Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-10
By FREDERIC J. HAsK1N


New York City. Nov s--Anybody
who has ever had occasion to use a
Manhattan taxicab will be glad TO
know that a reform movement Is now
in progress among taxi drivers here.
They have decided to abandon their
bold. bad ways In favor OF life O
virtue. Sir Galahad i their working
model this year instead OF Captain
Kidd. Honesty, accuracy. courtesy
OF the new League OF Independent
Taxi Chauffeurs which recently an
nounesd that i; would exclude from its
membership and seek TO have
punished any driver found guilty %
the piracy methods so much in vogue
last year.
While It might be pleasant 20 as
sumo. Gentle Reader, that this sudden
change OF heart on the part OF taxi
drivers IL sign Of Improvement in the
human race. We cannot ignore the fact
that IL Is doubtless dictated by expe-
dieucy. Hard times have hit the taxi
business a particularly heavy whang.
Many people. Judging from painful
experience that all taxi chauffeurs are
robbers. viii walk miles rather than
use a cab. while the rapidly decreas-
ing number who do use them are
most careful to see that they are not
cheated
Last year. when the publ,c's pocket
book was considerably fattsr. IL could
afford 20 be a bit careless in the mat
ter OF taxi fares. but now at the first
suspicion OF overchargs II calls d po-
licemaa or reports the matter to the
city license bureau
Tho complaints OF citizens against
taxi drivers are heard every Friday
afternoon, in the little courtroom at
tached to the Department OF Licenses
at 81 Center street They are nearly
always proved TO be justified. in which
case the driver Is ordered TO refund
to the passenger the amount OF over
charge and Is lucky II he does not also
have his license suspended.
A TYPICAL CASE
On the Friday we attended this tri-
bunal. for example, a young woman
complained that she had been COM
PEELED to pay taxi driver s. for a trip
which sholud have cost but slSo. She
had hailed a cab on West Eighty
sixth street and asked the driver how
much II would cost her to drive to a
Thirty-thlrd street hotel. About 81
he replied. Whereupon the young
woman got into the cab. At the en-
trance Of the hotel, however the driver
insisted that owing to several delay.
In traffic the meter registered s.. The
passenger protested. but finally paid
the bill to avoid a discussion that was
attracting attention
As she was entering the hotel, the
hotel starter thrust n small piece
cardboard ino her hand.
While you were talking with the
driver, I looked al the meter and It
registered 81 So" he said Here Is the
number OF the cab. II you viii report
this to the liceus. bureau 1t will see
that you get a refhnd.''
II did. And inasmuch as this was
the second complaint registered
against the came driver. ne was de-
priyed OF his license.
The moral OF this story Is quite
plain. II you have reason 10 believe
that you are being overcharged bs n
Sew York taxi chauffeur, don't waste
time In argument and recrifninatiou.
II a policeman happens to be within
hailing distance, tell your troubles to
him. n not. simply take tho number
Of the cab and 10 possible the number
Of the driver. exhibited on his shield
and seek the little courtroom in Cen
ter street. Here you are apt to meet
your taxi robber face to face. In all
likelihood he will protest his inno-
cence. swear that he has never seen
you before and claim that he was i'll
In bed at homo on the day you say he
oyercharged you. But IL you are able
positively to Identify him. the odds arc
all In your favor. For long experience
has taught the Department Of f.lcenres
that people do not make the labnrious
trip to Center street unlesa they have
substantial grievances.