New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-22
TAX|CABS IN SCR|MMAGE
FOR BIG HOTEL STANDS
ChauffeurS Use Fists as We'll
as Gasoline in Getting
Good Places.
WALDORF WARNS PATRONS
Many Fights Occur When New
Ordinance Becomes Effec-
tive-Companies Show
Signs of Surrender.

With the opportunity offered for the In
dependent taXicabs to occupJ the pupnc
stands I'm front Of the big hotels and other
points of vantage. as a result OF the GiS-
missal Of the injunctons obtained by the
taxicab companies, the rush for the COW
cted posts Yesterday led TO much disorder
and several arrests
The chauffeurs OF the Yellow TaNcao
COMPANY. the Mason Seaman Transports .
ton Company and the other concerns
which had controlled the stands had 10
take their turn with the independents ana
arguments. collisions and not inireluently
Gsticuffs occurred I'm the fight for places.
Although none Of the taxicab companies
obtained licenses for its cars, as required
under the new ordinance. the law was not
rigidly enforced yesterday because Of the
Injunction obtained by the American TAXI
Meter Company. which restraints the city
from putting the new rates INTO enect.
Argument in this suit will be heard by
Justice Giegerich to-day and it is expect
cd the Injunction will be vacated
The first move toward surrender Of tho
taxicah companies I'm their opposition 10
the new ordinance came yesterday. "hen
representatives Of the Mason Seaman
company. one of the largest concerns. APP
piled to Superintendent Wallace OF the
License Bureau for licenses for their cabs
Three inspectors from the bureau were
sent 10 the main garage Of the company
10 facilitate the tagging OF the cans
as they obtained licenses. II was said
that this company would have about a
hundred cabs ready to-day with their
licenses. so as t. compete for the trade
at the public stands I'm case Justice
Giegerich vacates the Taxi Meter injunc'
ton. None OF the other companies APP
plicd Yesterday for licenses
The Yellow TaXicab Company. the larg
est OF the concerns started To- put into
effect yesterday a plan by which II was
intended TO eyada the new ordinance, but
II apparently did not work well The
company contended that it was no longer
engaged IN public service, and announced
that II had established private garages
throughout the city. from which II would
suppIy private patrons only al the old
rates
The company did not try early In the
day to send It's cabs To the public stands
but the rushing business done by the IN
dependents and other company cabs at
tho Waldorf. the knickerbocker and other
principal hotel stands apparently Was toe
much OF a temptation. for the 'fello"s
were seen slipping into these stands later
I'm the day wherever they could secure
places.
Most OF the trouble yesterday occurred
I'm front 81 the Waldorf and the knicker-
booker hotels. Four extra traffic police
men were stationed on the 3ith street side
OF the waldorf 20 keep the street open
Hundreds Of taNlcabs "cruIsed" along ~
front OF the hotel all day. waitins foi
chances 20 slip into places as they were
vacated AT the public stand. IT KEEP
the traflc men busy uutangllng the knot
Of cabs AZ several Of them would rush
lor the vacant post at once.
Several chauNcurs who refused 10 give
way at tho command OF the police on
these occasions were arrested for block
ing the traffic. They We're released with
rcpriuands when arraigncd In police
court. Similar scenes were enacted on the
42d street side OF the knickerbocker
The Yellow TaXicab Company, when
previously had enjoyed the exclusive PRIV
ilege OF the Waldorf stand, with the as
sistance OF the hotel management estab'
ushed "A stand on the hotel property In
Astor Court. west OF the hotel
\ sign was posted In the corridors oil
the Waldorf by the management when
told guests that FOR their "own protec-
ton" a private taX!cab service was avail
able
we cannot assume responsibility TOT
any overcharge I'm taxicabs other than
those provided by us. the sign read.
The Yellow and the other companies
continued TO charge the old and higher
H..