New-York tribune., 1922-06-07
Taxi Owners
Called Robbers
By Alderman
Public MuIcicd and Abused.
Friedman Tells the Board
in Fighting Ordinance to
Permit Increase i'm Fare
Chauncurs Insult Women
Sponsor for Boost Admits
Fellow Insurance Agents
Will Benefit by New Law

Tayicab owners. who rob the public
/ day by day and their chaufeurs, VINO
are discourtcous 10 passengers. we're
I condemned on the Moor OF the
/ Board Of Aldermen Yesterday BY Al
dermAn Jacob W. Friedman. Republi-
can minority leader. Mr. Friedman
was speaking on an amendment 10 the
/ taxicah ordinance introduced by Alder
man William /. Quinn providing Tor
small increase in taxicab fares 90 meet
the expense to the owners Of liability
| insurance which they are obliged TO
takc out on July ! pursuant TO Law
passed By the last Legislature.
In Offering the amendment Alderman
/ Quinn said that u was mandatory upon
/ the taxicab owners TO pay a premium
fixed by the State Insurance Depart
ment OF about 1866 a year per cab. in
accordance with the law passed by the
Legislature. The owners say " will
put them out OF business. the Alder
man added n they have "a pay Il.
but that the public will have 10 pay IN
the end. The public should pay, the
Alderman argued because IL Was FOR
the public protection. The plan would
place an additional expense OF from
cab users. The amendment called for
an increase OF FIVE cents in the fare
for both single and double tariffs for
this would provide about 81 a DAY more
revenue for the taxieab owners.
The taxicab business mas been run
By irresponsible owners with .reek-
less ehaufeurs." said MIR Quinn.
-. gff
killing and injuring people. and the
public has no redress. We will get
better class OF owners aud drivers 90
tho business n this amendment is
adonted. and tho public will be pro-
tocted by the compulsory insurance.
Alderman John 7. ORourke. OF staten
Island. wanted 10 know II Adcrmla
Quinn had not introduced the amend
meni because ne was m the insurance
business and expected 10 profit by o..
Quinn said he had not introduced trc
amendment for that reason. but al
miticd that he. a. well ss other Alder
men In the insurance business. would
get more business and thank the Leg
stature. from a business point o. view,
for passing the law.
Alderman Charles 4 McNanus. act
ing majority leader while Vice Chair
man William ]. Collins presided IN the
absence OF Aldermnnic President Mur-
ray Hubert. wanted 90 know why Alder
man Quinn had waited until two weeks
before the law became effective 10 IN
troduec his amendment.
I've didn't know what the insurance
rate would be until day before yester-
day" replied Quinn. so the Tammany
Alderman Is AL vet.
Alderman Friedman declared that be
didn't see why the taxiesb owners
should be given any assistance or the
public burdened with Ss,000,O0o Of
higher rates until the abuses OF the
tlxicab owners and drivers had been
remedied
1T u time that We stopped this
mulciing Of the public said VI.
Friedman. we ought 20 correct the
taxi evil before giving them one cent
more We must make 'hem charge an
honest rate. We have cabs OF every
color 81 thee rainbow charging many
different rates The drivers are play
ing the game OF cheating all the time.
With different colorcd flags on the
taxis they charge different rates. Many
o. the drivers show diseourtesy 20
their fares n they fail TO give a tip.
They insult women passengers. Only
a short time ago my wife was insulted
bv taxi driver II woman doesn't
give a 25 or 30 cent tip she - vulgarly
spoken to-
The Quinn amendment finally ~ss
referred TO the Committee on General
Welfare.