The evening world. Newspaper, January 2, 1920, Page 7

IF CRIMINALS GET TAXICAB LICENSE aint Every Application Held Up Until Detective Bureau Gives “O. K.,” Says Geraghty. DOUBTS STORY OF 300. Says if Enright Has Proof Li- censes Will Be Promptly Revoked. Deputy Commissioner of Licenses James F, Geraghty to-day placed the responsibility of taxi drivers with veriminal records operating in New York City in conjunction with armed bandits squarely up to the Police De- partment, declaring that evew appli- cant for a license td operate a tax!- cab is passed upon by the Bureau of Criminal Identification at Police Headquarters, “When an applicant applies at the Division of Motor Vehicles of the De- partment of Licenses for a license to operate a taxicab in this city,” said Commissioner Geraghty, “he mt make satisfactory answer to a num- ber of questions, he must file a re- cent photograph of himself and his fingerprints are taken. “This data is then sent to Police Headquarters and the applicant is investigated. His fingerprints are compared with those at Headquarters and his photograph is similarly looked up in the Rogues’ Gallery. If there is nothing against him, the ap- plication is returned to us marked ‘record clear’ and we issue the li- cense. If the applicant is found have been convicted of a crim are also notified, and conseq the required lic Cominissioner known that there censed taxicab operators in New York City, of whioh number 7,000 were licensed in the past year, In‘ad- dition to this number, 2,000 additional licenses were issued to owners of made e now 14,000 li- touring cars who desire to “hack.” “When the present Administration took oftic aid the Deput Com- missioner, “there were only 6,70 censed taxicab operators, as against 14,000 at the present tim He wa recent sioner # ox-crimina York City. “I do not believe that statemen’ he replied. “But if such is the case, this condition is clearly up to the Police Department, as this bureau makes no investigation of any appli- f cant, it being the ordinary work of © the police. “It is quite posstble to believe, on Commissioner Ger- the other hand,” aghty added, “that there are some criminals operating cabs in the city, because when 7,000 men are licensed in one year there is the strong pos- sibility that some questionable char- acters are apt to slip by the investiga- tion of the police. But in no sense could I piace this unmber at 300. “And, if the Police Commissioner knows of 300 criminals who are oper- ating taxicabs, T am of the opinion that the Automobile bureau of the sretary of State's offic well as this rtment, should be informed in order that we may take steps to yevoke the licenses these ex-criminals hold. “To the best of my recollection T have never been advised that such a condition exists.” Secretary of State Hugo in a state- ment also denied that he had been favored by any information from the Polge Commissioner regarding ex- convicts driving automobiles in New York City. “If I had received such informa- on,” said Mr. Hugo, “I would im- mediately bave taken stops to re- voke the lice of those mentioned by the pol js. As it is, only informat get from the lice Department deals with repoi of violations of the Motor Vehicle Law. These compla are heard by me at frequent intorvals, and proper action in the matter of revocation of y take “In the questiong asked the appli- gant for a chauffeur's license appears, ‘Have y 5 been convicted of any If the applicant. answers in the negative, why, we must be more or less governed by: his statement. Certainly, the Police Department never tells us ‘anything about it one | way or the other, because that de- partment does not enter into the pro- cedure at all. “We never knowingly issue an operator's or chauffeur’s license to any individual who has ever been + found guilty of any crime, but as T say, we have no means of making an mv gation. If the Police Depart- ment furnishes us with information as to who these ex-criminal operators ire, we will immediately take steps to have their licens ‘oked." added that, beginning Feb, elther rs license will go into ef- the said, would make it t for questionable char- in licenses, he eald, “there | are ix questions against fourteen printed on the dlanks used last year. These new forms were drawn up as the result of confe “between os of raffic Court, memb of auto- sociations and representa- my office.” In