The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-20
ms AND OUTS
How the New City Council
took their Seats
Petitions from 1896 Men, Women and
School Children in favor Of
High License
Remonstrance offered, signed
by 1856 Names
A GOOD MANY OF The NAMES GAN Be
FOUND N CITY DIRECTORIES OF va
Rious TOWNS AND on TOMB
STONES!
THE MORAL AND UPRIGHT CHARACTERS
OF THE NEW MEMBERS AT STAKE.
Will they Face the Music 7

ton of the room contained the outgoing
Aldermen, a few citizens and the men OF
moral and upright character" recently
elected to raise the saloon licenses to $500.
Dayenport's Council had just struggled
through the last business of the year and
sat silently waiting the coming of the I'll
dial wave," that praying people had fore
told. At the appointed moment there was
heard the sound of key,in the lock of the
side door, followed by rustic, as of many
women coming. There was perceptible
paleness on the countenances of the re
Gently moral and uprightly elected, " as the
commanding form of City Marshal Kimball
entered, followed by the Rev. c. CKnowl-
ton and thirty women who slowly circled
around the aldermanic table and stood in
prayerful silence waiting.
In due form, with uplifted hand, the
oath of Office was administered to the new
Mayor and recently elected for etc., who
gently rested in the chairs so recently va
Gated. The Rev. c. c. Knowlton then in
troduced the thirty women - and Mrs.
Spencer, who evinced some excitement and
slight emotion, made the following ad-
dress
Your Honor, the Mayor, and Cty Coun
cI::-In behalf of the committee of thirty,
| ask leave to present for your considera-
ton the petition of 1886 citizens, men and
women of this city, praying for anincrease
In the price of licenses to saloons in the
city of Rock Island. For many years we
have waited and watched silently for signs
of coming relief from the scourge of in
temperance. Our voice cannot be heard
through the ballot box, and the only aven-
ue open to US to the halls of legislators and
dominions of power is through the voice Of
supplication and prayer. We, therefore,
in behalf of suffering humanity, beseech
you to heed the prayer of your petitioners,
and so exercise the power which confding
people have conferred upon you as to cir
cumscribe, if you cannot abate, the evil Of
which we complain. And, gentlemen OF
the City Council, could you go with us il
our visits of charity to the homes made
desolate by this destroyer, and there reac
the tales of sorrow which silent suffering
makes more impressive than words car
tell you could not withhold your sanction
to efforts for relief which we seek at you
hands.
Mrs. Spencer also presented the resolu
tons adopted at the meeting in the Pres
byterian church, which were read by tn
clerk.
Rev. McCalister parenthetically remark
ed that the petition contained names OIL
both sides, sixteen feet long"
The ladies then retired and the upright
Neglected breathed easier
On motion, Mrs. Spencer's address, tn
petition and the resolutions were respect
fully received and placed on file-the nev
Mayor lin parenthesis) remarking tina
a good many of the petitioners could b
found in our public schools.
The clerk who had been piously contem
plating huge document which he held i
his hands, then arose and read the follow
lowing
REsIONSTRANCE,
which, by actual count, was signed by IS
names, some of them citizen tax payers
and some probably may be found the Day
export, Moline, Chicago and New York d
rectories.
To the Honorable City Council of the Gil
of Rock Island
The undersigned citizens and taxpayer
of Rock Island, understanding that pet
tons addressed to your honorable body
asking that the license upon groceries 70
the ensuing year be fixed at Three Hu
brad Dollars are being circulated in tn
city, hereby respectfully protest again.
the granting of such petition and for caus
state
First, The object of the law in imposin
license charge upon groceries is simply |
furnish the city government with sue
sums OF money as may be reasonably net
, essary to for the purpose of regulating th'
business. The city is not authorized I
make such charge simply for the purpos
raising revenue. The grocery keepers
the city pay taxes upon all their propert,
! just as the rest of our citizens do and mar
of them pay very large taxes. AS cla
t they do not shirk or seek to evade that dut
, For several years past the license charg
g has been One Hundred Dollars per annur
!; that sum has been amply sufficient for Il
1 purpose OF regulation, and we cannot no
j see any change in the state of affairs whis
:. calls for an increased charge.
+ Second, The matter of license was
I no way an issue in the late city election
d which majority of your body was cleo
|, ed. Probably the general understanding
o the people at that election was that 81
J. Gerry license for the ensuing year shou
+ be at the old rate.
|, Third, The petitions for Three Hu
e bred Dollars license are professedly bel
IT circulated in the interest of temperate
81 That question also was in no way an iss
o in the late election and as to whether t
d cause OF intemperance would be promot
IS by raising the license charges the views
l. people differ.
4 We submit it is not fair and right und
+ all the circumstances to thrust that que
r ton upon you at the present time.
e, We respectfully ask that grocery lcer
l. for the ensuing year be established at t
is old rate OF One Hundred Dollars.
ID Rock Island, March Is, 1874.
Of The above remonstrance was also
ceived and placed on file. Among the !
u pers thus presented land included in t
y 1861 was one signed by S. S. Guyer a
thirteen others, giving as reason that
pi ''To raise the price to $500 tends
Is make the business more respectable a
* therefore the more dangerous to |
lie young, and wQuld drive many good CT
ia zens, who have their all invested in
business, from your city. And you,
20 aldermen and mayor, were not elected