Rock Island Argus., 1896-09-22
BLOW TO THE CITY.
Mayors Obstructing Policy as
to the Levee Upheld.
BARE MARGIN BUT IT Is ENOUGH.

Measure Falls to Carry Over tho Execu- |
tive's Head-A Hard Fight for q Cause |
Which Is wrongfuIIy Defs ated-A Step |
Backward la Public Progress. |
If in the course OF human events, |
there shall come time hen children |
now unborn shall in amaZement in
qaire how it happened in 1896 that
Rock Island had 4 chance to improve
It's river front. a mayor drawi"g
$1,000 per annum was supported by
just what the law required in de-
liberately failing to take advantage
o. that chance, let it be said as mat
ter OF common justice that there was
established in the council in that elder
day a roll of honor. And engraven
upon it were these names: John
Surmau, w. &. Maucker, V. Daub Der,
Thomas Pender, Henry l.. Wheelan.
Fred Gall, William Kennedy, A. E
Nelson and c. W. Foss.
Without even a narrow margin
the ordinance for the improvement
OF the river front failed OF passage
over the mayors head at last even
ing's council meeting. Tie reces-
sary two-thirds vote was lacking, and
that WAS all. Bu: for treachery eX-
hibited at the last moment the city
would have triumphed, but the
greatest opp rtunity the city has
ever had to advance its interests was
disTegarded, the chance to afford en-
ployment to labor for two months
this fall was passed by and the hard
| Of kvyt hn
acs of one alderman. it may be said,
was abandoned just at the point
where it should have advanced at
least one more stage. While the
conditions will PROBABLY not all
be as favorable again t. the
city's economical prosecution of
the undertaking, the project is
too great ard Of too much import
ance to rest. At another time
with the helm of he ship
of state in better hands it will
revive again. 1t will triumph. and
the enterprise abandoned at the
very point OF consumma,ion now
will be put through. The city's in
terests have been grossly ignored
and disregarded at this time, not
withstauding that three-fourths CT
the alderman were on the city's side.
But there were influences to contend
with and consequently difficulties to
Overcome which the friends of proy-
ress understand. but which cannot
always exist. There is no fault to be
found with the aldermen who fro
conviction stood out against the fur
ther advancement Of the ordinance
last night. weak as wa the position
so assumed when it might 50 readily
have been done at nominal cost,
without involving the city in liabil-
ity, but it is the hspocrite, no matter
in what capacity he may pretend to
serve the city that it is difficult to
contend against, that it is difficult
always to overcome. The levee i'm
prOvement situation is case of
loves labor lost, but it will rise
again and eventually in the face of
all opposion. and every conceivable
obstacle it will triumph.
The Proceedings.
The reconsideration of the vote by
which the levee Improvement ordi-
nance was adopted was moved by
Aid. Maucker and seconded by Aid.
Foss and adopted, whereupon Aid.
Maucker moved that the ordinance
be adopted, stating that his desire to
see the Improvement gone ahead
with Notwithstanding the mayors
objection. was to gain q more def
mite understanding of the premises.
He believed in going ahead to that
point at least where the city could
ascertain the exact expense of the
Improvement. Let the commission
ers assess the benefits; see what each
party interested will have to con-
tribute: put the railway corpora
tions, which have always conteuded
that they are ready to assist the city
in any scheme whereby First avenue
and the river could be put in good
shape, in position so-even if the
work progressed no farther-the
city would know where they are.
whether they really mean what they
say. Indeed, he thought it folly to
stop before any one really knew wha,
the cost would be.
Aid. Tindall made his usual con.
tention against the impro ement
Yet he would be guided by the city
attorney.
Standing by the mayor in his veto.
ing of the ordinance is what AID
Schreiner argued for. The levee was
in the same shape it is today over
twenty years ago, continued the Sec.
ond ward representative, and he be.
lieved it would answer the purpose 9
year or two longer. or until the city
was in better shape financially tc
sustain such an undertaking. Ht
said the municipality should fir
pay off its debts.
Aid. Kennedy said it was not 6
question of when the work shr uld bt
started; ii was TO learn the actua
expense to the city. II it was toe
great. why wait until such time a:
it could be gone abe ad with. But by
all means be urged the council to pro
ceed until it vas satisfied that thu