The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-16
1T WON'T WORK.
CITY Treasurer Lambert Must Receive
His Compensation According to
Municipal Ordinance.

Considerable of commotion has been
created 10 financial circles and among tax
payers and business men having the
city's interest at heart, over the announce
ment that City Treasurer Lambert intend
ed taking steps to secure compensation
for his labors according TO the former
law relating to the salary of his Office.
which would cause him to realize a much
larger personal income at the city's
expense than by the present ordi-
nance. The report that such were Mr..
Lsmbert's intentions. and that he pro-
posed either to lay the matter before the
council, or to act according to his own
inclination. caused as much uneasiness
among republicans as democrats, and
anxious inquiries were made as to The
truth Of the statement.
For the benefit of those who are not
fully conversant with municipal history
dating back little over year. it may
be well to state that up to the time the
revised ordinances were adopted by the
city, March 90, 1885, the tax collector and
treasurer were both separate Offices. The
collector, being township officer, was
allowed by the city for the collection of
city taxes two per cent of all collections
made, until the amount of his commits
sion reached $500. all in excess of
which sum was TO be turned into the
county treasury. According to the re-
vised ordinances. the following section
regulates the office of city treasurer:
The city treasurer shall receive salary
| of 800 per annum, and commission OF
one half of one per cent upon the amount
of taxes collected by him. which shall be
in full for all his services and all commits
sions and compensations as treasurer and
town collector.
A glance at this will readily convince
one that the old way is more desirable &c
the treasurer, but inasmuch as Mr.. Lam
bert was elected since the adoption of the
new ordinance and with distinct under
standing of it-for it was an issue then
he is bound to abide by it aud any ideas
which he may entertain as to receiving
compensation according to the method;
of his predecessors. may be dismissed
from his mind. Mr.. Lambert must stan(
squarely upon the platform of the part!
which nominated him, and from the rec
ord of that convention we find that i'm
mediately preceding the nomination o
Mr. Lambert for treasurer, Mr.. l.. F
Harson read the following resolution
which was unanimously adopted:
| WHEREAS, The law merging the Office
of township collector and city treasure
is a new one, and so far We are informed
has never been passed on by the courts
and the city council of this city hayins
adopted an ordinance under said law 81
merging the two offices.
| hesGded, mat we fepnDhcans, now II
convention assembled, respectfully ask
that all candidates for said office pledg,
themselves to abide by and accept thu
compensation provided by said ordi
nance.
Mr.. Lambert was then nominated fo
treasurer, and if we remember rightly 1
promise to abide by the ordinance Wa
extorted from him in order that there bt
no misunderstanding.
We regret much to see this matter de
velop, as up to now Mr.. Lambert enjoye,
the single distinction of being the onl,
one of the untriedi city officials elected
on the kangaroo" year ago, who ha'
retained the confidence of his constituent
and satisfied them as to his competency