The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-26
HACK ORDINANCE NO
HIT WITH ANYBODY
Fifth Avenue Is Even More
Crowded Now With
Hansoms.
AND DRIVERS MAKE LITTLE
Changes Suggested to Benefit
All by Traffic Engineer
Bernstein.
AND DRIVERS MAKE LITTLE

t0 AUGUST ~ iVlS. INC puDilC nCak
ordnance went into effect. Among
others who hailed this ordinance with
TO- was the Fifth Avenue Association.
because the ordinance promised no.
Only TO lower cab fares but also TO take
m the cruising hacks from our business
streets and make them stand at desIe-
mated places in side streets. Cheaper
cab rates are now an accomplished fact
but cruising hacks have become a far
greater nuisance and hindrance to smooth
movement OF fast yehicular traffic on
Fifth avenue
An investigation made by J. Bernstein,
t-affc engineer. under the auspices Of the
Fifth Avenue Association. discioses the
following conditions:
First--Certain side streets were deslg-
mated as public hack stands by the Mayor,
through the License bureau, and for n
short period some of the cruising hacks
took their places on these stands. A
very brief experience. however. proved
that owing to the absence OF an adequate
signal system II was Impossible for the
drivers OF such hacks to earn a living
and therefore they promptly abandoned
the stands and again took to cruising UP
and down the avenue.
A specific count In the region from
Thirty-second to Forty-secoOd street
shows that the number OF cruising hacks
doing regular business on Fifth avenue
has almost doubled since the census was
taken in December 1912. The percentage
Of empty hacks TO cabs actually trans
porting passengers il now . little more
than to l. Analysing statistics gathered
proves that the average cab driv,r is
employed in transporting passengers for
a period OF fifty-two minutes during the
h0t,ra n q IN he .u( "a 1,
very profitable business proposition Tor
the owner of the hack.
That hackmen stil continue TO drive
M and down Fifth avenue within a very
few blocks Is due to the fact that motor
cabs are quite we'll distributed now on
designated stands throughout the city
and In spite OF their being a little more
expensive than the horse drawn cab they
are freely patronized by the public, since
they are always in sight
Thus q large number of horse cabs thai
used TO md employment during the da,
In various parts Of the city are trying 4
reeoup themselves by crowding Fifth ave
nue., where most of the fares are TO b,
picked UP. and the anomaly Of q decreas,
IN the total number of all horse cab
throughout the city. accompanied by q
large increase OF the number OF hors,
cabs In the restricted locality Of Fifti
avenue. finds its explanation.
Second-Article T. section s. Of tn,
public hssk ordinance legalizes the cruis
ing hacks. In an attempt to reEulat,
them. however. there are some stringen
rules for the method Of how the cal
should move. Indeed. no cruising hacl
rould possibly live UP to the rules laid
Gown In this paragraph and pick up Z
-assenger. The very fact that he WANT
o solicit business compels the hack driver
. move at the slowest possible speed ant
20 seek the corners where such passen'
gers are waiting. 1--.
Small wonder tina. the police regulation
compelling the northeast and southwes
'ruers on Fifth avenue to be kept clea,
or the Fifth avenue stage coaches to TAX,
nn or discharge passengers. are the favor
re haunts OF the cruising hackmen, to thu
ereat inconvenience Of the passengers o.
me omnibuses. The Police Department Il
dolng all In Its power to check this evil. bu
j; IL practically impossible for the tram
man In the middle of the street succe 50
iully to prosecute the Offenders. Lega
evidence TO convict one OF these hackmei
must be so technical that It Is out OF tn
question for anybody, unless he devote
his time exclusively to the watching o
speclfed hack drivers. TO gather IL.
The situation as found by Mr.. Bernstein
has been presented to the Alderman
Traffic Commission. and at the meeting O
'his commission he suggested the following
IS remedies;
J The public hack ordinance SHOULD
place responsibility FOR its enforcement
exclusively in the hands OF the Police De
psrtment. Al the present time two de
partments. the Bureau OF Licenses and tn
Police Department. are charged with en-
iorcement of this ordinance. Exper'enc
has shown that responsibility divided be
tween two departments does not work on
well
!? system should be evolved by whic
ina police magistrates should notify tn
Commissioner OF Licenses whenever
public hackman IL fned by them for In
ringing on traffic regulations. The revC
cation Of the license should be exclusivel
within the power OF the Commissioner c
Licenses. To-day the magistrates shar
ms power with the Commissioner {
Licensesl
The cruising OF hacks should be al
should be assigned In the proper location
Tor morse cabs as we'll as motor cabs an
hey should be compelled TO use them. ]
order, however. 10 be fair to the CA
drivers some system of signals should b
hs'a'led at every cab stand so that III
mack driver might be promptly notine
when and where he is wanted. The fri
man IN the line should be the one
answer the call
= Horse drawn cabs should be equlppe
with taxi meters.
., The rate OF fare for horse drive
fmcles should be changed 40 as to reat
t'r The first half mile or any fractio
nereof 25c, for the second half mi
or any fraction thereof, csc. tho rest ,
lN' charges TO remain as they are. Tn
Non.f give an opportunity 20 a lars
NUMBER OF shoppers 10 60 from store
t''fe ~ small expense and would pro,
good source OF income for the cabma