Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-17

was immaterial to him as to where
the building was to be erected. The
only point on which he could
speak was that of power delegated to
the city. His opinion as to power of
the city was different from Mr.. Gest's.
His Interpretation of the law was
that the city council had no power to
involve the city in debt beyond the
constitutional limit. The limit be-
ing reached, the council would have
no power to add to it, but he took it
that the city had the right to spend
its resources as it might see fit with
out adding to the existing indebted
ness. The city had the right to use
its funds to keep the municipal ma
chinery in motion. All that is pro-
posed to do is to appropriate GER
tain amount to pay the rent of the
hall, to provide quarters for its Offices
and its council meetings. He did
not agree with Mr.. Gest as to the
council having no authority to pro-
vide quarters out of its revenue. The
city has right to expend its in
come of 1929, 90 for corporate pur-
poses.
..If the city has the money in its
possession to pay out. it may do it,, :"
said MIR. Gest, but that is not what
you are doing. You are entering
into contract, and contract is a
debt"
Aid. Foss asked MIR. Gest if the
council had right TO rent room
for its own use?
Mr.. Gcst replied if the city had ex-
ceeded its constitutional indebted
ness. it had no right to lease. or rent.
or burn gas, or run its watcrworks.
5. S. Davis stated that the svndi-
cate was running the risk, and not
the city. The funny part of it was.
Mr.. Gest and his crowd did not find
that it was unconstitutional until
their sites were not selected. IF a
site on Eighteenth had been favored.
you would have heard nothing from
MIR. Gest or his crowd of kickcrs."
Mr.: Gest said he was not present
as kicker. He had lived here a
good many years, and would like to
see q city hall: no one would be bet
ter pleased than he to see one, but
personally he would not like to see it
on First avenue, but if the council so
elected let it go-but the council
could not do ii now. If the council
undertook TO incur an illegal indebt-
edness there would be some obiec-
ton.
Mr.. Davis apologized for calling
| Mr.. Gest kicker, and said he would
leave his name out of the list.
AID. Dauber stated that he could
not support the proposition To build a
city building on First avenue, though
he would like to see one built some
where
The vote was then taken on the ac
ceptance of the proposition and ear
RED by a vote of - to /, AID. Dauber
alone voting in the negative.
Other Important Proceedings.
Under the call of special commit
tees the mayor reported that the
committee in charge of the Rock Isl
and depot had fulfilled its mission.
stating in detail what it had done and
asked that it be discharged. Aid
Schroeder moved that the committee
be discharged, and the motion was
carried unanimously.
Aid. Maucker. of the ordinance
committee. called up the ordinance
passed at the time the new munich
pal code was adopted, imposing 4
tax on the poles of the various cleo
trio companies. II had been hoped.
Mr.. Maucker said, that the city
would derive a revenue from this
source, but it had been found that
the majority of the companies af-
fec;e | would ne exempt from AVIATION
while the company on which the
heaviest burden would fall would be
the one which had proven most
friendly and most beneficial to the
city. MIR. Maucker thereupon pre-
scented an ordinance repeating the
former ordinance, and it was adopted
unanimously, every member of the
council thereby displaying COM
mendable spirit of friendiiness to-
ward the ID. & X. /. Street Railway
company, which unfortunately would
he the greatest sufferer under the
poll taxing ordinance. and which
corporation as the council realizes
has done more for the city than any
other institution in it. The council
did not intend to strike the street car
folks from the first, bat it is found
that If the ordinance is to be en-
forced it must be without discrimna-
ton, and that further than this other
companies to which the city feels j {
is not obligated are protected from
the proposed tax under ordinances
they now enjoy.
Aid. Maucker reported an ordi-
nance for the paving of Nineteenth
street from Fourth TO Sixth. and of
Sixth avenue between Nineteenth and
Twentieth, which was passed unani-
mously, thus extending our paving
Improvement in direction. where
1T Will be appreciated.
The mayor reported that he had
been unable to see Mrs. Burial with
regard to moving the Jack foun-
tain" from Market square. AID.
Maucker thought that the fountain
| should he moved To Flat Iron sou,re