New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-11
TAXI CO. NEVER DUNNED
POLICE FOR MONEY OWED
CHARGE Accounts Permitted Un-
limited Use of yellow Cars
by Holders.
TRAFFIC LAWS SHATTERED
chauffeurs of Concerns Less
Liberal with Patronage Ar
rested, When Favored
Ones Went Free.

Books Of the yellow Taxicab Com
many and police records examined YES
,erday by Joseph Du Vivier, Assistant
district Attorney. tend to show an in
tercbanee Of courtesies between the
no,ice and the taxicab company. one
ro1ice inspector and six captains appear
~ have profted 10 the extent Of nu-
morous rides for which payment was
not pressed.
4 partial examination Of police
records shows that the vast majority
NJ chaufeurs arrested for traffic vio-
lations in the districts where the police
officials we're making free use of taxi
cabs were those Of chauffeurs employed
by independent concerns.
There is no suggestion that any
money was passed IT simply seems to
have been a case Of let me ride in
vour cars and ! won't arrest your
chauffeurs." Il is probable that enough
evidence will be obtained to warrant
sending IT to Headquarters to be acted
upon by Commissioner Waldo.
The average monthly account" Of
each Of the seven policemen is said TO
be from $50 TO 800 The figures on the
arrests are not complete yet, and the
proportion OF independent taXicab
chauneurs operating in the districts TO
which the figures refer. as compared
10 the number Of combination" chauf-
feurs. has not been figured out.
Mr.. Du Vivier expects 10 present the
matter to the grand jury tomorrow.
4 report was agreed upon by the
minority members of the aldermanic
committee investigating the taXicab
situation at a meeting held yesterday
afternoon. The report will recommend
an ordinance providing for the abolish
ing Of private stands and the establish
ment Of a public stand for one vehicle
on each corner which is not passed by
a railroad: also the retention of present
public stands and the establishment OF
other public stands where necessary.
It Will provide a rate Of 60 cents for
the first mile and 40 cents for each mile
thereafter. regardless Of the number Of
persons carried. The licensing Of pub
lie hacks. taxicabs and horse-drawn
vehicles. as well as sightseeing cars
and chauffeurs. will follow closely the
lines laid down by the Mayors COM
mission.
George W. Whiteside. Of No. - Will
lam street. counsel for the yellow Taxi
cab Company. issued statement yes
terday afternoon regarding the position
Of the company. Concerning the charge
that the company has been holding Sc
cret conferences with certain members
Of the aldermanic committee, Mr..
Whiteside says II. r. Swartz. vice
president Of the company, has person
ally represented the company in con-
nection with the present aldermanic
inquiry and also before the Mayors
commission, and has sought every op-
portunity 10 present facts which he has
gained from experience for their con-
sheraton and action. His conferences
have never been secret, but at all times
under such conditions that no one
could criticise, he said
The statement says further that
when the officers Of the company
learned that the District Attorney de-
sired 10 conduct the present investiga-
ton they notified their counsel that
they would be ready at any time to
answer the District Attorneys call
The assistant treasurer and some
clerks we're the only employees Of the
company whose attendance had been
requested up TO this time, according to
the statement.
The company learned that a former
employe, T. p Banta. had been to the
District Attorneys office, and the OFF,
GERS felt that they owed il TO the Dis
trict Attorney to furnish him reliable
information and facts rather than such
statements as might be made by dis
charged employee.