The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-04-24
CHIEF THOMPSON OUT
Head of Bismarck Fire Depart.
ment Tenders Resignation
to Commission
CHANGE IN LINEUP
FOR NEXT TWO YEARS
Best Takes Sewer and Water De-
partment, Bertsch Police
and Kirk Streets

kSsA Se>>SAAs1 ~Se s~~es
and Kirk Streets
Declaring that majority of the
capital city's taxi drivers have within
the last few months been convicted
Of, or have pleaded guilty to boot
logging, blindpigging or kindred Of
fenses against law and order, States
Attorney If. Z. McCurdy last evening
submitted to the city commission a
long list of names which he held
should no longer appear on the rolls
of Bismarck's licensed taximen, and
asked their licenses revoked.
The states attorney stated that in
practically every instance offenses
charged had been committed by en-
ploye rather than owner Of the taxi
service, but that the fact OF the latter
having retained the convicted driver
or drivers in his employ tended to
prove his sanction of the traffic. The
city has power to take away the IL
censes of these men, said Mr.. Nc.
Curdy, and he recommended that it
be done. The communication was re-
ferred to the police commissioner.
Complete Shift
The old commission died last night
and new one was born without a
single change in the personnel of the
board The business of the old year
finished, roll was called Of the com.
mission which is to serve Bismarck
for the next two years; President Lu-
cas- delivered his message, and the
work Of reorganizing the board fol-
lowed.
A shift was made in every commits
sionership. except that of finance,
which is held for another. two years
Wy Other, r. GeieetiSn1s iiS1 made follow:
Water: "ahd .sssyyselrts- sssXyysrs-R. R /: Best:
Streets ana hfeys-C. N. Kirk.
Fire and police Chris Bertsch, Jr.
In the former. lineup, Best had
streets, Kirk police and Bertsch sew
ers and waterworks.
Thompson Would Quit.
The resignation Of Harry A. Thomp-
son as chief of the fire department
was handed in by Commissioner Kirk
as soon as his successor as head Of
the fire and police department was
named. On motion of Best no action
was taken on the filling of the va
cancy, none of the commissioners feel
ing competent last evening to make
recommendations for departments
new to them,
Gets Money Back.
Commissioners Best and Kirk each
refunded the city ser Topaid for their
bonds during the last two years. The
commission recently adopted a reso.
luton calling upon members to pay
their own bonds. The city will save
$27O on each four-year-term as re-:
suit.
Grambs & Peet we're awarded the
contract for sewer connections in the
paving district on bid of 79 cents
per linear foot for six-inch tile. The
Bismarck Water Co. advised that it
stood ready to install services in the
paving district upon application of
the property holders and to make
needed repairs. Contracts covering
this work have been let. Where water
consumption will begin Immediately
no charge will be made for the in
stallation.. In the case of vacant lots,
the owner will be asked to pay the
actual cost, which will be deducted
when the consumption of water be.
gins.
Want Car Line.
"A petition against the shortening OF
the street car line, questioning the
legal right of the commission to do
so, and threatening court action if the
commission does not refrain from cur
tailment was presented by Hugh Jack
son and 49 others. forfeiture" said
the petition, must be complete or
not at ALL The commission has no
power to change an act of legislature
by private agreement" The city was
urged to resist any change in the line
proposed by the board of control.
On motion of Commissioner Kirk,
the governor, board of control and
emergency commission will be asked
to set date for another conference
with the city commission on this prob
lem. P
Drinking Fountains.
Appreciation Of the drinking foun-
tains presented to the city by the Uni
ted Commercial Travellers will be
shown by enameling these life-savers
pure white and keeping them spick
and span in appearance. This duty
was delegated to Commissioner Fest.
Health Report.
Health Officer Strauss at the re-
quest of the commission presented a
report showing the city to be unusual
ly free from communicable disease
and the general health standard high.
His report was made from cards filed
with him by every physician in the
city and was pronounced absolutely
correct. Complete statistics covering
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