Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-04
TO FIX THE LEVEE.
Council Acts Wisely on an I'm
portant Question.
ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT IT MADE

$1,000
But the Champions OF Improvement
Finally Succeed In Adopting the Propo-
aition-Insurance Companies Must Pay
the Two Per Cent.
Improvement of the river front
may now be expected. This long
agitated and much needed innova-
ton was decided upon at last even
ing's meeting of the city council.
Notwithstanding attempts to defeat
the proposition. In presenting the
committees report recommending
the improvement Chairman Foss said
that this locality for many years had
been an eye sore to the community
and gave an especially discouraging
impression to people passing up and
down the river who happened to
glance into our front yard. The
rubbish and tinware and other like
goods which have decorated the
levee for many years should be re-
moved or buried and a new front put
on as we'll as a passageway to peo-
pie desiring access to boats. Aid.
Toss further commended that by max
ing the improvement by special as
sessment would relieve the city from
a great deal Of expense. leaving no
excuse for not going ahead with the
work.
In his naturally retrogressive
spirit, Aid. Nelson loosened his vocal
powers in opposition to the project.
His argument was that the city did
not know where it was financially yet
and therefore ought to wait little
while before contracting such an
undertaking. But Aid. Nelson's lit
lie chew didn't make very good
impression, yet he nevertheless
moved to simply receive the report.
Aid. Maucker made one of his con-
vincing arguments in favor of the
Improvement. Nelson's substitute
was put and received affirmative
votes from Nelson. johnson, Tindall
and Zeis. The original motion was
sanctioned by all except Tindall.
Schreiner was not present.
The improvement will be made. as
detailed in last evenings ARGUS:
Paving of First avenue from Fifteenth
to Twentieth street and Fifteenth
street from First to Second avenue
improving of Seventeenth, Eigh-
teenth and Nineteenth streets from
the north OF the railroad tracks to
the low water mark with granite OF
Anamosa stone, and crawling and
grading Of sections intervening, and
planking of railroad tracks on al
streets included.
Insurance Companies Must Pay.
The matter of assessing all iusur
ance companies per cent of thei,
annual receipts for the maintenance
Of the fire department as authorized
by the late general assembly was
brought up in the form of an ordi.
nance by Aid. Nelson enforcing the
act in Rock Island. City Attorney
Haas said that such a course was
certainly legal as the state provis
ions make it obligatory for the agent
OF every insurance company in mu.
inequalities to report the amount oil
his annual receipts on the LIST of July
Of each year to the city treasurer
and arrange for the immediate pay.
ment of per cent thereof. Any fail
ure to do so leaves the agent liable to
indictment. The city attorney said
the state authorities were supposed
to prosecute any such violations on
Information filed by the city.
Aid. Fender, of the license com.
mittee, said that on inquiring of sur
rounding cities he had ascertained
that wholesale liquor houses were
invariably exempted from paying
licenses and recommended that the
movement to license Rock Island es.
Establishments of this nature bt
dropped. His motion reporting ad
versely on the matter referred t.
his committee at previous meeting
was adopted.
Finance Committees Report.
The finance committee made a re
port in accordance with instruction.
from the last meeting relative te
progress of the work being done by
Expert johnson on the city accounts
The committee reported that al
warrants for paving Improvements
except Nos. 49i, 499 and $50, which
had not been found, had been
scheduled against the collectors
of special taxes, and a total Of
$1,914.S3 was shown and $3,131 i.
due from the city for paving around
Spencer square and on Nineteenth
street and Third avenue. making q
total shortage of $5,045 SO, which
should have been applied in reduc
ing outstanding obligations. Two
of the collectors have checked the
schedule showing q shortage ant
claim credit for interest charged
against them on first installments
and also for rebates allowed which
do MT a nroar on, Tho honEn or state