Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-09
GEST AND THE BRIDGE.
Some Plain Facts of More Than Or.
binary Interest.
Inc Means Our Congressman Took 70
PREVENT the People From Rece vim.
General Notwithstanding: for
Friends Against the Public.


uonable. Without crowding upon him
too many questions at time let one be
selected.
Let him tell the people here people
who are daily interested in the m alter
why he made an effort to keep toe Rock
Island bridge closed against them when it
was and is so badly needed. Without
mincing matters, the facts plainly show
that his whole effort was to help and
ooiige his friend, Captain Robins IN. an d
the ferry company which that gentleman
controls. Whether it was from a lively
anticipation of favors to come or for a
Substantial acknowledgment of past ben
ehts, or for both. it matters little. The
fact remains. that while the peop.e-his
constituents those who had elet ted him
and had right to expect that his legisla-
tive acts should be general and not spec
ial-were demanding some consideration
in the matter of the bridge, Mr.. Gest
was doing what he could to hamper and
iDJure them, in order that a single firm,
or man, or corporation should reap the
benefit of this injustice. And when
the matter was taken up by others
and the proper authorities at Washing
ton appealed TO, and the bird ge finally
ordered to be opened, Mr.. Gest was
asked in a spirit of mischief if he would
not give his assistance IN the matter
What did he say? Why. thst it was no
use; that the authorities would do moth
ing and could be made tn do nothing.
His more vigilant. but tantalizing friends.
then tod him that the affair had been
settled, the whole matter about which
there had been so much unnecessary
trouble and delay had been accomplished,
and now the people would have no fur
Their cost nor Inconvenience. 1t would
naturally have been thought that he
would have been struck with either
shame or Amusement. Whatever were
his feelings it is hard to say, for on hear
ing the news he Immediately fled
The bridge was opened TO the public
through Mr.. Fred Hass, the president of
the Rock Island Citizens Improvement
association, and Congressman Gear, of
Iowa, the details of which are matter of
history. The people of the three cities
then thanked the secretary of war for his
valuable consideration, in set of resOlu-
tons, forwarded by the business men s
associations, in which resolutions the eff
forts of Mr. Hass and Governor Gear
were also properly acknowledged.
Mr.. Gest was opposing the opening of
the bridge at this time as he always had
been. Scott Wike, Congressman from
Illinois, was written to and asked that any
correspondence relating to this matter on
file in Washington be produced. 1t was
then found that Captain Robinson had
written the secretary of war the follow
ing letter:
Rock ISLAND, April II. 1890.
The Honorable, the Secretary Of War Washing
ingion, ID. e,
SIR:-Rcterriug to the order recently
issued from your department resembling
the regulation which excluded railroad
| freights from the wagon way of the gov
| ernment bridges between the Island OF
| Rock Island and the cities of Rock Is.
land, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa, per
NIT me TO inquire whether any represent
tations were made to the department that
| the reasons that existed aud which called
for the estsb -lshmont OF the regulation in
| 1878 do not now Exist, or whether any
| of the causes which at that time seemed
/ to require it, had since been remov. d. OF
| whether the operation of the regu alton
| in question and its effects upon trade
/ and commerce were taken into consider
| alton when the order of resCission was
made.
Having been advised some months ago
that petition was being circulated by
| parties interested. addressed % the secre-
| tary of wal. asking for he unrestricted
use of the bridges. we wrote Mr.. Gest, the
member of congress for his district, Ia
make application to you for permission
| to be heard on the question il any change
| In the regulations were contemplated; he
| answered us th 4 he had complied with
| our request and had the promise of the
war office that no change would be made
without giving him notice. He now
writes us that "a day or two ago. Gear
| of Iowa, said to him that he had been tC
the war office al the req nest of some peO'
Pile from Davenport, and that he had OBJ
tanned an order for the absolute freedom
of the bridges
MIR. Gear represents district in lows
quite remote from the Island of Rock Isl
and, and has not the means of knowing
the requirements of the locality, and has
probably moved IN this matter without du,
consideration.
We feel that the resc n1ing of the regu
lstion operates as material injury to US
without rendering an equivalent to thu
public. and respectfully ask that it he re
instated. or that you grant us permission
TO be heard on the question.
Very respectfully,
T. j ROBINSON,