The evening world., 1912-12-28
ALDERMEN TAXI
COMMITTEE MAY
REPORT SHORTLY
Cab Companies Have Had 1t
All Their Own Way at
Public Hearings.
ONE-SIDED AFFAIRS.
Company Officials Refused to
Be CrosS-Examined at
the Meetings.
ONE-SIDED AFFAIRS.
Bv Sophie Irene Loeb.

The Aldermen committee considering
taxicab charges and regulations. which
was appointed last February. will make
lite report In a few days. according to
Chairman Willard.
During the hearings public owners
and drivers testified and were cross-ex-
amined by lawyers of cab companies
but when the presidents and owners Of
cab companies were heard they refused
to be cross-examined. The companies
which are now on the records. undis-
puted and unchallenged.
Hours were taken up by attorneys OF
the cab companies reciting briefs and
telling the Aldermen the limits Of their
power In favor Of the companies instead
Of bringing out facts for the adjustment
Of public service. and one of these law
yers was allowed to state that his rea-
son for SO doing was that the advice OF
the Corporation Counsel was not taken
by this committee.
The prime facts brought out at the
hearings are as follows:
THE CAB coMPArlEs' CASE PRE-
sENrEp.
This 10 Attorney Holden's idea of the
situation. which he gave to me (Mr
Holden represents the Yellow Taxicab
Company.
The Aldermanic committee investi-
eating tho taxicab situation should file
a report dealing with each branch Of the
situation separately.
The first and most essential regula-
ton which should be enacted Is q set OF
ordinances regulating and prescribing
who may drive taxicabs for hire on the
streets Of New York.
After this 10 done the Board Of Alder
men should concern itself with ordi-
nances which shall define and regulate
the taxicabs and motor vehicles which
are to be operated for hire by licensed
drivers.
After We have secured proper persons
to operate the proper vehicle we can
then approach the question of the tariff
for transportation. and, codncident with
this feature. the subject Of private and
public hack stands.
THE question of hack stands Is con-
sidered by many as one OF the most Inn
portant features of the investigation.
1T Is important. but not Of such
fundamental importance as the person.
net OF the drivers and the cab which Is
to be operated from any stand. either
public or private.
1T has been frequently stated that
there are two hundred ex-convicts oper-
ha IN in ha
City OF New York.
THE honest driver Of a public taxica Alb
will welcome an ordinance excluding
the dishonest rogue and ex-criminal
from this business.
IAN Of the big companies will well
come such an ordinance. and 1t Is i'm
possible to conceive of any reason or
pretenc that would furnish an excuse
for an honest man objecting to the I'M
mediate passing of ordinances regulat-
ing the drivers.
"If Inspector Drennon has a sufficient
force of competent inspectors under him,
and we have proper ordinances regulat-
getaways by criminals. &C., In motor
vehicles.
1.-THE Yellow TaUcab Company will
not have to resort to injunction pro-
| caedipcs IN nrotect its good name nd
renutation from be,np DAMAGED nv ais
bnras, narsons ,m,tst,nv tine color and
csnera, design ~ ~. cara and when thc
1e,srai nuhIjc annreciates that there
&c noro hui hones, drivars oners,inp
yshic,ss ,or hire ana that the travel.
,,ng n,,h,io w,,, not he che,tad or 90.
$500 ~ e.. n,a,,s. 90 ror.s ,hs
..orn...a no,roro q. ra.,,,,rg yrom .h,.
,',ss 'a al, nu a. go, 49,, .hs
o,,,eu rnd,,"irs ,srs. in TN c,,v :.
SThns aS,.r nearIv one ears inves,,-
,..,n. ~ nomna,;.. w.r, ,hs r.,s- :,
eaH' 'ny s,.s. ~
remain VIVA. tney arc VI
what the e..y uoes IN wy ., 'os u's -
tions' new Inspectors &C iney pay AZ
per cent or more OF tne earnings sp-
proximaung nearly soO,oo per year Tor
private haca s'aho prNileses' Ahey
want these to remain. as they are.
They want strict reguiations for drivers
but the city can wait ior reuueeo rates
They have buiit up an account pus.-
ness when represents ABOUT two-thirds
OF their enterprise ana DO not want TINS
disturbed.
Abol!shlng the private hack stands
would disturb TINS system ana they
| ~ business