New-York tribune., 1912-01-14

THE 'buckers arc the Doys that put II
all over the public, though Some OF them
fellers would charge you a two-spot 70
carry you across Times Square"
What do YOU mean by the 'buckers'?'
Those are the fellers that have no regu-
lar stands. They hang around the corners
lookin out for 'pick-ups' and after the
theatre business. A good many OF EN-
own their own cars and drive them them
, selves They run opposition TO the big
companies that have the regular hotel and
restaurant stands That's why they're
called 'buckers. cause they buck the regu-
lars They all have numbers on their
lamps Some Of 'cm are pretty decent.
hard workn' felers that wouldn't turn a
trick il they could and then again, a good
many Of EN- ought to be in jail
THE trouble with them is that they amt
accountable to any boss. AS long as they
keep their meters sealed and inspected they
do about as they please II a passenger
squeals and squeals hard enough the
bucker takes off some OF the fake charge
and the matter IS hushed up once in a
while a rider gets stung, takes the license
number Of the cab and sends in kick to
the Bureau of Licenses. The inspectors
get busy on the case, and after few
days the passenger gets some Of his money
back. But ninety-nine cases out Of hun
dred never get reported The passengers
get stung, pay the amount called for and
swear off taxi ridn' until the next rainy
night. Then they get stung again.
THE men workin' for the big companies
can't afford to act so raw. They wouldn't
hold their jobs month. But the 'buckers
don't care for their Jobs. Some Of the
'buckers' have brother or chum drivin'
while they get their rest. and keep their
cars on the street day and night. They
run into the garage durin the slack hours
just long enough to get washed up and
take in gasoene and oil. :"
"Is there any way that 'bucker' or any
other chauffeur can run up the amount on
his clock?'
Sure; but since they got the stars on
the front wheels there's only one way to
run up the charges on the clock without
breakin' the seal and twistin' the cable by
hand-and that only works with one kind
of clock. It's worked by ringin' up
extras until the driver thinks the amount
is as high as the passenger'l stand for.
On most of the clocks the trunks and other
extras show up on little dial beloe the
regular dial, but on this clock that I'm
speakln' about the extra charges are rung
up by hand and appear included in the
amount shown on the big dial.
"A driver who has a clock Of this kind
can ring up any amount he likes. When
something easy lookin' floats along he
reaches back and rings up extras until
his arm gets tired. He collects the amount
shown and pockets the difference between
the mileage and the amount collected. II
he works for one Of the regular companies
that kind OF a clock don't do him any good
though. because he has to turn II all In TO
the cashier. It's the 'buckers that work
the extra trick mostly. because they're
responsible to nobody. understand that
rs per cent Of the buckers' nave that kind
~ clock You can figure out the rest
for yourself what chance you stand with
a .bucker' takin you home on a stormy
night with one of those total included
CLOCKS on the front OF his rig. Most of
,en are workin' on commission, and you
can take my word for II they're not drivin'
a taxi for their health.
"How about dipping the flag? It's un-
derstood that some of the clocks can be
shaken mr. iarred in such a manner that
the feures shown on the dial can be run
up TO almost any amount
"Notbin' doin' in that line for the last
year The city Bureau ripped out all
those clocks IT'S the same way with the
Stars on the rear wheels-a thing of the
nast. ,haro,s n law against 1t now and a
stiff fine for the man that ; caught with
one. But | believe there's one left in the