The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-09-01

That The Evening Worlds long AsAs
for fair treatment o. the public regard
Ing common convsyances 10 bsas4as
fruit was polsnantiy evident when
made a tour OF the city with Chief
brennan
Considering the long delay. necessi-
tated by injunctions. in putting the new
ordinances into force. II 10 interesting
10 note how rapidly all concerned are
ada ting themselves to Its conditions.
This, however. IL not to be taken
that the problem Is entirely solved.
Rate. are not az low a. they should
and will be. The service does not yet
entirely meet the demands and nssds
o. the New, York travelling public.
But that the gain over conditions ex-
isting q year ago Is more marked than
In any other popular reform In the
metropolis in years Ia the general
opinion. The Evening World has Tor
years champaoned a measure for taxi
cab reform and began the final success
ful nght about fourteen months ago. I
went to Europe at that time and after
thorough investigation was fully con-
WINGED the problem could be solved
here II private monopolies were defeated
40 q first step.
TASK LOOKED IMPOSSIBLE At
THE START.
That task looked almost Impossible.
Al Mr. brennan remarked during our
tourney through the city: II could not
have believed It possible. at least Tor
several years, to wipe out private hack
stands, lower rates. and produce popu-
lar service In this city, after the three
years experienced We had with enc
ordinance after another turned down.
Mayor Gaynor told me: THE OBJ
statcies are almost insurmountsble."
Tho vested interests seemed too strons
to combat with much success. Hotel
proprietors and cab companies repre-
senting enormous capital had Joined
AGAINST an ordinance that would take
away the monopoly which they had
built I'D ao,i which caused Justice Sea-
bury 10 state: 1T 10 easy to understand
the rates, heretofore prevailing. repre-
scented q pront upon somethign other
than the cost Of rendering the SCR
vice"
with all the proofs secured abroad
A. to the possibilities OF cheaper ana
better service here, these vested In
terests" were compelled to use every
"tschnicai" means In protecting them
selves" Prominent attorneys were en-
gagged to attend all public hearings. ap-
peal to the Aldermen and lastly to night
the law with Injunction proceedings.
But TO no purpose. The Mayors
commission drafted the present ordi-
nance. AZ a member OF that commits
sion l am convinced that Judge Sea-
! bury voiced our efforts In the state
ment: ION the whole. the ordinance
| must be pronounced a serious and well
! considered attempt to remedy abuses
| whl. IN have grown to such an extent
As 10 make the application Of remedy
/ imperative"
10 the foundation long sought ~
The Evening world 10 laAd. n VIII con
tiuus 70 ohsmpieu the rsform uatal
much lewss rates obtain ana the tai
service % W1tn1u the reach OF the n
aivtduai Of moderate means, - 10 the
case In Europe. This work done herr
10 likely to spsssa throughout IN
UnitsA States. judging from the ma1J
letters I receive from police depart
msats and eabmsn Of other eitiss, ~
tag s1malas conditions And sstinS To-
infosnat1on % 20 relief.
YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU CALL
A CAB.
The attn ude Of the American publi
toward the taxicab has. through extor
t.onate rates. been entirely cineren
from that IN any other country Tn
use ~ the taxicao has been looked upoI
as a luxury, through the company
Stani OF Take Il or let II alone" o
you have the price, And the compan
les, SO regarding II. have taken care I
make that price as hlEh as possibl
without entirsiy tsopardixing patrongs
This staRA they endesvorsd to uphoi
In The eossts - tAs ssssSao1Ase ~