Rock Island Argus., 1895-11-05
THEIR ACTS VARY.
Two Distinct Phases of Super
visors' Tendency
SHOWN IN YESTERDAYS SESSION.

Liberal and Philosophical With Refer
ence to the Hospitsi,- but Inconsiderate
to surprising Degree rs Regards the
Pioneers of tho County and Corner tone
To one not acquainted with the
composition of the Rock Island coun-
ty board of supervisors the two acts
which characterized yesterdays pro.
ceedings with reference to public
matters would seem scarcely recon
ciiable both as attending the deliber-
ations of the some body. In making
the altogether proper appropriation
Of $50. 900 for the purchase Of site
for the Western Insane hospital the
supervisors did the right and proper
thing exactly. while in declining to
honor the bill of the Rock Island
County Pioneers society of $l18.44
for expenses in excess of the 500
stipulated for the ceremony of the
laying of the corner stone of the new
court house, the board insulted the
organization it had originally hon
ored.
The public without exception ap-
proves the course of the board in
emphasizing to the Western hospital
commission and to the governor that
Rock Island county proposes to leave
no stone unturned to win this insti-
tuition, and has no hesitancy in Civ
ing expression to it's public spirit in
connection with it's endeavors to ac-
complish the end for which all our
people are united. The day is past
when the mere bid, no matter how
much in earnest the spirit which ac-
companies it, will accomplish much
desired aim. Rock Island county
has shown its realization of this fact.
1t has suffered no delay in adopting
its course. 1t has taken the busi-
ness-like. up-to-the-times view of the
situation and made the right stand
in behalf of the people who have set
out to have located within their cor
porate confines a state institution,
which, according to Gov. Altgeld's
views, will be. when completed, one
of the largest and most important
in the great commonwealth which
is to build it. AS a part and parcel
of the state to which the hospital is
to belong. the county has wisely de-
cided to cooperate with the state in
making it source of pride as we'll
as fulfilling all the humane aims de-
volving upon such an institution.
The $4,000 appropriated for the
hospital site was placed in the hands
Of c. F. Lynde. trustee, last evening
on presentation of the required bond
of 100000 signed by himself, f. H.
Guyer, David Don, j. II. Johnston,
Henry Carse, Martin Schoonmaker
and George Z. Bailey.
A. to the Old Settlers Bill.
1t is difficult to conceive, there
fore. how legislative body evinciDg
such high aspirations in this re-
spect should hesitate to back up the
fathers of the county in their aim to
make an undertaking entrusted to
them in all respects creditable. The
thought probably never dawned upon
the pioneers that any legitimate
debt contracted by them in behalf of
an event. the duties of which were
assigned to them as an honor. should
be repudiated by a body which pre-
tended to be anxious to pay them an
honor.
The board should have completed
its days work of good deeds by al
lowing the Old Settlers bill of
extras instead of leaving them in
debt in discharging in a crsdita-
BILE manner duty assigned to them.
The supervisors individually -
those who rode - paid for their
own carriage hire, chipping in
81 each amounting to $21, the
bill of livery which deducted from
the bill of extras left 1914 on the
hands of the old settlers to paw.
Fortunately the pioneers have other
friends. however, who will probably
help them out of their predicament.
but next time the board of supervis-
ors seeks to honor them they will
probably ascertain in advance how
much sincerity accompanies the act.