Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-16
RETROGRESSION.
Course Adopted by the City
Administration.
THE ALLEY PAVING ATTACKED.

therance of the Mayors Idea Saloons
Hcnceforth to he Closed on Sundays
Other Matters Before the Municipal As
semb!y.
The city council at its meeting
last night adopted the ideas of Mayor
Knox with reference TO the perma-
nent improvement of alleys. 1t will
be remembered that in his inaugur-
al address Mayor Knox occasioned
considerable disappointment by his
disparagcment of the city's attitude
in the application to the main alleys
in the business district, of the same
proceedings which had given us
good streets. While it was, rs said.
n source of dissatisfaction to know
that the mayor deprecated rather
than encouraged the good work that
had been done in this respect, it was
not thought that he would be so
shortsighted as to carry his notions
into execution as far as they affected
work already contracted for, and
that no attack would be made on the
alley improvements for which the
city has already expended 5000 in the
necessary formalities such as court
costs, etc. Before his retirement
Mayor Medill had succeeded in hav-
ing the alley work provided for at a
remarkably low figure. for much less
than the city could hope for, or have it
far l.: Il
step taken by the present mayor and
council the wishes neither of the
Property-holdcrs affected nor of the
city in general, have been taken
into consideration in the least.
Reasons Why the Alleys Should lie Paved.
There are abundant reasons why
the alleys. especially in the business
section, should be paved. One is
that in their present condition mud
and dirt are dragged from them onto
the paved streets. Another is gen.
erai cleanliness such as can only be
maintained by their permanent i'm
provcment, and dependant upon this
is the more far reaching theory OF
sanitary promotion. There are al
legs now in the heart of the city that
are menace to public health and
public decency. u disgrace to the
city, and a detriment to the city's
progress. Their only salvation is paw
ing, and it is charitable explana-
ton of the fact that the conditions
com planned of have been su ffered to
continue SO far this season to say
that the contemplation was that
they were to be paved.
While last nights proceeding do
not abolish the alley paving project
entirely-the action is simply dis
missal as to what has been done
the ordinance providing for the
work stands until 10y ordinance re-
pealed, after the city attorney has
acted in obedience to the councils
order.
In any view of the case it is sur
prising that Mr.. Knox. no matter
what his individual notions are,
should have so far disregarded the
compliment paid him in his eleva-
ton TO the mayoralty of city so far
advanced as Rock Island. as TO coun-
tenance the checking of permanent
work already provided for, and there
by evincing backward rather than
a forward tendency such as has been
the aim of his predecessor.
No Sunday Liquor.
If the authorities carry cut the in
structions of the council there will
be no more Sabbath whistle-wctting
in Rock Island, nor will saloons be
allowed to do business after the mid
night hour. The resolutions adopted
at the good citizenship meeting
held at the First Nj. f.. church Sun
day evening, June 80. when the w.
&. L. U. ladies' efforts were approved,
were presented to the city pas for
action. Upon motion of Aid. Ken
nedy the communication was re-
ceived and the chief of police in
structed to enforce the ordinances,
which of course prohibit Sunday
liquor selling and after-midnight
opening. The matter was adopted
without dissenting vote. The res
olutions presented for the councils
consideration were:
Whereas, 1t has been dem on strated
by the ladies of the w. G. I. L. that
the saloons of our city are keeping
open on the Sabbath day aud selling
liquors contrary to the statute of our
city and state: therefore be it
Re solved, That we sympathize with
the ladies in the work they have
done. and are doing for the good of
our community, and we extend to
them our godspeed and cordial sup
port.
Resolved, That the course of our
saloon men in their violation of the
Sunday ordinance is subversivo of
good government and good morals.
and we, as citizens, believe that it
ought to be stopped. as it breeds con-
tempt for all law; and
Resolved. That we call upon the
mayor and all officers of our CITY ac-
to the obligations resting
upon them by their oath of Office. to |
see to it that the saloons are closed |
on the Sabbath, as the law requires.
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