The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-15

zens the tree use OF good warehouse, in
which our property will be absolutely safe,
we submit that to ask them to pay for the
privilege would be illiberal, if not unjust.
Wherefore we pray that the said K. n
Il. Packet Company be allowed to locate
their wharf boat at the same place and On
on the same terms as last season, leaving
the question of the payment or nom pay
ment of wharfage by the steamboats, to be
decided by the courts.
Z. G Frazier A.C. part,
Dart Gregg. A. White r. I. Stove Co.
Weissker Taylor, J. NJ. Chrsty,
Rock Island Glass Co., Us. Gilmore,
George Il Doyle, j. & NJ. Rosenfeld,
W. A. Swier, G. H. Parsons
Mitchell & Parsons, Geo. E. Bailey,
David Don, Fred Hass
H. c. Wivill, +. c. Cass & Co.,
l. Heinsfurter, Stewart & Montgomery,
Alexander Steele, John Bengston,
r. Champion, May Bros
Field j. Brother, o. c. Mcconnell q Co.,
L. $. Gates, 4 Co, r II. Thomas,
John NJ Reticker
Alderman Huber moved that the prayer
of the petitioners be granted.
MIR. Bryson agent of the KIN Line
Packet Co., addressed the council. He
said that the petition just read covered the
subject and he did not think that he could
add one word which would show the bene-
fits which accrued to the business men of
the city, and he hoped the council would
grant them the privilege of landing their
wharf boat as petitioned, and leave the
question of wharfage to be decided by the
courts He understood that the case
would be decided by the supreme court in
June, He was anxious to have the mat
ter decided at once, as the wharf boat
would have to 70 on the ways for repairs.
Alderman Lundy thought it was i'm
portant to the shippers to have the
wharfboat there; he did not know any
thing about the suits pending against the
city or the packet company, but he
would be willing to vote the privilege
with a proviso that the company pay
arrearages, and whatever wharfage
may accrue, when the cases are
decided by the courts, and do so without
any further trouble or suits
The mayor agreed with Alderman
Lundy and drew up the following proviso:
Provided also, that the Keokuk North
Packet Co. will agree to abide by the
decision Of the courts in the suits now
pending against the city by the Northwest
ern Union Packet Co., for wharfage which
has been paid by the company: that is if
the said slit be finally decided in favor of
the city, the X. n L. Packet Co. will pay
to the city all wharfage which has become
or may become due prior to Jan. l, 1877
without putting the city to any further
suit or cost f any kind.
Aid. Lundy made motion to the effect
that the ordinance and proviso be placed
in the hands of Mr.. Bryson TO send to the
executive c, mmittee of the company rep
resented by hun, and that the mayor he
directed to approve of said ordinance and
proviso if it was satisfactory to said execu-
tive committee and received their sigma.
lures.
AID Mosenfelder was opposed to grant.
ng the privilege unless the Packet Com
pany would pay what they already owe
the city, and hereafter pay wharfage
He said the taxpayers of the city were in
terested as well as the shippers and re
ceivers; he thought it was beneiting thu
few to the injury of the many, and there
was no justice in it; he did not think thu
company had treated the city fairly anC
claimed that the city had the right t
collect wharfage. The city hal been al
heavy expense In making and keeping thu
levee in repair for the benefit Of steamers
aud they should pay cheerfully the small
amount asked by the city as wharfage.
Aid. Carse said he was generally opposed
to wharfage; he was willing to listen to tht
prayer of the petitioners inasmuch as The
question will be decided by the court, il
June, and thought it best to grant the
privilege on the same terms as last year
Aid. Wallenhaupt did not quite under
stand the ordinance granting the company
the privilege of mooring the wharfboat a
the levee last year.
The clerk then read the ordinance oflas
year.
Alderman Huber thought that thu
executive committee could fix all baci
questions.
AID Carse thought that the city attor
ney and city clerk should draw up a con
} tract covering the proviso
Aid Yates thought it should be settlet
before the wharf boat was allowed to land
J Aid. Woods moved that the prayer bt
granted with the proviso as read by tn
, mayor
J Aid DAILY thought it would be advisabl.
, to have the opinion of the city attorney il
the matter.
Marshal Halves was requested to 90 fo
, the city attorney SO as to obtain his opiniol
as to the proposed ordinance, and tn
, council agreed to proceed to other busi
, ness while awaiting the arrival of Mr.. Gest
City Attorney Gest having arrived, h.
/ examined the ordinance and proviso, an,
explained thesnature of the pending suits
, and by whom they had been brought, an
said the incorporation of the proviso woul,
neither benefit nor damage the city, excep
it might tend to expedite the settle
ment of back wharfage. should the cit
win the suit against the Northwestern
Union Company.
: The ordinance was then passed, uude
the conditions made in Alderman Lundy'