Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-14
COLLECTIONS SHY.
Several Who Handled City
Money Asked to Settle.
OUTCOME OF TIE INVESTIGATION.


But the Expert Tells tho CouncM That Il y
His Oplulon the Deficits Are Das to Cler-
teal Errors Ferry Natter Laid Over and
the Storm Drain Oustion Discussed.
That long.looked for report from
the expert accountant engaged TO in
vestigate the city accounts in so far
as they pertained to paving improve
meuts for several years back came
at last evenings meeting of the
council. The books were inspe cted
from the time the paving improve
ments were inaugurated. and Expert
johnson found that in this time the
collections have fell short t6S2. 90.
But he does not think that the deficit
is the result of any wrong doing and
he simply attributes it to clerical
mistakes.
The slS.5O0 supposed to have been
paid on warrants, and which the
present administration could not
trace up has also been apparently
accounted for. 1t is found that
the city still owes $1,000 for paving
around Spencer square. and there is
about $4,000 more collected on paw
ing warrants which has been dumped
into the general fund and spent.
Mr.. johnson says the accounts of
the former city clerk, Robert Koch
Ter. were not systematically kept and
thereby complicated matters consid
erably. But he says the $1,000 Was
paid into the city all right, but in.
stead Of being separately kept was
dumped among the monies accrued
from other sources.
The shortages held against the
several collectors are: j. +. Robin
son, s9S.6s; l.. M. Buford. $5O7.45
Thomas Campbell, s7.63; Fred Tit
lexington. SASS; Fred Hitler, $9.47.
The clerk was instructed to request
each of these gentlemen to make
good the amounts held against them.
No Ferry Franchise Yet.
Then the Twin-City Ferry COM
pany's petition was brought by
Aid. Fender, who moved that the
petition be granted. Aid. Surman
offered an amendment that the mat.
ter be referred 70 the street and alley
committee. But it was of the opin-
ion of Aid. Maucker that the council
should not delay this matter any
further. If the Twin-City company
had something worthy of considera-
ton to offer and would submit its
promises to assist in public improve
ments in writing, he believed the
license should be granted at once, SO
the company could come in for a
share of this seasons business. The
question as to whether the city could
grant license for q company to op-
crate within three blocks of where
another ferry was doing business was
brought up by Aid. Tindall. The
city attorney said that the city could
not license a ferry to run within
three blocks of the present one un-
less business demanded another ferry
in that locality. Aid. Kennedy
thought it would be good idea for
the council to meet in committee of
the whole some day and weigh the
question we'll before finally dis
posing of it. Aid. Maucker then
moved that the matter be referred to
the street and alley committee to re-
port a week hence. And SO it was
carried.
Aid. Maucker inquired as to what
progress was being made with refer
ence to the improvement of First
avenue. Aid. Nelson, of the ordi-
nance com mittee, which was recently
authorized TO draft an ordinance for
the Improvement, said the survey
had been made and the necessary
documents left with City Attorney
Haas. The latter said he had not
seen the ordinance. So that was the
end of it for that meeting.
About the Storm Drain.
The rereadiDg of the ordinance for
the construction of the Twenty
fourth street storm drain was asked
for by Aid. Schreiner. OF the sewer
committee, who believed the i'm
provement should be Immediately
made in order to prevent further
overflows and probably heavy
damage suits against the city in con-
sequence of the damages to property
which would inevitably ensue. Aid.
johnson moved that the ordinance
be adopted and it was carried. 1t
is estimated that the improvement
will cost about $4,000.
1t was suggested by City Attorney
Haas that the council move slowly
on the storm drain question, as in
the end 1t may result disastrously to
the city's financial condition. He
advised that it be first carried into
the court before the contract is lie,
and thereby ascertain whether the
assessment would be confirmed
Then, he said. the council could see
whether it would be obliged to stand
the expense or whether the property
holders would be held for their share
OF the cost.
1t was then decided that the COM
mittee named in the ordinance re.
port at an adjourned meeting to bt
held Wednesday evening on the est.
mates of the cost of the storm drain
Improvement preparatory to the
city attorney proceeding into court
Another discussion on how to han.