Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-02
MAYOR MEDILl,.
The City's New Executive In
Quoted into Office.
HIS ABLE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Last Evening Attendant Upon the Re-
tirement of the Ola .sIder:nrn and the
Entry of the New-Mayor McConochie's
Fareweil-Why the Appointments Were
Deferred
Mayor McConochie raped the
gavel vigorously in embling the
city council for the last time under
his administration last evening. All
of the aldermen with the exception
of Ficken~chcr responded to their
names in the roll call. The council
chamber was thronged in honor of
the inaugural ceremonies, every
available seat both inside and outside
the rail being occupied. The incom-
ing MAYOR and aldermen had seats
provided for them just inside the
railing. though two OF the aldermen
elect, Messrs. Foss and Cramer. took
seats within the official circle early
in the evening. and while Cramer pa
tiently awaited the hour when he
should have voice in the delibera-
tions. ii was not so with the new
conner from the Seventh. who was full
of business from the time he took his
seat during the proceedings of the
retiring council, and in expression
| and voice he was right in it, from
| the start off. The regular order of
business of the retiring council was
! dispatched without delay. followed
by the reading of the annual reports
of the various city officers. The old
| council having now completed its
| work. n vote of thanks was extended
| the retiring mayor and aldermen on
Aid. Corkcn'S motion. \ recess of
| five minutes was taken. during which
! the hold-over aldermen took their
| choice of seats in pursuance of Gus
! tom. and the new aldermen took
what were left. and the incoming
| council assem- bled with Mayor Mcdill
in the chair and City CLERK Huesing
| at the clerks desk. both the latter
| two officers having been courtoously
conducted to their places by their
! successors. Mayor McCouochic and
| CITY Clerk kochler. respectively. \
cali of the new council showed all the
| aldermen present except Aid. Flick
! encsher.
NaIedictorY
| valedictorv in which he reviewed the
four years OF his administration, de-
tailed the municipal accomplish
| ments under his regime. compIi-
mented his successor and predicted
for him a firm and successful adj
ministration of city affairs. The
retiring mayor spoke of the unac-
countable fact that while the city is
-, anI 10
the assessed valuation is decreasing
in about the same proportion. and as
the city's municipal tax is limined
to two per cent of the assessed valua-
ton. every dollar that assessment is
reduced means n loss of two per cent
on the citv's revenues and that de-
crease had been about 100000 since
he had been in office with a con-
sequent loss of about $4,000 per
annum. An important loss in rev
enue during the same period was a 80
per cent reduction in tolls on the
Milan bridges amounting to $4,000
per annum.
Some Important Results.
The mayor in referring To the work
of his administration said, Il will
briefly review few of the most i'm
POI ICSuilS dNNOAii i'Ii-iI'' ''''i iAAS
the past four wears, first taking up
and paving of SO. 900 of s per cent.
waterworks bonds. reducing the an
nual interest $4,000 per annum; i'm
proving and beautifying all four of
our public squares. costing in the
aggregate $50. 900; erecting on Fat
iron square a large commodious cen
trail engine house with a well organ
lied paid fire department fully equip
ped, highly disciplined, which we are
all and may well be Justly proud of,
with a combined police and fire alarm
system all in good working order.
The house. fire alarm; horses. wag-
ons and equipment to establish the
department cost $40. 900. all of which
is paid for. l am in favor of estab-
fishing two more small companies.
one in each end of the city. But so
far our means have been so limited
we have not been able to accomplish
this"
He also spoke of the work of i'm
provements, identifying and perfec- |
ton of our park system, paid tribute
to the park commissioners and the 9TH
err appointive officers composing his |
administration, and in conclusion
wished the incoming mayor and
council successful administration.
Mayor MednTs inaugural
On being presented by the retiring
mayor, the mayor-elect was rendered |
an ovation and in assuming the pre-
siding officers chair, Mr.. Medill de-
livered the following inaugural add
dress:
Gentlemen of the City Council
. 81 |