view of the assertions of Com- aghty and Secretary | pear that although’ Commissioner ht knows that; 300 ex-criminals are operating taxi-, cabs in this city, he nor the members of the Pi spartment have made any effort to have the licenses of these men revoked or steps been tak- en to put an end to the evergrowing list of ai g hold-ups and robberies ed with the aid of taxi- cabs and touring cars In almost every report of a robbery or hold-up, where thieves have stolen thousands of dollars, and@there have been many crimes of this kind dur- ing 1919, r the robbers made their ting auto- mobile, thr of which could not he e the tail lights on ‘he machine were not lit.” According to figures made public, forms, thir to be BLAMES POLICE },4 new form of application blank. for THE EVENING WORLD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1920. vy burgiary. insurance companies, Plunder from robberies committed during 1919 in this city amounted to 5,000,000. Tt is safe to say at least one-fourth the number of these rob- beries were made possible by “the Waiting taxicab,” which spirited the |robbers and their plunder away al jmost under the s of the police. random any of the big within the last year, The d touring car has played @ conspicuous part. “Red” Hope and his gang of bandits terrorized New York and burglarized hotels by the half score with the aid of a “hack” touring car, The gunman who robbed the ast Brooklyn Savings Bank escaped in a waiting automobile; the Colonial ‘Bank was robbed by auto bandits; George Alexander, the Wash- ington Market poultry dealer, was held up, bniftally beaten and robbed of $40,000 by automobile bandits, and but a few days axo a woman was dragged into a taxicab and robbed and beaten by the driver of a city licensed taxi. And the long list con- tinues indefinitely. —_—_—— GIRL KILLED BY BUS, d for Hearing Later! hter Charge. Busch, six, of No. 788 Jersey Jersey City, while with her mofher, Mrs. Clara Busch, at Mont- gomery and Washington Streets, was run aver and killed this morning by a jitney bus, driven by Morris Olero, | twenty-five, and owned by Frederick Less, both of No, 47 Stevena Avenue. Olero was paroled for a later hearing | by the Second Criminal Court on charge of manslaughter. Frank Maralio, No, 75 Gates Avenue, Jersey City, was struck by a Penn- sylvania ‘locomotive and instantly | killed this morning when he tried to cross through West Side Avenue while the gate was down. 1Fy Avenue, Are they soled with all- leather? Are they sold on a mileage basis ? Pays to know your dealer! You ‘know how gladly we make good if something goes wrong. For 85 out of every 100 men — “Pedestrians,” the last that’s first for comfort. For boys—‘‘Westpointer” shoes with their sensible mil- itary toe. Everything men and boys wear. Also luggage and Sporting Goods. Registered Trade-mark. ROGERS PEET COMPANY Broadway * Broadway at 13th St. “Four at 34th St. Convenient e Broadway Corners” Fifth Ave. at Warren at 41st St. Lamps of many kinds, $100 $200 F it is true that the stars are the lamps of the heavens, it is also true that a well chosen lamp lends a touch of the heavens to the home, At Ovington’s a wide selection awaits you at very attractive prices, OVINGTON’S “The Gift Shop of Fifth Ave’ 314 FifthAv.,near32d St, SS ee aS SSS SSS ONE OF 300 NECCO SWEETS New Engiand Confectionery Company BOSTON, MASS. ANA We Sell Dependable Merchandise at Prices Lowe; Ap uRR Tame ERATOR ANIA NA ATTN ANN IN CR DERN TN RH Mycy & Cod Nireretions Aro ne Than Any Other Store, but for Cash Only Clearance of junior Boys’ Blue Serge Suits $8.94, formerly priced up to $10.74 In all-wool Junior Norfolk serge models that button to the neck and have white detachable collars and black bow ties. Made in pleated or fancy patch pocket effects, Coats and ‘trousers lined throughout. Sizes 4 to 10. 100 Boys’ Sweaters $3.89 All-wool _ sweaters made with Byron collars and finished with pockets, Colors blue, brown, ma- roon and khaki. Mowe —Second Floor, 34th Street, Rear, Gloves ! Gloves Women’s gray pull-on du- plex chamois-finished lisle gloves, half pique sewn, double draw back. Strap with clasp at wrist, keeping the hand snug and warm. Price $ l 59 Bee —Main Fioor Lront, 35th Street, of fabrics. All _ lined warmly Taken regular from stock. $44.75 $49.75 60 suits Broadcloths ‘ Velours Silvertones | $29.75 Shee—Third Floor, 34th Streeh, LINGERIE The SPECIAL ITEMS Chemises Nis | ee eee Envelope chemises of white of light materials. 