The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-01-02
BLAMES POLICE
. IF CRIMINALS GET
( TAXICAB LICENSE
Every Application Held Up
Until Detective Bureau Gives
20. H." Says Geraghty.
DOUBTS STORY OF 800.
Says if Enright Has Proof Ii
cenSes viii Be Promptly
Revoked.

1ameS II. GeraBnty to-day placed
the responsibility OF taxi drivers with
criminal records operating in New
York City in conjunction with armed
bandits squarely up to the Police De-
partment, declaring that eveY appli-
cant for a license TO operate a taxi
cab is passed upon by the Bureau Of
Criminal Identification at Police
Headquarters.
when an applicant applies at the
Division of Motor Vehicles of the De-
partment of Licenses for license to
operate taxicab in this city," said
Commissioner Geraghty, ''he mWt
make satisfactory answer to a num-
Der of questions, he must file a re-
cent photograph of himself and his
fngerprints are taken.
This data is then sent to Police
Headquarters and the applicant is
investigated. His fingerprints are
compared with those at HEADQUARTERS
and his photograph is similarly
looked up in the Rogues' Gallery. II
there is nothing against him, the ap-
pLication is returned to us marked
record clear and we issue the Ii
cense. IL the applicant is found to
nave been convicted of a crime, we
are also notified, and consequently
the required license is not issued"
Commissioner Geraghty made
known that there are now $4,000 Ii
censed taXicab operators in New
York City, Of which number 1000
were licensed in the past year. In ad-
dltion to this number, 1000 additional
licenses were issued to owners OF
touring cars who desire to hack"
When the present Administration
took Office" said the Deputy Com
missioner there were only 500 Ii
censed taNicHb operators. as against
$4,000 at the present time"
He was asked his opinion of the
recent statement OF Police Commits
sioner Enright that more than 300
ex-criminals operate taxicabs in New
York City.
II do not believe that statement"
he replied. But if such is the case,
this condition is clearly up TO the
Police Department, as this bureau
makes no investigation of any apph-
cant, it being the ordinary work of
the police.
ut is quite possible to believe, on
the other hand" Commissioner Ger
agility added. that there are some
criminals operating cabs in the city,
because when 1000 men are licensed
in one year there is the strong pos
sibihty that some questionable char
acters are apt to slip by the inveStiga-
ton of the police. But in no sense
could | place this lumber at 300.
"And, II the Police Commissioner
knows OF 300 criminals who are oper-
ating taNicabs, 7 am ~ the opinion
that the Automobile Bureau of the
Secretary of States office as well as
this de .>artment, should be informed
in order that we may take steps to
revoke the licenses these ex-criminals
hold.
ITO the best OF my recollection I
have never been advised that such
condition exists"
Secretary of state Hugo in a state
ment also denied that he had been
favored by any information from the
PolSe Commissioner regarding ex-
cOnvicts driving automobiles in New
York City.
"If 1 had received such informa-
tion," said Mr.. Hugo, IT would inn
nlediately have taken steps to re-
woke the licenses of those mentioned
by the police officials. AS it is, the
only information we get from the Po-
lice Department deals with reports
OF violations Of the Motor Vehicle
Law. These complaints are heard by
me at frequent intervals, and proper
action in the matter of revocation Of
licenses is subsequently taken.
Tn the questions asked the appli-
cant for a chauffeur's license appears,
Have you ever been convicted of any
crime?' If the applicant answers in
the negative, why, we must be more
or less governed by his statement.
Certainly, the Police Department
never tells us anything about II ono
way or the other because that de-
partmont does not enter into the pro-
cedure at all.
1--WE never knowingly issue either
an operators or chauffeur's license to
any individual who has ever been
q found guilty OF any crime, but as I
say, we have no means OF making an
lnVesti CATION. If the Police Depart
ment furnishes us with information
as to who these eX-CTiminal operators
are, we will Immediately take steps to
have their licenses revoked"
Mr. Hugo added that beginning Feb.
|, a new form of application blank. for
chauHeur's license will go into eff
feet, which, ne said, would make II
more difficult for questionable char
acters to obtain licenses.
"On the new FORMS" he said, there
are TO be thirty-slx questions as
against fourteen printed on the
blanks used last year, These new
forms were drawn up rs the result OF
conferences between Magistrates OF
the Traffic Court, members Of auto
mobile associations and representa-
tives from my office"
In Wow OF the assertions Of Com
missioner Geraghty and Secretary
Hugo, it would appear that although
Commissioner Enright knows that
300 eX- criminals are operating taxi
cabs in this city, he nor tho members
Of the Police Department have made
any effort 10 have the licenses OF
these men revoked or steps been tax
en- to put an end to the overcoming
list Of daring hold-ups and rohberies
accomplished with the aid OF taxi
cabs and touring cars.
In almost every report Of a robbery
or hold-up, where thieves have stolen
thousands OF dollars. andDthere have
been many crimes of this kind dur
ing 1919, 1t is set forth "the robbers
made their escape in waiting auto
mobile, the license number of which
could not be scared because the tail
lights on he machine were not lit"
According TO figures made public