The evening world., 1916-02-25
Towns President Sees Danger
to Public in WallStein's
Proposed Amendment.
OPPOSES ANY FAVORS.
Special Cabs Without Taxi
Meters Would Bring
Back Old Evils.
Blu Sophie Irene Loeb.

After long campaign to eliminate
private privileges and give to the
public a specified maximum rate
without any exception" the new
legislation suggested by Leonard NJ
Commissioner OF Accounts
would retard the progress Of the
present ordinance and put the intol-
cradle conditions of the past In force
again.
wallstein summoned before him
this morning all the hotel keepers
and taxicab presidents TO discuss the
principles OF his amendment--ths
principles that have been urged by
the Taxi Trust for years and heater
In all the courts.
The one thing consistently up
held and praised by the public 10
the use OF tho tasimeter. The
amendment would eliminate It on
"ssoeptsd" cabs. The very LAST
measure adopted to enhance the
value OF the ordinance requires
that every public vehicle must be
equipped with q tasinneter.
n 10 the one emblem Of safety
a. to charges. II 10 to the citizsn
and 70 the stranger . badge OF
city supervision.
Il carries with il the confidence
Of accuracy.
Il protects the public from un-
serupulous drivers and estortion.
ate rates. No cosmopolitan city
like Now York can regulate taxi.
oabs without tasirstsrs.
" Mr.. wallstsin's amendment
were adopted IL would require q
policeman on every excepted
cab TO settle the disputes that
would arise.
II is preposterous for any person
using taxicabs TO be constantly OF
the lookout an 70 which cab he as an
tering. public" or excepted" to ga,
nothing of the bother of cards in or
dor to be safe as 10 rates.
The chaotic condition that woult
result would be overwhelming.
Favored companies would get tn
cream OF the business from hote
men. to whom they would gran
commissions, which would finally b
paid by the public. Former privat
monopoly would reign IN ney
legalized form.
The actual hardship. that woul
result to the public is best state
in n letter printed below, which wa
sent TO Mr.. wallstein by the Tow
Taxicab Company.
This organization went into bust
ness Two years ago and has operate
only under the new ordinance.
According TO its President. w
Bundy Cole. an Englishman. who's
standing as an economist and
business man is we'll know
throughout the world. the compan
has made good profits" under tn
present system.
IL has developed from twenty-fi,
w '"o Cht
are the largest in the city. and the
service has not yet been excelled.
Strange to say. although this con
pany would be the chief beneficiai
of tho Wallstoin amendment, tn,
insist upon preserving the principl
| OF the hack ordinance, under whiC
they have prospered.
| They are arranging TO enlarge Il
number OF cabs, but are opposed
any legislation that would grant
them or any one any special priv
lcges.
Their system is one Of econou
y, with constant reduction of overhei
charges and efficiency OF drivers, wi
have a self-governing organization.
This letter to Mr.. Wallstein says:
we thank you for your letter
21st inst, and regret that we are u
able TO accept your kind invitatit
TO be present at a hearing at yo
office on the 18th inst.
I'VE do not quite appreciate q
connection between the Commssi,
OF Accounts and Hacking Ordinance
but this Is possibly attributable to o
unfamiliarity with New York Ci
and municipal laws,
1.-The proposed amendment, as on
nned IN letter now unuer reply, ma
in one way, only an academic intert
for US. as this company operates
its cabs in strict compliance with I
Hacking Ordinance, and, although
equipment is the best TO be found
the City of New York, II asks
other privileges, concessions or favo
than those granted TO all taxicab o
orators, and for this very reason
fail to see why any cabs engaged
the work OF public transportati
should bo excepted or allowed t
privilege OF operating without a tai
meter, and at such rates as tho o
orators themselves may determine.
AIN our opinion, Il 10 not fair
that exemption from maximum
rates and from tho carrying OF a
tasiu,eter should be extended 10
any cab engaged in work OF a
public character, and we are ir-
revoeably opposed to any such
/ discrimination as would DO in.
/ volved in granting unneoesssr,
| privileges TO such vehicles a,
are clearly superior to those com
monty to be had for hire
As before stated, our own vehlc
merit this classification, and II /
amendment should be adopted by