Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-05
ANXIOUS TO QUIT.

Aid. Kerns, OF Moline, Creates sur.
prise IN the Council by rendering
Hts ResiKnation, and Insisting
Upon Its Acceptance.
During Monday evenings meeting oil
the Moline city council Aid. Kerns, with
out giving his colleagues the least inti'
nation of his intention, sent forward to
the clerks desk document which
proved to be none other than his resig,
nation as one of the aldermen of the
Third ward. the same to take eject a,
once. A profound sensation was created
Alderman Kerns said he was in earnest,
| anu that he would be much obliged TO
the council for its acceptance. AL
| derman Stephens moved that the
resignation be not accepted. Alder.
man Kerns thought that that would be
pretty rough. He had been in the coun-
ell seven years. and he was tired of the
business. In fact, he had never had
any particular liking for it, but at the
request of the people of his ward, he
had consented four times to be candi
date. He had served as alderman longer
than any man ever elected to the city
council of Moline, and thought he had
done his duty to the test of his ability.
II his resignation was accepted he would
leave the council with some regrets, be-
cause his relaiiods with his fellow mem
bers bad always been pleasant. But he
had gotten tired, and the council would
confer favor by accepting his resigna-
ton.
A vote on the motion of Alderman
Stephens not to accept the resignation,
showed it to be the unanimous sense of
the coIncil-Aldermsn Kerns RETAINING
from voting. but later he again
obtained the floor ard expressed the
hope that by the next meeting the coun.
Gil weuld finally accept his resignation.
Mayor Vessel stated that If Mr.. Kerns
insisted on it, no one could prevent his
resignation from taking effect. If he in
tended to insist on the resignation. be
might render necessary the special cleo
ton he sought to avoid. He said that if
he intended to insist on the resignation,
il was a matter that should be attended
tn then-otherwise a special election
would be rendered necessary, this being
the last meeting at which twenty days
notice of election could be authorized in
time for the regular election day, April l.
Alderman Daggett now moved to amend
the election notice so as to include the
election OF an alderman in the Third ward
for one year to fill the vacancy. Alder
man Pierce wanted to hear Mr.. Kerns
withdraw his resignation. Alderman
Stewart made speech eulogizing
Alderman Kerus, as the councils old
stand BY" ana hoping he wouldn't
desert them now. If he had fully
made up his mind, however, Sec
ond to Alderman Dageetts motion was
in order. Alderman Kerns said he hadn't
had this matter in mind several months
for the purpose of Hopping over so quick
ly. Alderman Stewart now seconded
DagRett's motion, and it was adopted and
the election notice changed accordingly.
Alderman Dsggett moved that the res
ignation be accepted. to take effect At the
end of the municipal year in April. But
Mr.. Kerns objected. saying he wanted 1t
to take effect at once. The mayor held
that he could not be compelled to serve
to the end of the year
Alderman Kerns now returned thanks
to his fellow members for their uniformly
kind consideration, not only for their
friendly feeling, but also for accepting
his resignation. He felt as if he was 90
ing away from home. He thought the
council would get along as well without
him as with him. perhaps better. and his
retirement would give opportunity to put
some more new blood" into the council.
for which there seemed to he more or
less demand