THE CAB QUESTION.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 144, 18 November 1874, Page 2

THE CAB QUESTION.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sir,—l was extremely glad to see that you have taken notice of the ridiculous " farce" which is to be enacted to-morrow at ten o'clock at the City Council Chamber. I refer to the advertisement calling the Council together to "make" the Hackney Carriage Bye-law. You are perfectly right, sir, the fault lies entirely with the Council or rather with with one or two obstructive members thereof. Let them pause before they go further. Let them take advice which will prevent further litigation, because I can assure you, sir, that the "Astute enemy" as you

style him is not only on the " look out," but is watching closely the different manoeuvres of those sapient gentlemen who occupy the hair-stuffed chairs, in the Council Chamber. What on earth, sir, is the good of frittering away the public money in a matter which could be settled in a few hours, and which might have been settled long ago, if it had not been for those obstinate individvals above mentioned. It is not yet too late —the Council has the option of withdrawing from the field on which they have foixght so well but so unluckily. However, it was their own fault, and I am truly sorry for them in one sense, but not in another, because when men who have, or rather, ought to have, the interests of the ratepayers at heart, choose to rush into Court with a lame case, in thejlsarne manner as one gifted with that unfortunate propensity the cacoethes scriberuli rushes into print, over a matter which turns out to be a "mare's" or a " moa's" nest, then, Sir, I think that the Welsh verdict of '' Sarve him right" is the correct one. But unfortunately those sapient Councillors have not got to pay for their folly. It falls to the lot of the ratepayers to fork out their cash in order that they may uphold the dignity and the obstinate opinion of Messrs Mayor, Ick and Co. Let the public see to this. Let them remember at the next election who has been the cause of spending over £BOO of their money in useless and needless litigation, and I venture to think, sir, that no right-minded ratepayer will ever dream of recording his vote for those gentlemen who have been so conspicuous, and so anxious to make them pay so terribly through the nose. Another word, and I have done. The cabmen, as I take it, want a law as well as the Council. The Council want to beat the cabmen down, and they won't have it. Why don't the cabmen ask the public to interfere, because, sir, I think they are better judges than the Councillors, who never, or except on "special " occasions, take cabs at all. If any City Councillor is prepared to tell me, or any of your readers, that the fare of Is. from the railway station (after, perhaps, going down there in order to meet three or four trains, and not getting a job) to Mr Justice Gresson's residence at the extreme east corner of the North town belt, is a sufficient remuneration, then, sir, I shall cry "hold enough," and at the same time remain, Yours obediently, OLD TOM. November 18, 18G4.