencies
OF the trade. some Of which is not altogether
void OF pertinence TO the situation in New
York. which latter. we may add. is always I'M
satisfactory and in need of whatever improve
ment It is possible 10 effect.
The London system is quite different from
that in New-York. There the cab driver hires
his outfit from the owner. paying 80 much a
day for Il The scale Of payment now in force
was prescribed by Mr.. II. II. Asquith ten years
ago, and It provides a varying rate according
TO the season Of the year. The year is divided
into fourteen periods OF from one week 10
eleven weeks EACH and the hire OF n hanson
cab and horse-or two horses-ranges from ten
10 sixteen shillings a day. or from So 10 to 50 81.
There are nine weeks. in one period. at ten
shillDgs; thirteen weeks, In two periods, at
eleven shillings; fourteen weeks, in three
periods, at twelve shilllngs; four weeks. IN two
periods, at thirteen shlllings; three weeks. in
two periods ut fourteen shilllngs: three weeks.
in two periods, at fifteen shilllngs. and six
weeks in one period. at sixteen shillings. These
variations are made according 10 the assumed
amount Of custom, as controlled by the social
average rate for the year paid by the driver 10
the owner IS twelve shillings three pence 4
day. or s. o. In return for this the owner
must supply a hanson cab, keep Il I'm repair,
clean II. oil and light Il. provide harness and
whip etc. lie must also provide two horses for
H. keep them and care for them, and. OF course,
pay taxes, stable rent, insurance, etc. The eI-
perienced stablekeeper will see that the margin
of profit is not large. II IS said on good au-
thority 10 he not more than a shilling a day on
each cab.
What, on the other hand. are "cabbys"
profits? A detailed account kept by one aver
age member OF the trade for a number OF
years has been put in evidence. II shows that
in 1896 he worked 2SS days thus taklng IS
holidays. His total receipts were 81 SOi OF.
Out OF this he paid the cab owner 1905 80, lcav-
ing for his own net earnings Ss9S g. That was
So u for each working day. or 81 40 for every
day ia the year, or SIT % week the year
round, with a day and a half for holiday each
week. Such earnings cannot be regarded as
quite on n starvation basis. We are not sure
but that a good many streetcar employees in
this city would be glad 10 get them. That how
ever, was "cabbys" best year. In 1902 he
worked only 25s days, and his earnings for the
whole 800 were only s. % day. That was his
worst year 10 date. But even then Sl624 a
week the year round, with two whole holidays
every week and with no expense for tools of
trade, IS not exactly unpaid slavery. On the
contrary, the London "cabby's' lot appears to
be a fairly comfortable one.
II is further 10 be observed that the figures
given for 1896 are much nearer the average
than are the lower ones for 1902 Indeed. the
standard OF 1896 was pretty nearly maintained
until 1901, when n decline began. 1t may be
that IL will be continued. The "cabbies' say
that the underground roads, automobiles BIZ
cycles, messenger boys, telephones and various
other modern inventions are all initiating
against their business That may well be be-
heYed: and yet II is also credible that such
things also make for the improvement Of their
business 20 such extent as TO keep the bal
ance about even. Thus, n some people use a
telephone instead OF going In cab others use
the telephone 20 summon n cab when without
the telephone they would not have used the
cab at all. This one fact is salient and sur-
gestive, and is TO be commended for consdera-
ton in New-York. Both owners and drivers In
London are strenuously and unalterably on
posed 10 any "taxameteT" system, or ANYTHING
that will compel the driver TO be content with
legal fare for the actual distance traversed. In
other words. both look for their profits I'm tbo
amounts extorted from patrons in excess Of
the legal rate Of fare. They ignore the fact
that in maintaining sucn extortion they are
alternating a large and profitable patronage
There can be no doubt that the dislike Of being
overcharged and the dread OF controversy and
perhaps insult and violence restrain many peo-
pie from hiring cabs. and II is quite credible
that both in London and in New-YorI the
eapoy' would make more money the year