The Washington times., 1917-01-11
n. Y. TAXI SERVICE
TIED UP BY. STRIKE
thousand Drivers of Three
Companies Walk Out,
Gripping Service.

NEW YORK, Jan. I1.-CalIing a
taxi, ordinarily the easiest thing
imaginable in the theatrical district
of New York, became the hardest
sort of task last night as a result
OF the drivers of the three largest
companies going on strike. About
1000 cars, or one-Quarter of the city's
supply of taxicabs, were out OF sery-
ice. These constituted nearly all of
the number attached to hotels and
theaters in the downtown district, the
rest in services being almost exclu-
sively independently owned cars
which solicit business at public
stands.
Because of the strike many hun
dreds of theatergoers and late diners
were forced to depend on the subway
or elevated to take them home. The
night owls. with their seagoing, horse
drawn hacks. woke UP to find them
selves in general demand and imag-
med for a moment that they were
back in the days of 1895.
Strike Began Early.
The three cornered strike began
$50 chauffeurs of the Black and White
Taxicab Company drove their ma
chimes into the garage, S2s West Six
ty-eighth street, and walked away.
A few hours later the 500 drivers Of
the Town Taxi Company, with head
quarters in 220 East Sixty-fourth
street. followed. And at o'clock
last night, just as the evening de-
mand began. the drivers of the Mason
Seaman Transportation Company. be-
tween 400 and 500 in number, stopped
work.
At the Mason-Seaman Company
headquarters. go West Fifty-seventh
street, it was denied last night that
there was a strike on. This was in
spite OF the fact that there was admit
ted. to be-a conference going on be-
tween a committee of drivers and the
officials OF the company. 1t was ex-
planned that certain minor griev-
ances were being adjusted, and the
conference would surely be resumed
in the morning
Reorganization Blamed.
In taxicab circles. which means
the various stands throughout the
city, il was understood that the idle
ness the Msson-Seaman drivers was
due to the coming reorganization of
the company. which is slated to occur
within a few days. The concern has
been in the hands of receivers since
last April, when it's officials asserted
that the city tariff ordinances had
bankrupted it. The men,. it was re-
ported, feared that with the reOrgan-
ization most of them would lose their
Jobs, and they refused to work until
their status should be agreed upon.
Reasons For Walkout.
The strike OF the Black and White
Company came from an entirely dif.
ferent cause. This concern, leader in
the independent associations which
have been operating at rates far be-
low the city's set minimum. began
operations last November ] with fifty
cabs. 1t now has nearly $50. with
regular and relief drivers. About a
month ago one of the company's in
spectors made himself disliked by ting
men, according to w. Bundy Cole, the
managing director of the concern, be
cause he "called the men in" for VIC
Istions of rules.
Demanded Inspectors Discharge.
Yesterday morning a committee o;
the men demanded the discharge OF
this inspector. and when this was re
fused the men struck without further
parley.
Soon afterward a delegation of the
Town Taxi Company, which Is also
directed by Mr.. Cole, informed him
that they would strike in sympathy
unless the demand was acceded To-
They also asked wage increases, al
though Mr.. Cole pointed out that
their incomes already approXimated
$50 a week from salary and tips
which is almost 20 per cent more
than other drivers get. When their
demands were refused they struck.