The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-23
Taylor Asks City to
Purchase. Site atFifth
and Emerald for That
Price
HIS COLLEAGUES
SHOW SURPRISE
Lynch and Bowman Say Ordinance Will
Never Go Through in Its Present
Form-Fire Apparatus Purchase
Delayed

A few minutes before NJ. Harvey
Taylor, Park and Fire Commissioner,
had planned formally to announce this
afternoon that he recommended award
ing contract for furnishing the city
with three motor tractors for fire ap-
paratus to an out-of- town concern in
preference to the Morton Truck and
Tractor Company, of this city, the low
bidder, the .aorton Company sent let,
ter to the City Commissioners asking TO
withdraw its bids.
The request covered the comlany's
proposals on the three tractors and also
on two combination chemical wagons
which the city proposes to buy. Taylor
then said to his colleagues that the de-
lay in making the fire apparatus awards
was due TO the local firm s request to
examine its machines. He remarked
''As | had included the Morton uom,
pany in the recommendations had pro-
posed to make to the Commission 10
day, | am obliged to announce that |
am not now prepared to make a recon-.
mendation of an award"
Taylor Talks of Retahating
Taylor said it would be possible to
make the Morton Company suffer f.
nancially through its action in with
drawing, adding that he could, "1f
wanted TO he as unfair as they have
been to me- award the contract FOR
furnishing the two combination wagons
to them, and if they did not aceert it.,
then the 5000 certified check deposited
by the company as an evidence of good
faith to furnish the apparatus could be
retained by the city.
When asked if he planned to-do this,
Taylor said
Il do not care to discuss the matter
further. -
Taylor later threw scare into his
Republican colleagues by introducing
"a measures under which he proposes to
pay $4,000 to John G. Orr for play.
ground site at Fifth and Emerald
streets, in the Tenth ward. The ground
fronts 4o3 feet on Fifth street. 900 on
Emerald and 405 on Fourth street.
Lynch and Bowman, Republicans,
candidly admitted that they were
amazed by the Taylor ordinance.
"That ordinance will never pass in
that crude shape" said one of them.
Another of Taylor IS measures, intro
duced to-day, provides for the purchase
of almost fifteen acres of ground in
Swatara and Susquehanna townships
for $4,000. This land he proposes to
use to continue the Cameron parkway.
Amos Il. Enders is to be paid $1.S5O
for 2.o3 acres and the Paxtang Gene
terry Association is to get $2,240 for
1928 acres.
Would Buy More Fire Hose
The third ordinance offered by Tay.
lor carries an appropriation of $3.50
for fire hose. 1t is believed that $500
feet of new hose can be obtained for
that money. His last measure provides
for repairs to the Friendship fire en-
gine, the cost of which shall not ex.
ceed $500.
Agreeing to give the city dairymen
an opportunity to be heard on the sew
cral matters in question, Commissioner
Bowman this afternoon withdrew the
measure amending the Health Bureau s
food rules The amendments chiefly an
ply to the dairymen, who will meet with
the members of the Health Board and
Commissioner Bowman tomorrow even.
ing
William d. Block was reappointed Ii.
cense tax officer for the year 1915, at
the salary he now receives, $1,000 a
year. Bowman made the nomination.
Ordinances PASSED finally include
these: Opening Carlisle street, Holly
to Derry; regulating the department of
the City Forester, and authorizing the
purchase of three city scales.