The New York herald., 1921-10-12
FINDS CITY OFFICIALS
LET379EX-CONVICTS
HAVE TAXI LICENSES
Meyer Committee Gets Evi-
dence of q Slush Fund to
Defeat q Bill to Give Con-
troll to Police. Z
BURGLARS DRIVE CABS
Finger Print Records Iden-
tify Would Be Drivers, but
They Get Their Permits
Without Trouble.
81 PETTY GRAFT EXPOSED
Sightseeing Car President Is
Accused of Pcrjury-Street
Cleaning Department Goes /
on the Rack To-day.
ST PETTY GRAFT EXPOSED

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Hundreds Of men who have been
convicted Of felonies or minor crimes
are driving taxicabs in New York
streets in violation of the city's own
regulations for protecting the public.
according to testimony and statistics
offered in evidence yesterday at tho
Meyer committees hearing in the
Municipal Building.
Conditions in the Department OF
Licenses were considered all day. and
as a result Of the information OBJ
tained it is expected the Investigators
will recommend reorganization Of the
system of issuing licenses and regu.
lating the vehicular division. Based
only on a partial examination of the
licenses, it was disclosed that 1853
men against whom felony convictions
stand have licenses, while 226 guilty
OF lesser crimes are driving taxicabs
with the full knowledge Of city on
cials.
When effort was made last year
to get bill through the Legislature
transferring the taxicab license busi-
ness from the Department OF Licenses
to the Police Department fund OF
several thousand dollars was col
lected by license ofiicials from taxicab
companies to fight the measure, sc.
cording to some OF the testimony.
Taxi witnesses Are Hostile.
| Leonard wallstein, associate coun.
sci, conducted the investigation and
encountered much trouble getting
witnesses to testify. Representatives
of taxicab companies either would
not answer questions or denied all
knowledge of conditions concerning
which they were questioned.
Benjamin G. Singer, president OF .
sightseeing automobile company.
repudiated testimony which was read
as having been given by him recently
before a subcommittee. This re-
lated to raising funds for the Albany
junket to fight the license legislation.
His testimony yesterday contradicted
the record read The committee de-
cided to send both records to the
District Attorney with statement
that there was clear case Of perjury.
Samuel Ecksteln, chauffeur. told tho
committee he had been advised that
when he went to the FHty-seventh
street division to have his cab passed
he must pay Gallagher 81 and Walsh
ST." They were officials. he said. Ho
made such payments. but gave them
as tips. It was general talk among
chauffeurs in the city, Eckstein said.
that such was the custom, but he had
similar payments were made.
No Let Up for Double Holiday.
The committee will continue in se:-
sion all OF to-day, although 1t Is a
double holiday. Some OF the members
insisted there be no delay. Every effort
is being made TO finish the major part
OF the inquiry this week. One or two
sessions may be held next week and
then adjournment taken for a month.
The Department OF Street Clea1ingI
will be under investigation to-day.
After examining several witnesses,
regarding the system OF handling
licenses. Mr.. wallstein made a sum :.
mary for purposes of the record re-s
garding the licenses. The statementl
covered the active files" and tho
suspended list" He said:
Partial examination of the active
files referring to chauffeurs now ac-'
lively operating cabs shows that there.
arc twenty-five convicted felons. on
whom four were convicted of grand
larceny. four OF burglary. three OF
fclonious assault. four of assault in
the second degree and eight for a va
rlety. ranging from bribery and for
gerry to Illegal voting and the posses
sion OF drugs. Ten were recorded as
such in cases In which there we're flu-
ger print records showing such con-.
vIctions. am speaking not OF arrests,
but of convictions.
''fn addition there arc i57 instances
in the active files disclosing that ap-
plicants had been guilty Of other
crimes. as. for instance. there are
ninety who have been convicted Of cet
larceny. Examination Of the fecor
shows that in very many ins'
where there was charge OF
in the first or second degree
plea OF guilty entered am
administered or imposed up,
OF guilty TO petit larceny. OF n
those convicted Of petit Larceny