The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-07-18
RAISE TAXI FEE
+ IN FARGO UNDER
PROPOSED PLAN
Amendment to Present Or
dinance Makes SOC Min
imum Carrying Charge

An amendment to the Fargo taxi
license ordinance was agreed upon, at
the meeting of the city commission
this morning, making the license fee
$35 for the first car, $40 for each ad-
ditional car and establishing a max
imum charge of so cents for one
passenger and rs cents for each addi-
tional passenger to the same destin-
alton.
This was the decision of the COM
mission after a lengthy discussion in
which the merits and demerits of
livery and taxi systems and owners
were considered. The motion to in
struct Citq Attorney Shure to pre-
pare an ordinance was made by Com
missioner Jordan and corried unani-
mously. The new ordinance will not
go into effect until after fair week
and an adjustment will be made with
owners who pay the present fee, $35,
for each car before it becomes effec-
/ tive. e.# +.
F. w. Porritt appeared and asked
that the commissioners pay over the
liquidated damages withheld on sew
eral contracts that he said had been
completed. He also requested the $50
to SIS withheld on each contract to
pay for putting the street in condi-
NAoiis 40 At1ClS dppCdICO " NC NAl
ference of opinion as to whether or
not the work has been fully COM
pleted the request was passed on to
City Engineer Anders, who told the
members of the commission that no
request had been made to him for
I final estimates. "
Liquidated damages proved to be
matter that was not fully under
stood by all members Of the commits
sion. City Attorney Shure advised
that remitting the damages operated
to release the contractor from liabil-
ity for the amount. 1t was then de-
cided to wait until final estimates are
allowed in the future before remit
ting such damages that are the pen
alties included in all contracts for
failure to complete work on time.
City Engineer Anders reported that
under existing conditions the city
cannot do the work, on city account,
of extending the water main on Ter
race street from Bluff to Short On
motion of Commissioner Blakemore
the contract was awarded to the
Haggart Construction Co. on the bid
submitted last week. Commissioner
Jordan voted no and said it was sole
ly on the ground that he thought the
contractors should be required to fin
ish work already begun before begin
ming new work. This brought forth
an expression from the commission
ers that showed plainly that no more
new work will get by.
A communication was received
from the Haggart Construction Co.
relating to sewer job No. log and ask
ing that the paving work be treated
as a separate engagement and not
begun until after April 1, 1918. The
communication was referred to City
Engineer Anders and City Attorney
Shure for advice.
Final payment of $719 on the con-
tract for the automatic stokers at the
waterworks plant was made. A ball
ance of $152.10 due for the turbine
pumps was also ordered paid. There
had been numerous delays IN get
ting the pumps to operate satisfac-
torily.
Bills of the water department and
for sidewalks and street crossings
were also allawed. Permission was
granted to f. ]. Sullivan, Ray E..
Fitzgerald and p. j. Tierney to con-
duct a public dance each Wednesday
and Saturday evening at A. o. u. w.
hall
Two applications for taxi licenses
We're referred to Commissioner Mills
The board then adjourned until 10
o'clock Saturday morning when Con-
tractor James Kennedy will be pres
ent If he accepts the invitation of the
commission.