The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-25

DYNAMITE.
The Council handles the
subject with care.
What will be done to avert an
Ice Gorge.
The action taken On Brownies Resig-
nation.

A special meeting of the city council
was held last evening to consider the
question of using dynamite in removing
the lice fand preventing a gorge, also to
take action relative to1 the resignation of
Aid, W. J.lBrowne.
A call of the roll showed as present
Mayor Carse aud Aids. Lundy Henry.
Rinck, Stephens. iWarnock and Gray
bare quorum.
The mayor stated the object of the
meeting and thou xht the council should take
action relation to the ice gorge at once.
The Davenport merchants were already
moving, and the council of that city had
appointed aIspecial committee to confer
with committee Of the Rock Island
council, and if anything is to be done it had
better be settled now. Mr.. E. FL. Ana
walt, who attended the davenport meet
ing twas present and would address the
council.
MR.. ANAWALT
explained to the council. the proceedings
of the Davenport meeting. and what be
thought would be the sction of the council
of that city; it would cost, said Mr.. Ana
walt. probably 81 900 to purchase and use
the dynamite in breaking the gorge. lift
came. and the opinion seemed to be in Dav
neport. that Rock Island should divide the
expense, "Of COURSE" said Mr.. Ana
walt. there is no way to get at the exact
cost, but the fguresl named will probably
cover the expense. The sum of $500
would be small in comparison to the dam
age If no effort was made to prevent a
gorge" He then explained the proposed
use OF dynamite and closed with On appeal
to the council for action.
A CONSULTATION WANTED.
Aid. Lundy did not think the council
should act!euntil consultation had been
had between committees and 10 order to
bring it before the council, moved al
aldermen Gand the Mayor be appointed to
confer with Davenport aldermen. but to
take no action until after authorised by the
council.
Aid. Warnock thought the council had
a right to act now; this was an emergency.
Aid. Lundy thought differently-An
emergency had tozexist-it could not be
anticipated ;-the.law did not so express
and in his opinion the council could not
act under the emergency clause. except in
cases where the emergency actually
existed.
THE VOTE.
A vote on Lundy's motion to appoint a
committee to confer with like committee
from Davenport, was taken and it was IN
animous for the appointment of the COM
mittee. The Mayor named Aid. Lundy
and Stephens as said committee.
AID. BROWNIES CASE.
This disposed of the ice gorge question
for the present. and the Mayor announced
that the council would have to take action
on the matter of Aid. Brownies resigna-
ton, The clerk read the resignation, and
debate followed between Lundy and War
mock as to proper action in the case. and
finally Aid. Warnock moved that Aid.
Brownies resignation be accepted. Car
ried.
A debate followed as to the legality of
electing an alderman at the coming elec-
ton. Warnock claiming that if Browne
was not legally member now, he was not
q month ago-therefore the council erred
in not including call for his sucsessor's
election.
Aid. Lundy spoke against including the
election in the Browne case in regular call.
The law was clear and SO explicit as to
admit of no demonstration. 1t was
obligatory in the council TO give at least 20
days notice. and there was no way out of
the matter except to call special cleo
tion. He knew it was expensive,
bat it would be more expensive to elect
man ia Brownies place illegally. and
have to stand law suit; perhaps inyali-
date the whole election. This was question
which we must carefully consider. IF we
20 outside the law, and the board OF alder
men elected should contain member
whose electiontwa illegal, the tax levy
might be inTelidated and the city could
not afford TO take any such chances. The
plain letter of the law required at least 20
days notice and there was no other way to
arrange it, The council had. by vote. said
that Mr.. Browne was a legal membe
conse quently it could not be held that. If
he wasslegally a member when council
took such action, he was not now. There
is no way but to elest SUCCESSOR TO AID
Browne at special election. and hes there
fore offered a resolution calling tor an
election to fill vacancy on Thursday. April
18th 1881, which was carried.
After come informal discussion the
council adjourned.
THE ICE GORGE.