The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-22
ON TRIAL.
Warren's Conduct still Under
Investigation.
Alderman Barber and His
Stone Quarry.

The investigation committee appointed
By the council to examine into the charged
made against Street Commissioner War
| rem, held session last evening at the coun
Gil rooms, which proved of a highly inter
| esting nature.
The attendance was fair, as in spite oi
the cold weather good sized lobby was
present, to learn the latest developments
of the investigation.
Only three witnesses were placed on the
stand, and two of them were Aldermen.
The evidence adduced was not of very
| damaging nature to the accused, as their
| testimony was mainly devetedto ventila-
| ton of their grievances as members of the
| street and alley committee. because War
| rem, the Street Commissioner, had failed to
comply with their orders concerning Ger
| tain work to be done by the city.
Alderman Whitman stated that he was
not satisfied with the manner in which the
Street Commissioner kept his accounts.
He had informed Warren of the fact, and
had suggested the propriety of keeping the
laborers' time after the manner in vogue on
the railroads To this Warren informed
him that it was 'stoo much trouble"
SIDE ISSUE.
Alderman Barber, another of the street
and alley committee, was en- the stand
After he had detailed how impossible it
was to secure work in his ward, he told of
certain transactions in which the city
bought ratings" or broken rock, from
him. He also stated that his own name
did not appear in the transactions, but
that the bills were made out in F. Sinnett's
name. He attempted to9explain this Pc
culiar affair by stating that he was indebt-
ed to Sinnett for the quarry, and took that
means of allowing him TO secure his
money.
The alderman further testified that the
laberers on the street were not earning
81 80 per day, and notwithstanding this
fact he, as an alderman, had voted to in
crease the pay to $1.75. He favored an
extension of the circulating medium, and
thought the more money in circulation the
better it would be for the city at large.
The same witness stated that he noticed
several transactions of an apparently pc
culiar nature in which Warren was engag
ed, but as they occurred outside of the
witness own ward, he did not consider it
any of his business, and such negligence
was permitted while he was member of
the street and alley committee.
ALDERMAN WHITMAN
was the first witness called. He testified
that during the past summer Warren had
some men at work at the foot of 18th
street. witness was a member of the Street
and Alley Committee. Witness and War
mock had visited the work and considered |
that the work WAS not necessary as other |
and more urgent demands for street work !
were made at other parts of the city They |
told Warren that they did not consider the
work necessary, and ordered him to stop. I
Warren did not obey the order, and finally
the Mayor was visited and at his order the /
Street Commissioner ceased the work. The |
at that point consisted of |
some earth, and also the laying of drain
pipe down to the river. The pipe was of |
personal benefit to Warren, as his house
was IN that immediate locality, also to City
Attorney Parks and Matthews, as they
lived near the corner of First avenue and
Eleventh street. Witness did not know
whether there was any dishonesty about the
or whether the Street Commits
sioner Warren received anything for the
work. Witness had previously had con-
with the Mayor concerning the
duties of the Street Commissioner and I'M
der whose supervision that official worked.
The Mayor informed witness that Warren
was under the Street and Alley Committee.
Witness was therefore somewhat surprised
to find that Warren had not obeyed the
orders of the committee when he was or
dered to quit work at the foot of Eleventh
street.
Witness supposed that the tile belonged
to the city, as w arren had told HIM that it
was tile left over from the past year.
Witness desired to have some work done
n other parts of the city. Witness did
secure few street crossings in his Ward
His reasons for not desiring the work at
the foot of Eleventh street was that it was
act needed, the travel at that point did not
Justify the outlay, and the financial condi
ion of the city would not admit of it.
The Street Commissioners did not submit
lis bill to the Street and Alley Committee
or their action. Witness did not like the
way Warren kept his accounts, and had
some improvement to perfect
he same, but Warren thought it was tsToo ,
much trouble" Witness even offered to
I'VE Warren blanks for keeping his ac- =
counts The remaining members of the
street and Alley Committee did not feel ,
disposed to take decisive steps, and SO the
natter was dropped. {
When witness ordered Warren to stop /
work. at the foot of Eleventh street, the
york had just been commenced. Warnock
lid most of the talking with Warren and
he Mayor. Witness heard at that time s
hat Warren was to pay for half of the q
rain pipe or tile. 3
Witness in his official dealings with War ,
en- thought that there was some things !
bout Warren's conduct that did not seem 1
ight. He thought thrre was lack of !
as Warren did not appear to
ttnd to his business. Men were waiting Q
DR. work at nine or ten o'clock, there was q
boss TO one man at certain places. and
ther acts of similar nature were dis
overed by the witness. Warren was in
ormsd of these acts and promised to rec /,
fy them. Witness did not inform the !