New-York tribune., 1912-01-24
WOULD REFORM Cables
FoSdiCk Reports Results of His
Investigations to GaynOr.
PRIVATE HACK STANDS TO GO
Rubber Neck Car" Men To Be
Curbed and Overcharge and
Robbery Prevented.

Raymond B. Fosdick, Commissioner OF
Accounts, sent TO Mayor Gaynor yesterday
a report Of his investigation Of the cab and
taxi traffic in the city. The report covered
every phase OF the business done by vehicles
kept for hire, and probably will go to the
Board Of Aldermen next week with the
Mayors recommendations for the framing
Of new ordinances.
In this report Commissioner Fosdick
called attention TO the fact that the present
ordinances regulating the use Of the streets
by vehicles and providing for their licens-
ing and control We're so indefinite. loosely
drawn and even contradictory that they
were utterly inadequate, and he accordingly
suggested the reframing or modification OF
nearly fifty ordinances relative 10 licensing
location of stands. charge Of fares and the
Identification Of drivers and vehicles.
one Of the most sweeping changes adNo-
Gated by the Commissioner was the aboli-
ton Of all private hack stands For many
years the hack system has classified all
cabs. carriages and other vehicles kept for
hire into public hacks" and specially
licensed hacks" Public hacks have been
allowed to use only designated public hack
stands while waiting for employment. while
the specially licensed vehicles have waited
in livery stables or in front Of certain
premises, such as hotels, clubs and reStau-
rants. by virtue OF n special permit Issued
bv the Bureau Of Licenses.
The rates for the two classes Of licenses
have differed The consent Of the owner OF
property opposite or abutting a private
stand has been necessary to It's establish
ment out Of this dual system had grown.
the Commissioner said. the system Of pay
ments TO cafes. hotels and restaurants py
the owners Of those vehicles, amounting W
more than s36OOOO annually. He recommend
ed that If Il was necessary 20 have taXicaos
in front of these places, the owners or occu-
pants Of the promises be required to make
applicauon in writing 10 the Bureau OF
Licenses for the establishment of pubic
hackstand and that starter licensed by
the city. be provided who would Keep
complete record Of all business done.
The new table Of license fees suggested
by the Commissioner including the licensing
Of touring and sightseeing cars, for which
no provision has been made follows:
Each passcnger-carrying vehicle kept for
hire and having an inside seating CapacltE
for two persons 10 be charged an annua!
license fee OF g.
capacity of from four TO seven persons IN
elusive TO be charged an annual license Zee
OF $40
Those having seating capacity Of eight
or more persons, other than those operating
under a franchise, s25 sightseeing carsl
The commissioner further suggested that
all vehicular licenses be made to terminate
on March 81 Of each year, thus avoiding
the confusion which has existed heretofore
and has made It impossible for the police
TO determine whether licenses have eX-
pired.
To enable the police further to discover
attempted evasion Of the law, he suggested
that each vehicle be provided with small
license plate. which should be fastened by
the city seal and bear number similar to
those furnished TO automobiles. To pro-
tect the unwary passenger from being held
up and robbed while a passenger In taxi
cab, he recommended that no license be
granted in the future for any cab or taxi
with seat beside the driver.
since the police records of all cities proved
that robberies and assaults committed upon
passengers by hackmen and taxi drivers
were accomplished with the assistance OF
companions.
With regard to drivers licenses he sug-
gestcd that each applicant should furnish
two photographs Of himself. one 10 be at
tached 10 the license to he Kept by the
driver. also that each driver be required
TO wear, plainly visible upon his coat. a
public badge and that the form Of this
badge should be a miniature Of the license
plate attached 10 licensed automobiles. II
was also recommended that all vehicles he
provided with taXimcters. and that ~"
rate for the first half mile or fraction be
fixed at 20 cents, with charge OF 10 cents
for each additional quarter mile or traction.
The European scheme OF requiring all
drivers OF licensed vehicles 10 furnish a
receipt for the amount OF the fare PAID
was one OF Commissioner Fosdicks sug-
gestions. He also criticised tho actions OF
the prOprietors Of the rubber neck wag-
ons which he said, were allowed TO stop
I'm the streets apparently at will and with
apparent police protection, and frequently
occupy "A given locality In a public street
for two or three hours at time
He urged that the law be inforced impair
TALLY, that rubber neck" cars be com.
PEELED to adopt given scale Of fees. and
that the "barkers'' be prevented from try
ing 10 induce passersby to patronize their
vehicles. Fines and penalties were suggest
ed. accompanying each recommendation for
a new ordinance.