The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-27

1se~No tramps last night.

Ike No tIdIupS last uISHl.
e1~T The city council will meet on Mon
daye vening next.
sErPoliticians are getting plenty. 1t is
amusing TO note the countenanceS of the
self-sacrifcing mortals.
RGgHi ihe city marshal was on the hunt
for thief this morning The name of the
party is withheld for prudential reasons
BgY esterday afternoon Capt. w. G..
Morris, and friend Of his, from the isl
and. concluded to take sail. The sun
shone out in glorious splendor; the air was
pure and refreshing; the ripping waters
were undisturbed save by the gentle breeze
that made the air salubrious. They
launched their yacht and, with the dough
ty commodore" at the helm, sailed proud
ly up the stream. On the right was tbs
pebbly shores of Duck creek" almost hid
from view by the weeping willows" and
beautiful laurcls which o'ershad owed It's
mossy banks. To the left the mighty for
ests of GilberttOwD stood out in majestic re-
lief. 1t was a scene for an artist. The breeze
stiffened; the tranquil waters became
turbulent; but wrapt in the picturesque
surroundings the commodore and his
friend were unmindful Of the result.
There was snap, "the rope, the rope"
cried the man at the helm, but too late, a
plunge, and then struggle eusued.
Wrecked and two miles from home, with
out change of socks The thought was
agonizing. But fate was in their favor,
the steamer Colossal came proudly down
the stream and rescued the struggling
sailors. They were taken aboard the
good ship" and received the cougratula-
tions of the mate and finally landed on
the Puritan shores" of proud Moline, -
''wetter bat wiser men" And here we
drop the curtain,
The Foil Tax Question.
The street commissioner still retains the
amount Of city poll tax collected by him,
and the property road tax is still in the
hands of the collector The decision of j.
I. Browning. Esq, relative to the city poll
tax and the illegality OF the election of +.
u. White as pathmaster, places a new
phase on the whole matter and as the case
now stands satisfactory settlement of the
question seems farther off than ever
Shallberg told Commissioner Harwood, on
last Saturday, that he would turn over the
amount in his possession to the town clerk
and take his receipt therefore, but Tues
day at the meeting he did not put in ar
appearance. Shaliberg claims, in extenu-
alton Of his course, that he is acting under
legal advice aud that the only reason ht
has not turned over the moneys in his pos
session is because he does not want to ac
contrary to law. Yesterday he s.atec
to the writer of this item that he had con
cluded to pay over the amount jSl ZOO t,
the board of township commission. rs at it
| &oIr Il,
receipt Of Commissioner Grinnell therefor
and then if bis course be decided illegal hi
voucher would protect him.
Opinion is divided in well informed cir
cies as to what course Shalberg ought t,
pursue many claiming that it is bis dut,
to turn over the money to the city treas
urer, aud he was SO advised by some mem
bers of the city council Tuesday. II
claims, however, that he was hired by tn
township commissioners to collect the ia,
and that he is advised by legal men tha
he must make his return to the treasure
t of the board The only thing that Shall
, berg is censured tor is his neglect to pur
S sue this course sooner. He plainly la
. no right, under the law, to retain dolla
of the public money after he had mad
out his returns and asked for his discharge
Ii he tails to pay over the money ON Sal
: urday next, measures will undoubtedly b
|, Instituted to compel him to do So Th
n case is badly mixed and may yet involv
i litigation before it is satisfactorily SCI
q tied.
Peterson, the collector, still holds tn
money collected for property road tax, an
claims to act under legal advice in th
matter.
In the meantime the city is deprived {
both the poll tax and the property roa
tax, and all because the street commission
). er and the township collector happen I
h differ with the proper authorities as
:. the disposition Of the money There is
e gross blunder somewhere ana the case
n only another Illustration cf what must r,
e suit from the appointment of incompeter
q men to important positions.