Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-08

MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
Official ProcsedinEs Of Last Nights Com
ell Meeting.

City Council Room, Rock Island,
Sept. THE Council met in regular
semi-monthly session at p. m, Mayor
Knox presiding and all the aldermen
present. The minutes of the last reg
ular and adjourned meeting were read
and approved.
The Mayor submitted a message
disappearing the river front improve
Inent ordinance for reasons set forth
as follows:
Gentlemen of the City Council: l
assure you that it is with no degree
of pleasure but with regret that / as
Mayor of the city, have to return this,
the River Front Improvement Ordi-
nance, to the City Clerk unsigned. !
will endeavor to state various reasons
for so doing.
First, ! think the ordinance is too
complicated for any set of commission
ers to assess in proper manner, the
cost to the property owners benefited
by the improvement. as the paving of
First avenue and the levee improve
ment ought to be in two separate Or
dinances.
Second, the Indebtedness of our
city at the present time. We are ow-
ing the Savings Bank about S7.i0O.
the Rock Island National Bank from
two to three thousands: Davis CO., for
laying water pipes S2.525.7O; and are
about TO declare an emergency ordi-
nance for about $4,000 and try and
barrow money to complete storm
drain: we are issuing bonds for
Twelfth street paving for the city's
share amounting to S5,2s5.54 when it
is almost impossible to sell bonds to
any person.
For instance. the Mayor of Daven-
port has found it so in selling the Day.
export paving bonds. This matter is
far more important than some of the
members of the City Council may
think. I do not deem it advisable to
pass an ordinance where the estimated
cost will be not less than $4,000 with
no surety that the city's portion will
be less than half the total amount. We
have been told by our able and effici-
ent City Attorney that we can not as
sess the railroads and it is n great
hardship to the property owners on
First avenue to pay for the full width
of First avenue. We do not know how
much will be assessed to the CITY.
These are some of the reasons for nv
not signing the River Front Improve
ment Ordinance which I hope will be
to the City Council.
81 think there are other much need
30 1. -
the expenditure of less money: for in
stance the building of reservoir on
The bluff so as to furnish good water
to the citizens and prevent sickness.
and as leading physicians claim the
water supply has caused much sick
ness and death. it is time to look in
this direction. I am not opposed to
improving the levee or river front in
a manner in accordance with our finan-
ces. 7 think we can put all of aur
street scrapings on the river front and
help to make a good grade at very lit
tie cost: then break the stone on the
icvee and place upon this our steam
roller and it will cost the city very lit
tie money.
90 there We're siXty-siX cities and
towns whose bonds could not be sold
some of these We're eight towns in the
state of New Jersey: two in Connec-
ticut: two in Massachusetts: two in
New Hampshire: nine i'm Ohio; six in
Michigan: four in Minnesota: six in
California and three i'm Illinois. Now
this is very important matter. The
waterworks funding bonds all become
due next year amounting to S17O.OOC
and how are they to be paid? Please
consider this matter carefully"
Alderman Winter suggested that the
message be accepted. Alderman Tin
dali moved that the message be con.
sidered at the next regular meeting OF
the Council. Carried.
The Mayor announced theh dis
charge of Deputy Marshal Bender or
report of the police committee, which
was thcrcupon read by Alderman Ken.
needy. as follows:
"Gcntlcmen: Your committee tc
whom was referred the ease of sus
pension of Officer Carnes and his
'''' So 'S"'hS' olii'tT btHutr WOult
respectfully report as follows:
After careful and thorough invest
igation your committee would recon-
mend that the Mayors action in sus
pending Officer Carnes for violation
of Art. of Rule 4 of Rules and Reg
ulations governing the Police De
partment be sustained.
Your committee would further re
port that of the charges preferred b,
Officer Carnes against Officer Bender
only one. that of accepting s,
from Mr.. Ulam, has been sustained h,
sworn evidence. The Mavor has ac
cordingly seen fit to discharge OF
ficer Bender under Art. ) of the abov,
said rule. and your committee en-
dorscs this action of the Mavor.
Your committee would further sur
gcst that each police officer make F;
careful study of the rules and repuIa
tions governing the department as i
is the intention of the Mayor and Pc
lice Committee to see that said rule
he strictly eforced."
The rules Were thereupon ordere,
suspended and Alderman Foss. from
the Finance Committee. submitted n,
nrfIip which ,,-,.