The evening world., 1912-05-09

LITTLE BY LITTLE.
-HE Aldermen are still o~verhauling The taxcab question.
Chairman Bryant Willard Of the investigating com
mittee Of the Board promises that one of these days new
ordinances shall protect the public by careful regulations as to
he inspection and registering Of cars and meters. responsible
Asufeurs, and ready d~cntifi>eon Of cab and driver in case Of
trouble.
I'VE az going into this matter fully and for the good Of all"
asshru Alderman willard. eve propose to 60 into all the de-
~ including Ire question a special tsxicab stand privileges
SA1A hs been the MISTER Of criticism. We ere going to hold
tn sooner tie bst>ss. The Aldermen should have the hearty
II Way GShsn IN bringing come sort Of standard and
WAsm into Ne disgrscs6A motor cab service which has made New
M ~ wonder and disgust Of toregner, snd which not long ago
@ssa ths Austrian Ambassador 10 ss country fatty to refuse
Nm q the expense d unpleasant pubaichy-o b held up for q
M which to . European ssmsd prspostsrous.
Ths World has tnsd 10 show how the taxicab service In New
0uf Nohs 70 . freignar. The World has repeatedly described
q srrsmdy low rates, me extraordinary comforts and regulations
q TIE tsd service Of London, Berlin and Paris. Tho World has
nsiuhansd thst the average Now York axcsb lsvies elk times the
taia for onssi.th the comfort Of the average ta1i in London or
Dsrani
Thas comfort in the two lister ches includes not only smooth
~. silence, safety, sttrS0ivsnsss and devices for convenience
such n rugs, footwsrmsn and Shuttsv for communicating
vith the chauffeur; Il also includes being able TO tahe tans
Cruising" in the streets o. q hundreds Of public stands, besides
perfect regulation which supplies to every passenger detailed IN
formation q to legal fares, distances, 10, and makes recourse 10
the nearest policeman instantly effective In css Of disputa These
are plain fscts. e.
We expected ne old excuse that living and labor In New
York cost more than in London or PGs."
Do they cost SIX TIMES " muchi
Must fares b SIX TIMES . hghi
Borough President MaAnsnys Commission for Improving
Fifth Avenue expressed in no uncertain terms tho opinion that
.Te nv tAss u 4 NIE-5es v s~esnt. sSssss~staIV to
ne Nm. s.,s.es " nITyu oSxTs |. Le.se~ =. Rxs
PosTBRouA. tssswscA - n London M sret"s' oess q
az. . :. VA Y not ssa~ ~ ne. Asrs .su. ss.oNss .
more sspsnssvs Asvs fsW kWN"
We no tud that New York h "too long geographically for
hric.b.: that Tho mcrndns and evening PUSHES down and up the
as.S -~aA ~vA $3.50 Ia waka M retuFn trim mnty.
Az . matter Of AaM, nobody s1pcts tho ad ever TO Be popu-
II for long ruIh~ b or from ts downtown business district. For
~ purpose xAs Ubvsv end elevated nns are certain 10 hold
thdr own
But WIN 1s march Of rtdn and fashaonshe business uptown,
Nv sbvut xhst hugo mstropofkan area between Fourteenth street
nd YtfwuinA street, csntnne q ~Forty-ecud street. which il
sswdA Vim Asppas end visAUs By day. end warming With
unmnk ssAas y nishKf Don anybody hAscs reasonable
~ wvAd M induce n ~ section Thousands Of shorte,
- q hsr ovgsnsuh Of which only . mail amount Of mile
- wcu1d - ~a~Fs
Qsas Asn hsta q aSs saua. for which they pay high prices
NOT WANT THE SMALL, LOW FARE, SHORT RIDE GUS
0nm N Asp~e q Msm begin . ~tdp-"drop the asg'-
aAny snA baoss ~ or h started. Thu i tho cost Of an.
<voAitAs q . uns, sftGr wh6ch the fare mounts at tn
N ss1b to- sh sddtiunA oneffth Of . milk. Thes
~ ahmd ecupauass count upon sverige farce Of 81, $3.50 o
q M IN + sppsrsn6y 10 hsp the td out Of reach Of tn
~.n ds... Who womb ~ \ efssn tor . 'AUt, cheap ride
100 . pay, dim tAsy can run On . perfectly paying basis Wit
sts4R q thhy cents at ts drop Of the Gag and ten cents t
snR quarter mns. An sssosstion Of independent taxi owner
be-, In fac. within the last tsw days announced such . schedule
II the city granted fuller privileges Of public stands and insiste
upon certain standards Of service, thereby encouraging create
numbers Of people to ride, nsturd composition could be countc
upon still further 10 reduce the rates.
"The interests Of tho hncsb companies must be conserved
says Alderman Willard.
How shout the INTEREST," Of companies whose main idea =
keep the taxcab a luxury out Of reach Of the man in the street,
And the "interests' Of hotels and cafes who charge high rat
for stand privileges and take . fat "rake-oh" from every farer
Must all these "interests' be "conservcd"?
1t is to be hoped the Aldermen will treat the whole taxic
situation for what it is-a popular phase Of the extraordinary d
v1opment of the automobile. A convenience has ceased to be