Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-16

Alderman Williamson was still incline,
to favor cypress blocks. yet he though
as matter of courtesy to the propert,
holders the action on the ordinance adopt
ted at the last meeting should be recon
sidered.
A number OF motions and counter
motions were made and passed upon. and
finally motion by Alderman Negus, thai
the council appoint committee of two
aldermen, with the city engineer. to bt
accompanied by q committee from the
property holders. and to visit an equal
number of cities using brick and cypress
blocks, and report.
The mayor appointed Aldermen
Schnell and Hampton, but the former
asking to be excused, Alderman Negus
was substituted.
Thus the matter was Temporarily. a,
least. disposed Of. 1t now remains fol
the property holders to designate two
of their number to accompany the alder.
men.
THE INCOMING ADMINIsTRATIoN.
At this juncture Mayor Blanding took
occasion to say that there appeared to be
some misrepresentation as to when the in.
coming administration should take hold.
While he had every desire to get out as
soon as possible. he believed there had
been loose practices INDUCED in in the
manner of inducing into Office by the
council OF Rock Island. He had given
this subject considerable attention; the
mayor was elected for two years and the
same was true OF the aldermen. He ap-
pretended that all municipal officers were
entitled to hold and enjoy the Office for
the full term for which they were elected.
The mere fact that successor had been
elected and qualified did not signify that
he could at once take charge of the office.
He was simply holding himself in readi-
ness to assume charge at the expiration
Of the term of his immediate predecessor.
He believed that he-and the same was
applicable to the aldermen-was required
by law to remain until the first Monday
In May. though he made this decision
very reluctantly.
Mayor-elect McConoehe stated that
the plan suited him. and this matter set
tied the auditors who had gathered to
witness the Inauguration filed out with
the air of intermingled disappointment
and disgust, after having waited two
hours.
HETTER GETS ULAM's SEAT.
The city clerk read protest from John
Hetter against a recount of the Second
ward ballots to settle the tie for alderman
as between himself and David Uiam
The ground of Hetters protest was thatjas
no onelhad been declared elected there was
nothing to contest, that the council had no
authority to count the ballots, and sill that
could be done was to dispose of it by lot.
This was great move on Hetters part,
for it was a game in which he had moth
ing to lose and everything to gain, where
Is, MIR. Ulam. whom the ballots, had they
been counted. would have shown elected,
had everything to lose and nothing to
gain by such proceedings.
Alderman Williamson called for the
special order Of business under which the
contest was to be disposed of.
The opinion of City Attorney McEniry
was called for. and that official stated
that MIR. Ulam should have the privilege
Of going into recount if he believed
hat such proceedings would show his
election.
Mr.. E. E. Parmenter. in behalf of Mr..
Hotter, made long plea for the chance
operation; he thought the only way to
'ettle it would be by lot. and he called for
he lots.
City Attorney McEniry held that there
vas no law compelling man to gamble
or his Office. and that MIR. Ulam declined
% participate in any game of chance.
MIR. E. E. Parmenter interpreted the
meaning of the statutes that the council.
md not the contestants, should do the
fasting of lots.
Alderman Williamson moved that ac-
ion be postponed until the next meet
ng. Voted down.
City Attorney elect Haas. being pres
mt. his opinion was sought, and he
the views of the attorney for
he republican aldermsnic nominee.
The mayor held that, as 1t is not i'm
that there will be a contest as
20 the msyoralty, the ballot envelopes be
eft unsealed, as it might interfere with
he contest in the county court. should
)ne be made. In support of this theory
ne instanced the case of the attempt of
Judge Smith to contest the election of
Carter Harrison as mayor OF Chicago,
which was abandoned because the re-
turns from one of the city wards showed
they had been opened and examined.
Aid. Evans believed that in justice to
both parties the ballots should be
He made q motion to that
effect.
The mayor ruled the motion out of
order and Mr.. Evans appealed from the
decision of the chair, but the chair was
sustained.
A motion by Aid. Schhell to proceed
to cast lots, was carried.
Then Aid. Hampton arose in his min
isterial way and proposed the plan Of
oatflioo tho cOntrovarav nv laOal Oamh,