Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-09
WANT LESS DRIVERS.
Cabmen Present Claims at Al
dermen's Meeting.
Less Protection Since the Licenses
Were Issued.
The City Government Will Hereafter Regulate
the Fares.

cent teams lOtNCluut ClIltIS IL ON tli''i
ing into their business in special sea
sons when here san eXccpuonalo ppor
| tunity to make money, was brouSh
| out at Saturday evenings meeting .
the city government. And the move
ment was 50 successful that the boar
of mayor and aldermen took steps To-
ward that end.
| With the exception of the movement
of the cab drivers there was but Htll,
! of interest The first public evidence
| that there would be any such move
| mcnt was when 16 of the drivers 81
| the 10 cent teams appeared At tn
| council rooms. 1t was at first thought
! by theuninitiltcd that they were simplS
| there by chance and that it was mere
! coincidence that 50 many should APP
pear at one time. But when Lawyer
| sheldon appeared ana was in consul
tation with the different members il
was seen that there was Somcthinz
unusual UP.
Before the meeting had been called
to order considerable time was spent
in searching for the records of two or
dcrs introduced by Councilman Far
ringtpn and passed by both branches
These were inadvcrtcdly omitted 10y
the Journal. ana many Of the members
'Ild not recall what had been done
n II H.. III. Tie orders We're as fol
lows:
ordered. that waste matter or street
,lrauings shall not be dumped within
1000 feet of any dwelling without thu
cons. ut in writing of the board OF
health"
"Ordcrcd, that it shall By the duty of
tho street commissioners. wherever
they find any unsanthry conditions
existing in any part Of the city prtju-
licial to public health, t. notify At
once the board of health of su h con-
1itions"
When w. Il. GetcheH had been elect
Il clerk pro tenn. Mayor Lane read tn
nominations of City Marshal Brecn for
special policemen. The matter was re-
frrrcd IL the committee on police as
the ordinances provide that there shall
he but 20 special police officers unless
there is a special need for them. ana
that number is already complete
Charles r. Church's commitment to
III. Insane hospital without the neces-
slry papers for State aid was brought
y
made ii was represented that Nh.
church is man If means. and. there
fore. the State all would not be nee
-s-ary.
Mr.. Church's guardian was present
before the board and explained that
the only property Of his ward is SIS
in cash and wood lot valued at so.
There are several liabilities. such as
doctors bills. Action was deferred I'M
til later.
The petition presented by Alderman
SeWall that necessary repairs be made
on Green street sidewalk, was referred
to the committee on highways TIL
petition was signed by l.. {. Cornish
and others.
The petition presented by Alderman
Wellman for repairs on GrtcheI street
between Lincoln and Green stree Is was
referred to the committee III highways.
By this time the board was at liberty
to give hearing To the cab drivers.
Lawyer Sheldon, who had been employ
Cd as their representative, then pre-
scented the prayer of the petitioners.
In outlining the position of his clients
he said that he was there as attorney
for Is of the cab drivers. 1t WAS not a
lack Of law, he said. but rather a lack
Of enforcement Of the ordinances gov
crning the matter that the petitioners
complained Of.
What the cab drivers wish is that
the licenses for cab drivers be issued
only to boni fide residents of the city,
and that they be voters as well as tax
payers In explaining, h. said that
during the times Of muster or anything
of similar nature. when great crowds
NJ people are called to the city there
il An influx Of men who put on rattle
tray convcyanccs, reap the harvest,
ana then leave the city, crowding out
those who d. legitimate business all
the year round.
Next they wish that the licenses be
issued to boni tidc owners Of teams
only. ana also that the licenses not "
transfcra bic. ana that the parties
h plding the licenses shall retain them
for Il year or else have them cancelled.
Again that the owners shall drive
their own teams and not hire some one
else. who may be sponsible for the
damage done.
Further. that the time fJr issuing
the licenses be limited to a certain dalt
and that none shall be issued before 81
after q certain period Of time.
Finally. that no one VINO dld h't
have a license. last year. shall have
one. this year. and that this practice
be kept up until the number of licenses
is reduced to 20.
in summing up the request of tn
cab drivers. Lawyer Sheldon said thai
IN the past the licenses had been trans
ferred daily Many Of the cab drivers
had driven With licenses ana It had M
baan possible to find out who held tn
licenses. He asked. for the petition
ers. that men who had invested thei'
money in the business and who re-
manned in il the year round b" pro-
trctpd 50 that they might support re-
spactabIe teams. These, he said, W"r
necessary for the safety of tn" pubic
H. 10 onr wanted to cntrust their lani
lies in a conveyance that is not Fat'
ana vet under the present methods %
issuing licenses it cannot b" guarah
teed that the drivers Will continue Il
maintain tirst-class equipages ant
those that are perfectly safe
Daniel Buckley. one Of the oldest mci
in th+ business IN the street. was thei
called IL state his experiences ah'