New-York tribune., 1909-07-22
ARGUE TAXI SITUATION
Prrote Orners Cite TiOlatiOns
against Nc7C YOr1 Com pany.

The fight against the New York Taxicab Company
to restrain It from taking public fares I'm front or
its private stands and abolish the private stands
as Illegal was begun before Justice Stapeton yes
terday in the Supreme Court OF Kings County. The
application FOR injunction made by George
+ Hobert representing many private taXicab own
crs who have public hack licenses lie said that
the taxicab COMPANY had merely special licenses
which entitled it 10 accept fares only from the
guests Of hotels. restaurants and other buildings
before which il had private stands.
Mr.. HoIhert told Justice Stapletou that the com
pany tried get the Board Of Aldermen last May
10 abolish the ordinance which forbids the carrying
on Of a public hacking business on special license.
The, yyero unsuccessful he said. but have contin-
uei TO take fares and unmolested 10y the police.
while the public patronage Is being Illegally divert
ed TO a large extent from the men who pay heavily
for their licenses a. public hackmen-
The ,ompany's right 10 accept public fares any
where In the city asserted by Mr.. caiby. coun-
sci for the taxicab company. He cited the ordi-
nance which compes public hackman to accept
an orderly fare anywhere in the city II the charges
prepaid and his vehicle Is not already engaged
Mr. HoIbert said in repy. that that ordinance vas
Ineffective as the chauGeurs Of the company were
not public hackmen.
Several of the defendants violations of its
license limitations cited by the plaintiff
counsel They have taken out special license
for Saturday and Sunday in front Of "a Park Row
r,epstsper office" he said which IS more ad-
vantagcously situated 10 get public fares than the
public hackmen's stand a block away The cars
ohstrtIct traffic and public nuisance.
The have hired private street OF SURF ave
nue. al Coney Island. where are crowded nightly
forty or nifty machines. for which the company
has only these special licenses. At the POLO
Grounds and at the Strand Hotel, at the foot OF
18th street. stands operated obviously Tor the
ONLY purpose OF carrying the crowds away from
these points on special occasions.
Mr. Iolhert declared that the rcd taNicabS did
not oIstruct the streets. and said it was strange
that the men being hurt by competition, and not
the police or the public. were protesting against
the company's methods. The public has welcomed
the red taxcab service he said, "as It Is speed
Ter. more comfortable and less expensive than
other street transportation ser ice The company
tries to avoid, much possible, carrying pub
lie fares OF course when have tive hundred
and nifty cars. with many drivers. it Is prac-
ticaIiv impossible restrict our patronage
The company not instruct the chauffeurs TO
solicit public patronage.
Il admit that the sympathy Of the Court, and
even my personal sympathy. is with the small
operators who suffering through the big cor
porations activity. But that can't blind us as to
the legal rights Of each party. The red taxi
cabs certainly not a public nuisance.
Justice Stapleton took tEe papers from both
sides. Additional afidavitS win be submitted on
August and decision VIII be held over until after
the end of the present term. the Court decided,
because of the importance Of the proceedings.