Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-16
COUNCIL CONCERNS.
Proceedings of Last Nights Regu-
lar Session.
The Cypress Block Ordinance Recon
sfdered and Committee OF Investi-
xatson Appointed---H etter Gets the
SECOND Ward A,derman's Chair AZ
Last.
IOMelal Renort.l

semi-monthly session at p. m, Mayor
Banding presiding, and all the aldermen
present. The minutes of the last regular
and adjourned meetings were read and
approved. The mayor read message
stating the reasons why he had not
promptly signed the Second avenue paw.
ing ordinance. thereby giving the council
an opportunity for reconsideration:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL
While my convictions upon the subject
of paving streets have not inclined me to
think that paving is at present an urgent
necessity, and have led me to believe that
other public improvements in the I'M
mediate future are more imperative and
would be productive of larger benefits.
yet in Difference to to the Judgment OF
the council and the known wishes OF
large number of property holders the per-
sonal views of the mayor have not been
urged upon your honorable body to the
hindrance or delay of action upon your
part. AS heretofore expressed in q for
mer communication, il paving of streets
streets was to be undertaken at all at the
present time. it was my deliberate judg-
ment that, all things considered, cypress
was the best material for the purpose.
The council having seen ft and proper to
pass an ordinance at its last meeting to
pave Second avenue between Fourteenth
and Twentieth streets and to provide that
it shall be done with cypress blocks, the
mayor fully cOncurs in the choice of ma
terial to be used. This being the case it
is proper and desirable that you should
be informed why the ordinance has not
promptly received the mayors official ap-
proval.
Since the passage of the ordinance
there has been Meeting held by large
number of the property holders most
directly concerned in the measure. at
which resolutions were adopted express
ing desire that your honorable body
would delay further action until COM
mittee appointed by them could be heard
on the subject, and requesting that
further Investigation in regard to mas
terial might be made before the ordinance
became finally fixed and concluded. The
only way in which the mayor could fur
Their the wishes of the property holders,
as the case now stands, was to refrain
from signing the ordinance and thus leave
II in the power of the council at this
present meeting TO reconsider its vote,
should 1t be deemed wise and expedient
on your part to thus exercise the privi-
lege. Should you fail to reconsider at
this meeting, the time for reconsideration
will have passed as well rs the time
limited by law in which the mayor could
either approve or disapprove, and by the
terms of the statnte il would be held to
be approved and go into effect
Your furfhar fharaoffnr nntlI
only be to wholly repeal the ordinance or
to pass another amendatory thereof.
From respectful regard to the ex-
pressed wishes Of property holders. and
TO avoid as far as may be any unneces.
sary delay, the mayor has refrained from
exercising his statutory right, and in
vokes the deliberate judgment of the
council as to whether they deem it called
for and eXpedient to take further action,
OF allow the ordinance to stand and go
into effect with its present provisions.
The matter now rests wholly in the judg-
ment and decision of your honorable
body. V. M. BLANDINe, Mayor.
On motion of Alderman Williamson
the rules were suspended and commit
tee of gentlemen representing the prop
erty holders of Second avenue, was in.
vited TO present their matters. Capt. T.
j. Robinson then addressed the council,
presenting the resolutions OF the proper
ty holders meeting, and also petition
OF about half the property holders in be-
half of a brick pavement. MIR. William
Jackson followed, sexplaining the in
quiries made and the recommendations
of paving brick, and submitting letters
from Aifnranf ri. no
Alderman Williamson moved to recon-
slider the vote by which the ordinance
for the paving Of Second avenue was
passed at the last meeting. After de-
bate the petition of property holders in
favor of brick was read by the clerk and
Alderman Williamson's motion was
adopted:
Ayes-Howard, Schafer. Gray. Hamp-
ton, III. Simmon, McConochie, Winter,
Williamsburg.
Noes-Negus, Schnell, Evans, Ed
wards, Scott.
On motion of Alderman McConochie
the ordinance was referred to a special
committee of two oldermen, who with
the city engineer shall accompany COM
mittee of two citizens and visit three
cities using brick pavement and three
cities using cypress blocks or other pave
ments, and report at the next regular
meeting. The mayor appointed as such
committee Aldermen Negus and Hamp>
ton.
Alderman Williamson introduced an
ordinance providing for brick paving,
which was referred to the same commit
tee. g.
Mayor Blanding stated for the infor-
nation Of the council that the proper
time for the induction of the mayor and
aldermen elect was at the beginning of
the municipal year-the first Monday in
May.
The clerk read protest from John T.
Hetter against a recount of the vote for
alderman in the Second ward until some
one shall have been declared elected and
q contest is in order
On motion of Alderman Williamson
the special order, being the Second ward
tie vote, was taken up. City Attorney
McEniry spoke, affirming the right of
the council to recount the votes in con.
test to the declaration of a tie. Mr. E.
E. Parmenter declared the next step was
to draw lots, and declare the winner
elected; it will then be in order for the
loser to enter a contest; there can be no
contest in the absence of q declaration of
election. Mr.. McEniry in closing stated
that after drawing lots the loser would
be estopped from contesting the count.
Alderman Williamson moved postpone
ment of the question until the next reg
ular meeting. Lost. to 12.
Alderman Schnell called for the opinion
OF Mr.: j. l.. Haas. city attorney elect.
Mr.. Haas gave his opinion that there
could be no contest. until one of the cam
didates had been declared elected; and
that contest could be instituted after
the drawing of lots. which is mandatory