Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-22
SIDE TALK.
DISCUSSIONS at Last Evenings Coun.
Gil Meeting.
The TIL; ia Avenue PAVING Co,,r,..
Disenssrd-rhe Best bidder
Other liatters.

ne COUNCIL had IS anticipated, quite
an entertaining session last evening.
The opening of the bids for the paving of
ihird avenue. Nineteenth street and Com
mercisl alley was responsible for the pro
ceediDgs. Before the bids were opened
Aid. Huesing entered vigorous protes,
against taking any action upon them, and
then picking up the paving ordinance
and the specifications for this work. he
proceedt to pick both to pieces and to at.
tempt to show what little reslly the couu.
ell knew about business when it adopted the
ordinances and drafted the specifications.
II seemed to be Mr. Housings opinion. tbs.
because certain contractors had abstained
from bidding under the specifications the
city should alter them TO suit Their
pleasure. This precipitated an extended
d: cussion in which, while the position
was maintained that bee ause other con-
tractors had seen fit to ignore the city's
specifications and had failed to present
bids in accordance with them, that the
rockford Construction company who
had without word of objection com
piled with all the city's require
ments should be thrown out, and there
were some remarks made that boarded
pretty closely on insult TO an industry
which Rock Island should be proud of
and should encourage rather than ignore.
be 1t said to the councils credit the posi-
ton taken by Aid. Corken, who said.
I'VE are not here for play, not here to
construct specifications to suit contrac-
tors; let us stand by those who stand by
US. and let US help our Industries, which
remarks were sustained by Aid Bladel.
John.on and others, caught The prevail
ing idea of the aldermen, and the bids in
stead OF being thrown out were properly
referred.
As far as THE ARGUS is capable of
judging he duty of The council seems
plain in the premises-to award the con-
tract to the Rockford Construction COM
psny which has bid in good faith. has
made fair proposition, has given suffi-
cient guarantee to do good work. and
has presented samples of the same which
will stand the scrutiny of the most skilled
experts. Another thing. the Rockford
Construction company is q home enter
prise, giving employue nt to home labor.
but asks no odds on these grounds; it
merely asks fair play and it has put it,
self in position to expect it. 1t has a
right TO expect it and to be met on fair
grounds. THE ARGUS has no comments
to make on the contractors who failed
to bid. They simply took sensible
stand in not bidding on specifications
they did not like. o. that account they
should not ask that the specI ticstions be
altered to suit them, and THE ARsUs
does not believe they expect it.
A communicative from the Davenport
& Rock Island Street Railway company
with reference to the manner in which it
should be treated with as regards pay
ing undertakings in the future and asking
that it be classed with other property
holders, was taken by the council as of
the nature of threat and warning and
was not received with good grace by the
council, and Aid. Huesing was prompt to
take advantage of the ill-feeling and he
gleefully presented resolution setting
forth what the city would do provided
the company did not comply with certain
ordinances. The reso luton passed in the
hurry before adjournment, despite the
protests of several aldermen. Had The
street Car company had lis manager
or other representatives present in
person to explain Is position it
would have taken better with the council.
but there is probably no danger of con-
flict. The Rock Island council has al
ways treated the syndicate more than
courteously, and has u ade particular pro-
vision for its protection in its paving
ordinances and it has reason TO expect a
continuation of the reciprocation of that
friendly attitude. 1t is hardly likely that
there will be any clasting, much as one
alderman might like to see it.