The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-06
PUBLIC HACK STANDS.
Have Conditions Been Improved by
the 1913 Ordinance?

To THE EDITOR or The SUN-Sir. When
the public hack ordinance went into ef-
feet OF August /, 1913. and .he Iegula-
ton OF such hacks VAS put under the
Jurisdiction OF the license bureau, now
the Department of Licenses. the general
opinion was that the then existing con-
ditions among public hacks and public
hackmen would be wiped out and a
change for the better made a. soon as
the authorities became familiar with
the situation. The patient public, thor
ouGhly accustomed to G!lapldated rigs
and predatory chauifeurs because OF
long association with them, became
optimistic, NJ once feeling sure that the
turn In the road had been reached and
thereafter II would be n pleasure TO ride
in a public hack thoroughly and effec-
lively supervised by those carrying out
the provisions OF the new ordinance.
There is no doubt that the condition
and appearance OF the public hacks in
the city have been improved considerably
since the ordinance went into effect. but
obviously there is a class of chauffeurs
operating the taxls who should be driven
from the public streets. These chauf-
feurs whenever they get the opportunity
impose upon the good graces of the
public to the extent that they charge
more than the lawful rate OF fare on
stormy nights. Friends OF mine. par
~ticularly those escorting women friends,
have been imposed upon by these grasp
ing chauffeurs. who saw their opportu-
nifty to get more than what was legally
coming To them. feeling secure in the
fact that no gentleman will stand and
argue with a chauffeur in the presence
ef a woman IL makes a gentleman
feel cheap" To argue about a few cents,
but II Is not the money he argues for.
but the principle.
4 friend OF mine who owns taxicahs
informed me hat owing TO poor police
work conditions on tho public hack
stands are not what they should I've.
My informant states that reliable own
ers are afraid 10 send their taNis out
To- these stands for fear the chaufcurs
will he attacked and assaulted by thugs
hired by "A band OF chauneurs who fire.
quent many of the choice taxi stand
in front Of popular restaurants. theatre,
and other public places.
According to his version. and he
further states hat many Independent
owners are suffering as well IS the
large taSicab companies, "A group OF
taxi chauffeurs 81 each stand clubs TO-
gether and pays a certain sum weekly
for the purpose Of hiring "A thus or
thugs TO patrol the stand every night
anu ste lllil iIllN 'lliAllfiIN DtlblHEl'le
10 the clique bring their taxis In. Those
who do not belong to the clique but are
bold enough TO drive in on the sta.ls
are quickly told by the thug or thugs
that they will have 10 leave Immediately
or suffer the consequences. The consc-
quonces consist of having the taxi
damaged in some way or another, such
as scrapins off the enamel. cutting the
tires or punc,ur!nG them,
Furthermore. II these methods fan 10
serve the purpose OF driving the
chauffeur away. the thug or thugs 70
even further. The chauffeur Is attacked
with a knife or wrench. but In the ma
jority OF cases he is dragged from the
seat Of his taxi and cruelty beaten. The
beating consists of punching and kick
ing. the latter when the victim is pros
trate on the sidewalk. My informant
states that once n man has received
such a beating he generally stays away
from the stands frequeutei by chauf-
feurs employing thugs. Recently. aC-
cording to an account in THE sun, a
chauffeur daring to drive in on a stand
thus protected WAS frightfully beaten
lIe WAS cmovc TO a hospital In a
critical condition.
What will DO don 10 break up his
nefarious practice? II IL extremely un.
fair to owners OF taXts and the drivers
of them to have thugs dominate the
public hack stands. but the public sur.
iers to the extent that those in Contro'
of the stands have a monopoly and
name their own prices, II looks Tx
work for the police, T. J. MURPHY.
NEW York. June 8.