The evening world., 1912-01-31
WHY It COSTS
81 TO RIDE FIVE
BLOCKS IN AUTO
License Commissioner Wallace
Says the Law Permits
Such Extortion.
CHANGE IS REQUIRED.
Evening World Lauded for Its
Efforts to Better the
Situation.
CHANGE IS REQUIRED.

evening world In a signed article Tor
the agitation for taxicab reform urged
and demanded by this newspaper.
BY Commissioner Wallace.
The Bureau Of Licenses Is continually
receiving complaints such as this one.
received from a member of the Univer.
slty Club:
Dear Sir: I tool a taxicab at the
northwest corner OF Seventh avenue
and Fiftieth street at 11.15 at night
and drove to Forty-fifth street, be-
tween Sixt' Inc Seventh avenues, a
distance Of five blocks. l was
Charged 81. which In spite of my
protestations was declared the right
full charge b. the driver.
Then follows a strong protestation
against the alleged o~vercharge.
Now. as a matter of fact. upon In
vestigation we found In this case, as we
do In many others. that the automobile
a which was hired by this gentleman
did not carry a meter anu was licensed
as a public coach seating four persons
inside. The ordinance gives the legal
rates of fare. which according TO sec
sion $40 Of the Code OF Ordinances OF
the City OF New York are as follows:
Coaches vehicles seating four
persons ins!de). one mile or
any part thereof. ................ 500
ach additional half mile or
part thereof so
So you see that in this case the GEN.
tleman was charged 81 for going five
blocks. lie could lawfully have been
charged 81 for going two blocks or one
block II he rode In a public coach. as
the ordinances specifically state they
may charge at the rate OF 81 Cor the
first mile or any part thereof and so
cents for zach additional half mile.
APPLICATION OF OLD COACH
RATES.
These are the old cab and coach rates.
which were not intended to apply to
taxicabs and meter vehicles. but which
are the only rates that can now be
applied to them, as II they were not
regulated under these rates they would
be without any rate regulation what
soever and could charge as much al
they pleased.
Many persons still labor under the de-
fusion that the legal maximum rates
which were prescribed for taXicabs un-
section 316-j OF the Code Of Ordinances
Of the City OF New FORK are still In
force. These rates were for taxicabs
seating four persons inside. driven by
motive power, and were 40 cents for the
first half mile and 10 cents for each
additional quarter OF a mile. This made
the rate 60 cents for the first mile and
40 cents for each succeeding mile. Many
persons, as l say. think these rates
etif prevail and are in full force and
yigor. Al a matter OF fact they were
declared unconstitutional by the SUI
preme Court some time ago.
Another thing that makes 1t difficult
TO regulate the conduct of taxicab
drivers In the city Of New York Is the
fact that under the present license or
dinance licenses are being Issued and
are expiring every day. Licenses may
he issued at any time and run for a
year from the date OF issuance. When
YOU consider that New York covers APP
proximately 326 square miles OF terri
tory It Is possible for a man. even after
his license has been revoked. to so out
and ply his trade on the streets with.
out any license, under present condi-
tions
CHANGE IN THE HACK 0RDl.
MAMIE MEEnEn