89¢ to $4.24 nainsook, lace and embroidery Housedresses, 12 different trimmed, 79c to $2.79 TIVES. | perce AS GK i ith ci G : brays. $2.79 Step-in_ chemises with cir- 0, rit; cular drawer BaL ORT: sev- growe in p pula y ur thar bl flowered sateen, eral styles, $1.39, $1.79 sil and cotton , mixtures = gene is NIGHTGOWNS MESES ‘ ten tian tise Cease Lilcl Aa Rael ilakt apa pacar back Gowns of .painsook, both white | $1.69—white, novelty ani Bimaslateas lance wake! Ties siitelteleane ‘and flesh colored, lace and | colored voiles. Low necks see em ancy maby mealies, embroidery trimmed. and Peter Pan collars, with wide bands of lace. Bloomer 94c to $2.79 39¢ to $1.49 mer a {cotton crepe, | $259—colored and white batiste, Children's drawers, trimmed combinations ‘ovtin flesh “and” bluebird | colored organdie. Bound with | Hamburg | and “lace Of fine materials; trimmed designs. 9.78 buttomholes.” Laicberbocbat): sta ait with lace. $1.79, $2.24 @eee-Third Floor. 14 years. S4e, 69 & 89c Clearance sale of 89 misses’ high erade suits Trimmed with beaver, natural squirrel, taupe, wolf, Australian opossum, nutria. Materials yalama, silk duvetyn, duvet de laine. $124.00 originally priced up to $289.00 $98.75 originally priced up fo $239.00 $79.75 °° originally priced up to : $189.00 $69.75 originally priced up to $139.00 This group consists of vel- vets, silvertones, Yalama cloth, velour checks, tinsel tones, wool velours, duvo- checks, b $44.75 originally priced up to $94.75 BATE — Tira Mloor—S5th Street Reduction sale women’s suits Tailored and fur trimmed mod- els in the season’s smartest and intérlined. our Suits originally priced $59.75 ‘Suits originally priced $74.75 Suits originally priced$89.75 . $69.75 ( Clearance of » Gabardines ‘ For January Clearance Motor Coats Reduced 14 leatherette coats, originally priced $28.75, now $19.74. 7 genuine leather coats, originally priced $39.75, now $29.75. 16 genuine leather coats, originally priced $49.75, now $39.75. 13 leather coats, some fur-collared, origi- nally priced up to $89.75, now $68.75. 8 leather coats with fur collars, origi- nally priced $129.00, now $94.75. 10 brushed wool motor coats, originally priced %69.75, now $54.75, 2 white polo motor coats, originally priced $94.75, now $69.75. 11 plaid back motor coats, originally priced $38.75, how $28.75. Evening Wraps Reduced 5 chiffon velvet wraps, originally priced $94.75, now $69.75. 8 light colored plush wraps, originally priced $44.75, now $29.75. 8 velvet wraps, originally priced $79.75, 2 fur-trimmed velvet wraps, originally now $59.75. priced $289.00, now $189.00. 4 fur-trimmed wraps, originally priced 5 fur-trimmed wraps, originally priced $89.75, now $69.75. 1 metal brocade wrap, originally priced $389.00, now $196.00. Utility Coats and Day Wraps Reduced 1 moleskin and duvetyn coat, originally priced $489.00, ‘now $279.00. 1 duvetyn and Australian opossum wrap, originally priced $279.00, now $179.00. 7 day wraps, fur-trimmed, originally priced up to $224.00, now $149.00. 9 high-grade plain cloth coats, originally priced $94.75, now $79.75. 5 extra fine plain cloth coats, originally priced $58.75, now $48.75. # fur-trimmed coats, originally priced $48.75, now $33.75. 47 fur-trimmed short coats, originally priced $33.75, now $17.74. | 8229.00, now $169.00. 2 fur-trimmed wraps, originally priced $379.00, now $259.00. ee —Third Floor, Front. Imported from England new and warm are these boys’ Jersey suits $6.74: & $7.94, All-wool knitted jersey with stand- ing collar buttoning on the shoulder or with a Byron collar buttoning in Taupe nutria and natural raccoon shawl collars on these coats for misses and small women front. Short trousers that little boys will like, Tailored with unusual smartness, In blue, green and brown, Special Baws —Second Floor, S4th Street, Kear, Ostrich Feathér Turbans $37.75 All silk lined— Sizes 14 to 20 Materials — Plumette tones, Styles—Two Belted Models with new and attractive features, ® and Silver- Hats suitable for practical and dress wear in the becoming close- fitting shapes. Many of the new shades are here for your choice. Mahogany, navy, purple, tete de negre. e, beaver and taupe. au wer and Feather Department, | Floor, S4th Street, Colors — Reindeer, brown, Pekin and navy. taupe, MWS —Third Floor, 35th Street, Front,