The New York herald., 1922-06-21
'EASIER BUSINESS
QUINN'S TAXI IDEA
Ordinance to Raise Fares Was
to Help Drivers Pay Him
Insurance.
TEST OF LAW ORDERED
Manton Calls Newton to De-
fend ConstitutionalityA Aof
Indemnities.
TEST OF LAW ORDERED

Those owners of few taxicabs who
view as discriminatory or otherwise un-
fair the new State law compelling them
blame Alderman William F. Quinn If
they discover that they can't make ex-
penses under the existing maximum
legal rates of fare. The Alderman de-
clared yesterday that the ordinance he
introduced last week is still in the Conn
mittee on Public Welfare and will prob ,
ably stay there.
Lets get this thing straight" said
the Alderman yesterday after the reg
ular meeting of the board. II am in
the insurance business and make a spec
ialty of insuring motor car owners.
When the State law passed there was
a howl from owners of one or a few
taxicabs They said they could not af-
ford to pay the premiums the insurance
companies would exact.
Il decided, being an insurance broker,
that would make 1t easier for them to
pay premiums inasmuch as they would
have to anyway. So l offered my ordi-
nance which has it that where taxicab
carries not more than two passengers
the fare for the initial half mile should
be 35 instead of 80 cents. Where three
or more passengers were carried the
fare for that initial half mile might be
As instead of 40 cents.
"Easier Business for Me-"
"The bill was referred to the COM
mttee. There 1t has stayed all week
expected that these indignant owners
OF one. two three or four taxicaos
would come down to the City Hall howl
ing for its immediate passage i figured
that 1t would mean prompt and easier
business for me and for all other insur-
arce men in my line.
But did they come down bowling for
the passage of my ordinance? They did
not. Now understand me. there's moth
ing illegitimate about offering this ordi-
nance. tried to do the little fellows
favor. They will have to take out insur-
ance anyway. We insurance men Will
do the business anyway All / had In
mind was to make it easier for the little
fellows. But If they think they don't
need assistance-well that's up to them
! assure you 1t is nothing to me. They
will have to take out policies and I am
in the insurance business. Where they
will get the money is not one of my
worries"
Alderman Quinn and his brother,
Edmund are the heads of the World
Mutual Automobile Casualty Insurance
Company, Inc. at q William street
They have a branch at 127 West Sixty
fifth street. which is the same address
as that of the Automobile Licence
Bureau of the Secretary of States
office They have four other branch
offices in various parts of the city.
The ConstitutionaI Question.
| The fact that the small owners of
taxicabs have not rallied to the support
of Alderman Quinns ordinance is to
be traced to a certain general faith that
the new State law will be declared un-
constitutional
The law will not be declared un-
constitutional" said Alderman Quinn
yesterday. Il happen TO Know tnat
Gov. Miller looked into that possibility
before signing the bill. and IL Gov.
Miller says it is constitutional-well
that's goods enough for me-"
The first test of the constitutionality
of the law began yesterday before Cir
| cult Court Judge Manton. The law
requires owners Of taxicabs to pro-
vide themselves with an indemnity bond
of $500 to satisfy judgments for per-
sonal or property injuries inflicted by
the taxicab. The suit was brought by
House, Grossman G. vorhaus. 115 Broad
way, on behalf of William Henry Pack.
ard the owner and operator of four
| taxicabs.
Judge Manton granted the order to
show cause why the law, which is to go
into eject July l, should not be declared
unconstitutional, discriminatory and i'm
posing unreasonable burdens upon taxi
cab owners and operators The order
calls upon District Attorney Banton and
Attorney General Newton to appear In
court on Friday and produce reasons
why a preliminary injunction shall not
be issued by the court restraining them
from putting the law into effect
| Packard complains that his maximum
net income from the cars Is s35 week
He goes on to say that the premium on
the bonds he would be required to pay
| for would be $3.50 year. That. he says
would leave him weekly net income
| OF $3.50.
With the complaint is filed statistics
tending to show that in 1918 fourteen
persons were killed in the streets by
! taxicabs. whereas private cars killed
47s. In 1919, it is alleged, taxicabs killed
twenty-three persons, against 42i for
private cars.