Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-14
Observation-Disclosures
Gest's Shameful Manner of Using
the Council.
He First sues the City and Then In
vites the Council to send Com"
mittee Around to settle
the Matter.

One of the most shameful pieces OF
political skullduggery that has ever been
perpeirated on the Rock Island city
council was that which Ex-Congressman
&est succeeded in carrying through last
night, in the shape of resolution un>
loubtedly originating with Gest himself
inviting the council to send committee
70 him to settle damages, which he al
leges are due him from the city, but
which he has presented no proof OF IN any
shape that the city owes him. The RESI-
olution was presented by Aid. Evans, end
strange to say it passed, though it is due
10 the council to say that the aldermen
did not fully realize the full force OF the
scheme that was being worked upon
them. Two of the aldermen, both re-
publicaps at that, strenuously opposed
the resoluticn-Ald. Knox and Schroe-
der, both of whom held that Gest had es
tablished no claim as due him from the
city; that he had simply set up claim
which be had not proven and that IL was
a cheeky proceeding for him to come in
now and attempt to use the council to
smooth over his suit against the city for
purely political reasons. Both these
aldermen were opposed to compromise
in any form. They believed Mr.. Gest
had no ground on suing the city. and
that the city should stand its ground and
ascertain whether it was right or wrong
IA tie public street Improvements which
Gest had taken advantage of to exact
money from taxpayers. AS Aid. Knox
stated Mr.. Gest had sued the city and he
should stand on the outcome of it. Now
that he was anxious to square things
simply because he might receive a re-
publican nomination for congress was no
reason why the city council, supposed
10 guard the interests of the city, should
sfect compromise with him. 1t was
charged that this resolution had origius>
led with Gest, and that he had seen his
mistake in suing the city and was now
anxious to have it expunged from.the re-
cords by means of a settlement.
Aid. Evans declared that Gest had
nothing to do with the resolution he had
introduced, aud he thereupon tore it up.
Aid. Corken took the position that he
vas not in favor of the compromise for
Nj. Gesrs benefit but for the city's, and
that if s committee going to him could
secure a Withdrawal. of the sGit, he would
favor it.
The resolution SIS presented by Aid.
Evans was, however, passed in tattered
form, AIDS. Knox and Schroeder voting
IN the negative, and committee was APP
pointed to wait on Mr.. Gest.
The ARGUS thinks the council made a
mistake in making any overtures to Gest.
t should have retained position of abb
solute defense, and any overtures of a
settlement should have come from Gest
rather than the city. Gest's suit was
simply part of his conduct toward al
after his overwhelming defeat two years
ago. Before his return from Washing
ton he peddIed it about that he had
been defeated by an ungrateful constitu-
ency. When he came back he sulked al
everybody. He forgot all past honors
extended him, manifested vindictive
spirit toward all, including the city, as
indicated in his suit, the only one that
has been the outgrowth of our public
street improvements, whereas other prop
erty holders have suffered more or fully
as much as Gest, but they were too pub
lie spirited and thought too much of the
city and its taxpayers to ask damages
Gest hiss no claim against the city,, ht
has simply made one aud the council
cannot in justice to our Taxpayers &C
cept any com promise on report en!ailing
the paying of one cent to Gest on tn,
basis Of o claim Of his own setting up
II should refuse 10 make any decker will
him until he estsbh b his claim. Tht
only report II can approve, now that j
has gone this far, is one that Gsst ha
withdrawn his suit entire. II he il
anxious to make such a move he should
have been man enough to have gone t.
the courthouse where he filed it AM
lake il out.