The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-08
PROTEST OF THE TAXI MEN.
They Ask for an Understandable and
Enduring Ordinance.

To II EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. At
least one thousand taxicab chauffeurs.
each an individual owner personally op-
Nating his taxicab in this city. have
called attention to the many unneces-
sary hardships suffered by them. hard
ships which have been laid upon them
In the Interpretation and administration
Of the public hack ordinance. which was
designed by the Board of Aldermen to
regulate taxicab business reasonably,
Justly and for the general good and In
the name OF the taxicab men Of the city
OF New York I respectfully request your
support and cooperation toward the
amendment OF the public hack ordinance
to bring certain Of the rules regulating
tho taxicab service Of the city more in
harmony with conditions actually exist
ing to-day. and TO eliminate. as much
as possible. the unfair. capricious, arbi-
trary n unreasonable interpretations
OF some Of the statutes and provisions
OF the ordinance as interpreted by the
COMMISSIONS of Licenses.
The Taxicab owners Association and
the Public Hackmcn's Association have
held several mass meetings during the
last few weeks. at which resolutions were
adopted n l nave been authorized by
them to appeal to you and to urg a
revision of The ordinance.
we hN'h iith III NV WI
the public hack ordinance powers have
been assumed by the Commissioner Of
Licenses which run far beyond the rea-
sonablc intent Of the Board of Alder
men. In the exercise of his discretion"
the Commissioners Of Licenses has AZ
sumed a despotic power and has ordered
The mutilation Of many taXicabs. the
destruction OF taxicab seats, the rcyoca-
ton of taxicab licenses and the suspen-
sion Of taNicabs all in the exercise Of
his arbitrary. caprlcious and despotic
Interpretation Of the word "discretion."
The ordinance in It's present state Is
not clear as to what IL a taxicab. and
the Commissioner OF Licenses proclaimed
"a taxicab "a vehicle measuring AT least
forty-fvc Inches. and about five months
ago he proclaimed II a vehicle measuring
Mt least forty-eight inches. n the
next year the Lord only knows what
he Will proclaim u taNicab To be. So
year after year thousands upon thou
sands of dollars worth Of property are
being destroyed and mutilated. and thou
sands Of dollars worth of money Is ex-
pended by taNicab owners to comply
with the whiins OF the department OF
Licenses.
Behind all this there is the ardor for
official control. TaNichb owners fnd
themselves continually In hot water by
reason Of the fact that this ardor Is
being melted by the discovery on the
part Of the Commissioner Of Licenses
and the chief of the Bureau Of Public
Vehicles of the fact that lac does pos
seSs undcr the ordinance the despotic
right TO rule with an iron hand.
We learn that II is the desire OF the
Commissioner OF Licenses To have all
taNicabs painted maroon in the year
1917. and for all We know In the year
1919 he may demand that they be
painted Alice blue. The Commissioner
of Licenses claims hat he has the right
TO do this under the ordinance.
The public hackmcn desire AN amend
ment OF the ordinance to the end that
these conditions be eliminated that
! there he no discrimination in so far as
taxicabs are concerned. and that all
taNlcabs carry a taximeter; that there
be blu one tariff. the present double
tarir In force eliminated. and but one
tariff, Of 10 cents for each NTH OF a
mile and 30 cents FOR the drop FOR the
frs; mile to the end that the Depart
mcnt Of Licenses cease its continual as
sumption Of new deSpot!c powers under
the guise OF "diSCrrtion' to the end
| that men duly licensed as taxicab owners
! shall be safe and secure IN the exercise
of their daily lahors to the end that
| their property be safe from moleStation,
mu,ilation and destruction and suspen-
sion at the will and whIm Of the chief
Of the Bureau of Public Vehicles or one
of his subordiuates to the end that the
public hack ordinance Intended by the
Board of Aldermen to regulate the taxi
cab service in the interest of all the
people be amended SO that II actually
serve it~ purpose, and TO the further end
| that taxicab owners be freed from the
| tyranny which they now sunsr AZ tho
hands Of the chief Of the Bureau Of
Public Vehicles. who under the ordi-
| nance sits IN judgment on taN,chb chauf-
| fcurs 81 the city Of New York and fines
IN IN for tho wearing of q sweater and
| suspeudS and revokoS their Licenses with
out a hearing or a notification ~ a
hearing and for no better cause.
JOSEPH NEMEUov.
Attorney for TaNicab owners .Assoc.a-
ton and the Public Haokmen's Assoc
citation, Inc.
| New York, Apl!l g.