Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-29

Someone writing to the Union signing
himself Fair Play, endesvors to con,
done or in some way palliate the action or
lack of action Of Mr, Gest with reference
to the visduct. II tons of ink were
shed upon this question it would not
alter the fact that when Gest was induced
to do something in the matter he did so
with an eye always upon Captain Rob-
inson-ready at any moment to conform
to his wishes. whether those wishes were
10 the interests of the people or not. In
fact, as Captain Robinson said at the
Henderson meeting the other night. Mr..
Gest was ready at all times to run and do
his bidding, and he appealed to bis hear
that IL Gest had wished to kill the
bill 1t was only necessary for him TO fold
his arms and do nothing That is not
true. and the man who assumes such an
equitable name should not purposely
mIslead anyone. even the simp>
lest. The visduct bill could have
been passed without Mr.. Gest.
II would have been much easier
TO accomplish if some other mems
Der in the first place had been applied to,
but 1t was natural to suppose that our
member would be the one who would
take the deepest interest in our home af-
fairs. As il was, Congressman Gear, OF
Iows,bad to be appealed to. If that had
not been done, or some other member
equally gracious seen in the premises no
useful step would as yet have been taken
and Gest would still be acting under the
beck and call of Captain Robinson-bis
guide, philosopher and friend.
IL did not take prominent
ly ssiute man to learn that Gest was a
stumbling block sll the way through. and
was much more an injury than helm
from first to last
The bills in congress relating to the
matter have been published in the AR
Gus. The principal objection
to the previous legislation was
that release for damages could
not be obtained from abuttipp
property lowners The bill introduced
by Gest had for its object only the re-
pesling of that portion of the law which
related to the payment of half the appro-
pristiou-S35 OOO-into the treasury of
the United States by the city of Rock
Island, leaving out the most essential
part OF the necessary legislation,
namely, that portion relating to the ne,
cessity OF obtaining the release for
damages of the abutiing property own
ers. This was where the whole trouhle
lay. Gest was under the control and in
nuence of Captain Robinson, who. with
Ii. G. Connolly and John Lauermann
was the sbutting property ner of the
west side Of the proposed viaduct. the
Case estate occupying all the eastern
side. 1t was impossible to get these men
to sign such release and, as a conse-
quence. the bill was worthless. That
Gest knew. so did Robinson. It will he
seen further on how irritable and uncon,
genial was Mr. Gest when approached on
the subject. and how undesIrous be WAS
OF doing anything further in the matter.
de wished TO screen himself behind the
theory that he had slrea ly introduced a
bill and that he could Go no more He
wished tn make sure that his friend Cap
tain Robinson had all that he wanted.
as to the people. they were not in his
thoughts. 1t will be seen how the bill
was prepared for the senate. having the
Objectionable clause relating to the re-
lease Of the property owners stricken out,
and how Gest even then tad to be dealt
with in order that he should take some
action In the matter. From the begin
ming, too. it will be seen how backward
was Gest in all these transactions. At
every step the way had to be prepared
for him. He was unwilling to he led and
had to be driven The people can thus
see how much they owe to Mr.. Gest.
INTERVIEW WITH HAss.
with reference to this and tie
bridge matter Mr. Fred Has, was
seen by an ARGUS man. AMI he
said that he does not want to wrong Mr..
DIR. Gest; that he did vote for him at the
last two elections. and did considerable
work for him at bis last election. bit ne
says that when he arrived at Washington
last February he found to his great sur
prise that Mr.. Gest had done nothing TO-
wards permanently opening the bridge
between Rock Island aud Davenport To
al traffic as he had previously promised
TO do. On the contrary, he found he
had only asked for a temporary order for
the use of the bridge to all traffic for and
during the time the ice was running. |
When In Washington later Mr.. Hass
sNHN -hAs NCsL udu Deen 81 the war /
department upon the request OF CAPTAIN
Robinson. and got the promise there
that he (Gest) should be heard before anv
change should be made in throwing the |
bridge open to the public. Whereupon
Mr. hass was compelled to call upon
some other representative to assist him.
and that he therefore called upon his
friend Congressman Gear. of Iowa.
When in Washington last February Mr.
Hass reiterates that he soon discovered
that MIR. Gest had done nothing towards
opening the bridge between this CITY and
Davenport, and that he did not seem to
ARE to assist in that direction. Mr.
bass, therefore, called upon his friend
congressman Gear, of Iowa, who went
With him before the secretary of war.spd
conversation the secretary of war ex.
Pressed himself that there uas mn l