The million-peopled city
Garwood, John
1853
Cab-drivers as a Body exposed to unjust Odium.
It must be at once apparent how fearfully these dissipated night-drivers, and these unlicensed outcasts from prisons, must tend to bring an ill-repute on cab-drivers in general. And yet it would be unjust to them not to distinguish the one class from the other. It should be known also that about a third of the London cabs belong to small masters, who often drive their own vehicles, and who are the most respectable portion of the drivers. Another large class of drivers, who are of a more respectable order, are those employed at the railway stations. The railway authorities select the best vehicles and horses, and drivers on whom they can best depend for the faithful and cheerful perform- ance of their duties. They also impose a fine of 5s. for drunkenness, 5s. for insolence, 5s. for overcharge of fare or luggage, and 10s. for retaining any article left by a pas- senger in the cab. A second offence is punishable with dismissal. | |