Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-30
STREET FUNDS SHY
And Chairman Schneider Don't
Know Where He is At.
APPROPRIATION 0vERDRAwN $500

APPROPRIATION OvERDRAwN $500
Vet Bat Three Months of the Municipal
Yesr Have Elapsed General Improve.
ment Of the ThorouChfsres Scarce ind
the Fifth warder il . Qo.ndary.
The street and alley committee, OF
which Aid. Schneider is chairman, is
in serious predicament financially
speaking. and at next Monday even
ing's meeting the council will I'M
doubleday be called upon to provide
an amount equal to the existing de-
ficiency in the general street fund.
The present administration appro-
priated $1,000 to be expended this
year for street Improvements,
exceeding the preceding years al
lowance $4,000. This increase was
recommended by the street and al
ley committee, which foresaw all
kinds Of necessary improvements.
Each ward was also appropriated
1000 to be expended on sidewalk
improvements. Three months of
the fiscal year have elapsed. What's
the street and alley committees
financial condition.? Not only has
the entire $1,000 been disbursed, but
the committee has overdrawn its al
lowauce $500. This is where the
rub comes in. and the question which
has reached serious aspect in Chair
man Schneider's mind is how it will
be remedied. Nor can he under
stand "where he is at, or enumerate q
Judicious expenditure of the finances
entrusted with this important COM
mittee for that purpose.
Whore the Money Went.
The appropriation is gone, but gen.
eral Improvements are conspic-
uous for their scarcity. In
stead Of disbursing the money Judi
ciously by equalizing the improve
ments throughout the city, Chairman
Schneider has allowed probably the
largest portion of the appropriation
to be eaten up by grading. ETC., in
a single watd, where almost all of
the improving expenses should have
been deferred by the sidewalk fund
Of that ward. Last year there
was but $4,000 appropriated for gen
eral street improvements. Precau-
ton was taken to deal out Judi
ciously and the consequence was
general satisfaction, commendable
improvements and an even balance
in the appropriation at the end of the
year. If the present committee is
not called to an accounting there is
no telling where it will land the citv
financially, election boasts to the
Notwithstanding.
Schneider disappointment.
AS chairman OF the street and allev
committee, considered the most i'm
portant Office Subordinate to the
chief executive, Aid. Schneider is re-
sponsible for it's actions; is supposed
to know where and how its
funds are expended aud every de-
tail concerning this body receives his
before it becomes effective.
Hence the abundance of anxiety he
must be laden with in being called
upon to explain the cause of over
drawing the street appropriation
almost double the amount allowed
last year-inside of three months.
This has occasioned no end of disap-
pointment among the Fifth warder's
staunch constituents, especially those
who beasted of his intention
to make an example Of the former
in the matter of judi
,ious expenditures. This was also |
Mr.. Schneider's principal plea for
support when he aspired for alder
manic henors. But Mr.. Schneider
has found that aspiring for, and en-
oying this distinction are two diff
ercnt things. Really he has found |
hat the position Of alderman is not
what it is cracked up to be.