The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-12
ATKINSON SUSPENDED.
Mayor Mott ami tie .Coancil Agree that
he has Been I1ereIict in His
business.

Every citizen in Rock Island is aware
of the fact that the streets and alleys
throughout the city are in a filthy con.
dition, and have been so for some time.
Prominent citizens and business men have
spoken of it frequently, and wondered
why the Mayor did not have the matter
attended to.
Matters had gone so far that the Mayor
finally decided to take active steps in the
matter, and consequently authorized Mr..
Atkinson to make an inventory of the city
tools in his possession, and sent him the
following notice:
Rock ISLAND. H.. May IL, 1888
William Atkinson, ESQ, City
DEAR SIR: You are hereby notified that
you are suspended from the office of Street
Commissioner from this day.of notice un-
ill further orders. Respectfully,
JAMES e. MOTT Mayor.
Although this note was very plain and
to the point. the worthy superintendent
of streets could not, or either did not
wish to catch the meaning of the notice,
and replied to the mayor as follows
Rock ISLAND, ILL.,, May IL, 1888.
Mr.. j. Z. Mott. Mayor:
DEAR SIR: l have your highly es.
teemed favor of this date, but am sorry
to say that do not understand It, Am
| To construe the term suspend" into
removal. and if so what does further
orders" mean? Or am to consider my
self, as street commissioner still subject
to further orders? Awaiting your
reply remain yours
WILLIAM ATKINSON,
Street Commissioner.
The Union this morning moraliZes
quite extensively on the matter, and
compares the case now under censidera-
ton with that of the city scavenger affair
under Mayor Carse's adj ministration.
The law of 1879 says the mayor has
qualified right of removal, until the city
council meets and acts. That's exactly
what Mr. Mott has done He has not
overstepped his power in the least. Mr.
Atkinson is simply suspended temporarily
until the council meets and determines
the present mayor has not discharged"
but suspended" Mr.. Mott admits he
has no right to remove any officer but as
the chairman of the street and alley com
mittee was dissatisfied with Atkinson.
and he did not perform the work assigned
him, he thought it was his duty to sus |
pend him, and appoint another man TO do !
the work. Mayor Mott sent note in |
reply to the inquiry of Mr.. Atkinson, and
which the Union failed to publish. 1t is |
rs follows:
Rock ISLAND, May II, 1888.
Mr.. William Atkinson,
DEAR SIR: Yours of this date is at /
hand and contents noted. / would say
n reply that you have not done the street
work for some time, and the chairman of |
he Street and Alley Committee has in
ormed me that you did not do the work
IN the streets as he directed, and he
bought there was no use trying to work
With you any longer have no power to
emove you, and so suspend you until the
natter can be properly brought before the
Iity Council at their next meeting
Yours Respectfully,
JAMEssZ. MoTT, Mayor
1t will be remembered that at the last
lee;ing of the city couno il the street
business was agitated, and
was generally agreed among the alder
len that Mr.. Atkinson was derelict in his
uty. Mr.. Warnock, chairman of the
treet and Alley Committee said that al
lOugh Mr.. Atkinson had never stated :
lat he would not do what work was as
gned him, he always failed to perform !
he work Mr.. E. W Boynton has been :
ppointed Superintendent of Streets un- ,
the council meets.