Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-01
Mr.. GEST'S BIG BLUNDER
How the Present Congressman Lost
the Custom House.
BY Posting himself as to the Law
as Nude and Provided Rock Island
Would now have what Another City
Captured.


A great deal of Boosting is being done
by the Gest boomers about the wonderful
accomplishments of the present congress-
man in securing an act making Rock
Island port of entry. 1t must be said
in all frankness that Mr. Gest has really
succeeded in accomplishing this end but
in it is contained the sum and substance
of all he has done since he went to con-
gress four years ago. and it is probably
due to this fact that so much is made OF
his success in this regard among republi-
cans. But it may be interesting to know
Just how much the present congress
mans success goes for as it concerns
the port of entry bill The public
was made familiar with the circum-
stances which brought about Gests port
of entry bill year ago last winter, but
it will be interesting to recall them now
that so much stress is being placed upon
the pas sage OF the bill.
The original movement which was real
ly started by the ARGUS, was to secure the
removal of the custom house from Galena
to Rock Island. The matter was sgitst-
ed and finally Mr.. Gest was communicate
ed with on the subject. Without looking
into the legal requirements on the SUBJ
ject, Or without investiga ting it in any
way. Mr.. Gest wrote home to a citizen of
Rock Island the following letter:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 90. 1889
II has been suggested to me that the
custom house at Galena ought to be re-
moved TO Rock Island. | believe it can
be done. II Rock Island, Moline and
Davenport will send me q petition. as
strongly endorsed as possible. l will try
to have the change made. Will you look
after it2 Yours truly, w. FL. GEsT.
The letter was read before the
Rock Island Citizens Improvement ASSOC
citation. suitable resolutions were adopted
in accordance with which committee
was appointed to circulate petition and
also to ask Moline and Davenport to aid.
etc. Secretary MedilI of the association,
expended IS in preparing petitions, etc,
and they were finally forwarded to Wash
ington as per request of Congressman
Gest. The name of MIR. F. E. Robbins
hsppe ned to be the first on one of the Pc
titions and it had no sooner reached
Washington than back came the follow
ing letter addressed to him:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
WASHINGTON, MAY 16, 1889
SIR:-Referring to the petition of your
self and Others for the establishment of
custom house at Rock Island and the dis
continuance of the one at Gslena. I en-
close herewith for your information copy
of letter dated the Goth of March last
addressed to Hon. w. Fl. Gest, on the
same subject. from which 1t will be seen
that il will be necessary for Rock Island
TO be created port by Legislative action
before this department can give consider
alton to the proposition submitted.
GEO. c. TICHENoR,
Assistant Secretary.
This letter was turned over to Mr. .Medill.
who read it before the association at its
next meeting and it was duly commented
upon by the ARGUS at the time. About
the same time Mr. Gest received the fol,
lowing letter.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
wAsHISGToS, March H. 1889.
Hon. Y H. Gist, House of Representatives:
SR:-YOur letter without date enclos-
ing petition for the removal of the cus>
tom house now located at Galens, H.. to
Rock Island, ILL.,, was received by the de-
partInent on the 22d inst.
have the honor to say in reply that it
will be necessary for Rock Island to be
created port by legislative action before
this department can give consideration to
the petition which is herewith return ed
Respectfully yours,
|. FL. MAYNARD.
Assistant Secretary.
This correspondence having so com
pletely demonstrated Gest's ignorance of
the situation, but his failure to coInpre-
bend his duty in the premises, the custom
house question was dropped. Congress
man Henderson, of Dubuque, alert to his
city interests. seized the opportunity to
profit by Gest's blunder and had the Ga
lena custom house transferred to Du-
buque, already port of. entry. Now at
| this late day comes Gest with his port of
entry bill. 1t is well enough. but in the
meantime what was more important. to-
wit: the custom house, has flown. II
Gest had had any of the attributes of q
statesman he would have had the port OF
entry bill passed before saying anything
about his custom house bill-but he didn'i
know any different and Rock Island is the
loser by his blunder.
An Afternoon Disturbance.
B. Henderson, of this city, and Frank
Robinson of Davenport. got into an alter
cation and scuffle in the Rock Island
house saloon at 6 o'clock last evening
but the intercession of friends prevented
serious outcome. Manager Gaver Of
the hotel, induced the men to separate
and thus the disturbance was quelled. A
little while afterwards Robinson and Johr
nf chic citv ont inta q fipht