The Globe. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1877.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 793, 5 January 1877, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1877.

It is with very sincere pleasure we find the members of the City Council at last taking steps with regard to the licensed cabmen of the city. For a lengthened period it has been patent to the most casual observer that the supply of cabs—that is for the legitimate accommodation of the public—was far in excess of the demand. It is further no secret that some of the licensed cabmen of the city are, if not as in many cases regularly retained in the service of houses of an immoral nature, receiving pay for aiding and abetting the keepers thereof. This is well known, and how the Inspector of Hackney Carriages should year after year with these facts, whicti are matters of public notoriety before him, allow licenses to be granted wholesale, we cannot understand. It was not necessary that he should enact the role of amateur detective, the facts stand forth in such unmistakable colour, and wit h out any attempt at disguise. The plain truth is that for some years past, though there has nominally been an officer whose duty it was to supervise the licensed cabs, nothing has been done, and this too, though cabmen make no secret of the fact that a certain proportion of their number gain their living by assisting prostitution. It would of course be Quixotic to suppose that the social evil could be removed from our midst, but we certainly think that it is not quite the thing that some of the licensees of the City Council should bo active promoters and paid agents of it. In our remarks it must be distinctly understood that we are not classing the whole fraternity of cabmen together. There is, we are happy to say a number of respectable courteous and efficient drivers to be found on the ranks. But their respectability is unfortunately under the S resent system a positive loss to &». Xaey are obliged to utaad

by and see their less scrupulous brethren waxing rich by the traffic they pursue under protection of the license of the City Council, and to bear with their competition for the small legitimate trade that exists. Therefore we say that it is matter for congratulation that the Council have at last determined to put an end to a state of things which has long been a positive disgrace to the city. By adopting a rigid scrutiny into the character and habits of the licensed cab-drivers no injustice will be done. Those who, despite the temptation of high fares and possible windfalls, have kept themselves free from the contamination of aiding and abetting in prostitution will not fear the scrutiny. On the other hand, those who cannot bear the test are better away. We hope that the Council will not only refuse to grant the licenses of those cabmen who are proved to be connected directly or indirectly with houses of ill-fame, but will appoint an efficient officer, whose duty it shall be rigidly to supervise licensed cabs not alone as to this, but also as regards accommodation, extortion, &c. As to the remarks made respecting the police, the Council during the last few years have had their own officer. The police, therefore, had no right or business to interfere, except where a case came within their special sphere. The same information possessed by the police was open to the inspector of hackney carriages ; indeed, it is matter of public notoriety and comment. We trust, therefore, despite any clamour which may be raised by disappointed applicants or their friends that the Council will, as they are bound for the protection of the public, fearlessly and determinedly do their duty.