The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-05-07
Henry r. Grimm Never at a
Loss for Excuse to Delay
. Action by the Board.
ONCE MORE POSTPONED.
Ordinance Framed by Grimm
Himself Really Raises the
Taxi Rates.

From present appearances Alderman
Henry r. Grimm, Chairman OF the AL
dermanic committee which was APP
pointed fifteen months ago TO frame
an ordinance to afford New York re-
lisf from taxicab extortion and poor
service. Is planning TO gumshoe along
without taking any DEFINITE action I'M
al the Board adjourns for the summer.
In other words. II looks as though
Chairman Henry +. Grimm. who comes
from a remote corner Of Brooklyn. II
90 favorabiy impressed with the arsu-
msnts Of the taxicab trust and the
hotel and restaurant proprietors that
he II going to stall on . decisive re-
port from his committee until two
years shall have elapsed.
For months the Board OF Aldermen
has been going to act on the taxicab
reform ordinance NEXT WEEK. Tho
ooard was No have acted yesterday.
Some friend OF Alderman Grimm was
conveniently buried yesterday and the
Alder man went to the funeral. and the
taxicab matter goes over until NEXT
WEEK.
Every citisen Of New York who has
travelled knows that the taxicab rates
here ars exorbitant; that the oabs are
not kept a. clean as they are in cities
abroad; that chauffeurs are frequently
insoient and insulting; that there IL no
regulation Of chaufYeurs worthy the
name; that ex-convicts and thugs are
allowed to drive taxicabs and that the
private cabstands maintained by no.
ts,s and restaurants cost 100000 q
year-every penny OF which comes out
OF the pockets OF taxicab patrons. All
this II. In fact. . matter Of common
knowledge. New York 10 . city IN
which the taxicab 10 . luxury instead
OF . convenience. ~ Il should be.
FRAMES AN ORDINANCE TO
RAIsG RArGS.
And what. 20 far a. the public
knows, has Alderman 0rimm's Taxi
cab Reform Committee done about ~
Nothing but frame an ordinance
RAISING THE RATES. II II begin
ming 70 look a. though Alderman
Grimm. Kindly A. he may b disposed
toward tie taxicab monopoly and the
owners OF the private cabstands. hasn't
mustered up sufSscient nerve to put
over his ordinance raising the rates.
ana for that reason 10 postponing &C.
tion on one pretext or another until
next fall.
The Evening World announced two
weeks ago that Alderman Grimm had
prepared an ordinance. the phrassoloEy
= which was almost Identical with an
ordnance prepared by the lawyers for
the taxicab companies. But II was not
known until the fact came out at dinner
Of the Fusion Aldermen At the Hotel Brs.
wort on Monday night that 0rlmm's
ordinance really does more or calls for
more than the taxicab monopoly might
reasonably expect even from friends
From Grimm himself his Surprised a.
sociates learned that he had prepared
IN ordinance which will not only con
tinue the private hackstand graft. bu
make the cost Of riding In taxicabs II
New York City more excessive than 4
10 under the prevailing sxtortionat'
tari6.
The only advantage New Yorker
have over European capitals In tn
matter Of taxicab rates IL that three o
four persons can ride for the sam
rate that applies to two passengers o
one passenger. The Evening Worl
has contended that this 10 unfair I
tho taxicab companies; but that tn
fare should DO reduced for ono or ~
passengers and raised proportionatsl
for three or four passengers.
PLAN OF ALDERMAN GRIMM n
RAISE THE RATES.
Under the present schedule II cost
from 80 cents TO 30 cents for the mrs
'taxicab mile-dependin on tho stan
from which the cab II procured-an
30 cents for each succeeding mile. n
matter how many passengers Here
the plan Of the sstuts Alderma
Grimm:
Fer one passsaCsr-so cents for
the a1st mile, 20 cents for the SEQ.
end and suessdiAs miles.
For two passeAgero-oo cents for
the arSt, % cents for the second
and succeeding miles.
For three pssssnGers-ol for the
nrst ana % cents for sucossding
miles.
On the face Of things this 10 . r
ductioh for the single passenger OF
cents a mile. but II increases the pre-
ent rate per mile after the nrst 4
two passengers and runs the rate Z