The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-07

4
| any department in the future. And further rec
ommend that all street work be performed only as
directed or ordered by the City Council.
In the taking of testimony in this we allowed
great latitude and matters not covered by the
| charges mace against Mr. Warren, which were re
ferred to u.s. We're inquired into freely and fully,
and without strict rules of proceeding we deem
ed it important that matter OF wrong connected
with the general charge should go unexamined for
any technical reason.
And now submit this report for such action as
the Council may deem proper to take.
IA SAs s n nAHg
Aid. Larkin, in explaining his motive,
presented and read a minority report as
follows:
10 the city Council Of tie CITY of Rock Island.
GENTLEMEN Having been appointed on COM
of abuses and Irregularities in the Office of Albert
Warren, Street Commissioner, of this city, beg
tiously reconcile it to of my duty to the peo-
pie of this city TO coincide with the conclusions of
ter. 1t to inconsistent to admit that
abuses and Irregularities exist and then suffer them
invitation to further though perhaps different
abuses the suppositon that these proven irregu-
larties having been passed over others may be
also
listened patiently and attentivey to all the evil
dence, and find that about the ninth OF
August, 1881, Street Commissioner Warren caused
to be hauled one thousand brick to John Roach.
sa,u t h ~ * ~ us sb pueg Wen taat ne
said teamster gave the check to Mr.. Lyon, the
tractor, and Mr.. Lyon charged the the
city, for which he paid by the city.
Mr.. Warren. at the time of the delivery of the
brick, received $3.50 from Mr.. Roach. On or about
the fifth OF January following, Mr.. Warren told the
City Clerk that he paid the teamster the brick at
the time of delivery, but month later the third
of February. he paid Mr. Lyon the said $3.50. Mr..
refunded the same to the city.
Furthermore find that, during the term of his
office, Mr.. Warren has taken contracts from private
parties and had Mr. Kane, of his foremen, as
partner, and according to the testimony, as com
pared with the time books. Mr.. Kane has had more
time returned to him by the street commissioner
progress of some of their contracts Mr.. Kane was
employed by the city and that he neglected the city
work and would leave it from to three hours at
time, to attend to his contract work that he used
city teams and aborers do part of said work and
for which the city paid them.
The evidence, as given by Mr.. Kane. conflicts with
the testimony of all the other witnesses regard to
the Eleventh street gas ditch.
also find that his time given in digging and wall
ing Mr.. Roach's we'll has been contradicted by
sworn testimony.
find that Mr.. Coyne, one of the street commits
the employees of the city, during the year 1880 for
rem; that he kept this money for about a year and
then that he collected the of $7700 additional
from citizens, to purchase watch for Mr.. War
find that there has been regular system of as
sessment carried on by the three foremen for the
benefit OF themselves and Mr.. Warren.
find that in one instance, Mr.. Coyne got an
illiterate man to sign subscription list for three
dollars and then sent an order to the City Clerk for
five dollars. Said order written by Warren. and
ons- complaint of said mans wife, two dollars was
Various employees have testified that they have
paid four and I'VE dollars each to Mr.. Coyne for an
instrument, and on his subscription list find them
credited with only two dollars.
find that Mr. Coyne has laid sidewalks for private
parties for which he received pay and that city
labor helped him and was paid from the CITY Treas
ury. Wecould.not get Mr.. Coyne's time. as the
exact time of doing this work could not be got at
The greatest obstacle in the way of the investiga
ton the mpossibility OF getting exact dates and
some of the most important witnesses refusing to
testify.
/ Furthermore find that Mr. Warren has had dirt
hauled from the bluff to lot he was filling for
another party and for which he re eived pay from
said party; that the work done by city teams;
that Mr. o Connor another of the bosses, and other
parties have had dirt hauled to their lots in the
same manner, and although there is no positive
proof that the city the looser in any way yet
the system is to be emphatically condemned rs
liable to work injurious to the city's interest
Hind that Mr.. Warren has had the water boys, |
VINO We're employed by the city, do work for him in
driving his COW to and from the pasture, and that
they did some of this work during WORKING. hours
. MT. warren swore that he paid VIM Rafer for
received no money except what he received from |
the city, and did not expect any. /
1t is also proven that the City employees were sent
out OF town by Mr. Warren with teams to haul hay. |
and one of them testified that he paid by the
city for that private work done for Mr.. Warren
1t is also shown that Mr. Warren has visited per-
sons he had reason to believe would be called as
witnesses and appealed to them not to testify /
against HIM.
Here is array of facte so startling and SO well
that think very few citizens can reason
ably doubt their existence OF course some Of them
are disputed, but the preponderence Of the testi-
nony goes TO establish them. 1t must be clear +
enough TO those who carefully listened to ell the
testimony in this case that these abuses exist and
nat they are neither new or accidental There il
90 much evidence of system and secrecy to doubt
hat they have existed for long time that the
read of the department cannot reasonably pretend
o lgnorance1n regard to them. And even ignor-l
nee, II they existed would be inexcusable IN the
lead of department
laklng everything into consideration and looking |
rmy to the interests of the people generally can
ONE 70 no other conclusion than that Albert War
en- ought not longer to hold the office of street com
missioner, and SO recommend to the council.
/ also recommend the removal of all foremen who
ave been engaged in these irregularities.
also respectfully suggest that some more strin-j
ent rules than exist should be adopted In rel
ation to the receipt Of materials for city work and
he proper accounting for the expenditure of the
anne. Also that the collection Of money from city
mpioyes to be used in any manner for the beneft
city officials of those having charge OF employees
exacting laborfor service from them for the bene
q private parties, be made penal offence by an
rdinance which shall protect working men from
II such exaeti0ns.
Ialsorecommend thatthe City Council require M 8