The evening world., 1922-03-28
MILLER CONSIDERS
NEW TAX|CAB LAW
BONDING DRIVERS
Hearing Largely Attended by
Tai Owners and a Horde
OF Lawyers.
NEED OF THE STATUTE
Good Points Clearly Brought
Out, Though There Is
Opposition.
BY Sophie Irene Loeb.
(staH Correspondent Of The Evening
Worldly

(StaH correspondent OF Inc evening
WORLDLY
ALBANY, March 2S.--A large del
Sgation attended a hearing this after
noon before Gov. Miller on the bill
that will provide for the bonding Of
taxicab chauffeurs against future ac-
cidents in carrying passen ngers, a
measure long urged by this newspa
per.
Among those who appeared in favor
Of the measure were w. T.. McGuirk,
General Manager of the American
yellow Taxicab Company; Nat ia
CODY, General Manager or the Black
and White Taxicab Company; Jo-
seph Myerson, an attorney represent
Ing a lawyers committee of soc
formed TO urge taxicab reforms, and
Assemblyman Kaufman, who intro
duced the bill.
The opposition was represented by
Samuel Katz, attorney for the Twen-
tieth Century Brown and White Tax
icab Association. and James Ulman
and Louis Tyroler, both speaking fol-
the Greater New York Taxi League.
Mr.. Jacoby brought out the fact
that the bonding of drivers as pre-
sciibed in the bill, to the extent OF
$500 each. was very low as com
pared 10 what his company is com
PEELED TO pay annually in the courts
for claims for accidents. He said
there was no more reason why a
chauffeur who had but one or two
cabs should not be held as respon-
Bible TO the public as his company,
which had several hundred cabs, as
each cab had to be licensed as pub
lie hack and tho same fixed rates
apply both to the company and the
individual.
81 think II is high time the public
was protected in this matter" said
Mr.. Jacoby, "and although it is going
to cost my company considerable
money. we are willing to do it, not
only to create confidence on the part
Of the public, but We believe the worst
element in the taxicab business will
thus be gradually eliminated" Mr..
Jacoby presented an exhaustive brief
10 the Governor showing the neces-
sity for this legislation.
Mr.. McGuirk stated he was neEoti-
ating at the present time with an in
surance company for the bonding Of
all his drivers. nearly 300, as he re-
gardcd this as a great asset in the
Na art a, hNaUt e.
ing the public but in making drivers
more responsible in carrying passen-
gers.
IL believe this is move in the
right direction" said Mr.. McGuirk,
"and the New Workers. as well as the
numerous visitors TO our city should
actually receive the protection that
they believe is theirs when they ride
In a cab placarded with State and
city licenses. Up to the present time
no one can be sure when they get
into a cab that they are protected
against accident. Certainly only d
few cabs can be held liable"
Mr. Myerson said there were thou
sands of cases pending in the courts
representing claims that were uncol-
leCIlDle because OF lHe CHdullSui
lack of responsibility.
AssEMBLYMAN SHOWS WHY
LAW is NEEDED.
Assemblyman Kaufman presented
q brief to the Governor in which hs
set forth some poignant statistics
showing the vital need OF the statute
He said:
"By this act provision is made FOL
the financial responsibility OF every
person, firm, association or corpora
tion engaged in the business OF carry
ing or transporting passengers fo'
hire in any motor vehicle, eIcep
street cars or vehicles operated b!
private corporations, acting undel
franchise and regulated by the Pub
lie Service Commissioner in cities o
the first class.
"The need OF such q measure hai
long been evidenced by the series o
articles in The Evening World, an,