Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-21
FATEOF THEFERRY
Council Concludes That An.
other is Not Necessary.
THEN AID. F0ss AIRS HIMSELF,

Gives the Public to Understand That Those
Alleged Intimatioas OF Bribery on the
Part Of the Old Company are Uafounded
Fireman Ashs Square Deal.
1t was open and above board last
highland the enterprise which
sought to conduct q ferry business
between Davenport and Rock Island
was politely straugled by nine gen.
tlemen who are supposed to hold
seats in that distinguished municipal
body as representatives of the people
and laid away without further cere-
mony or consideration. 1t was all
done by q simple vote. There was
little discussion-that was all done
behind locked doors and darkened
key holes and windows. 1t was de-
cided that traffic did not necessitate
increased accommodations, conse-
.equently the Davenport & Rock
Island Ferry company will continue
to monopolize the old Mississippi be.
tween here and Hawkeydom. There
we're two recommendations sub
mitted. One bearing the signatures of
Aids. Maucker, Fender, Zeis, Schnei-
der and Schreiner asked that the new
company's petition be granted. The
other signed by Aids. johnson, Tin
dali, Surman, D4uber, Kennedy, Mel
son, Foss and Gall was unfavorable to
the application. So the majority
report was adopted on motion of Aid.
Kennedy. And this is how the new
company died. Aid. Schroeder re-
fused to sign either recommendation.
Then Aid. Foss had little some
thing to say: before this ferry
matter was ever agitated," explained
the Seventh warder, "the committee
on the levee improvement ca led on
Capt. Robinson aud asked him what
he would do with reference to the
proposed improvement and he said
he would do whatever the CITY
thoue hit right. Aud therefore want
it distinctly understood that the i'm
preston gaining currency that there
was bribery in Capt. Rcbinson's
proposition is absolutely wrong.
And there is also to he meeting with
the railroad companies, too, regard
ing the leveo Improvement. So
this is purely business PROPOSE
tion between the city and the ferry
company"
Now that the council has accepted
Capt. Robinson's word as better than
other mems bonds, it is hoped there
will be no more delay about the ievee
matter. but that the project will now
be carried forward as expeditiously
as possible.
Fireman Exner's Grievance.
There was petition from Fireman
Joseph Exner seeking an investigation
by the council of charges preferred
against him by the fire and light
committee aud for which he was dis
charged. This brought couple of
the republican aldermen to their
feet in an instant. They thought
the proper place for Mr.. Exner to
relate his troubles was before the
fire and light committee. but it is
claimed that members of this COM
mittee are prejudiced against him
and that he cannot get an impartial
hearing from them," spoke mp Aid.
Maucker. ..If this be the case, and
the evidence seems to bear it out.
MIR. Exner has right to demand a
hearing from this council. He
claims to have been discharged with
out being forewarned. and when the
request bearing the signature of the
mayor for him to turn over his
effects to the chief did come. no ex-
PLANTATION Of why he should do so
was assigned.
.'If this be true Mr.. E4ner has GER
tainly been wronged. 1t is said.
however. that the chief holds charges
against the discharged man, who
stands prepared to disprove every
one Of them. aud it is the councils
duty to give him an opportunity to
defend himself when he cannot get a
square deal from the committee. 1t
does seem to me that some peculiar
things are being done in fire depart
ment circles. 1t has been only a short
time ago that a young man was dis
charged from the service for being
intoxicated. And it was hardly a
; week afterward when the mayor OF
our city met q mem Der Of the central
company face to face on the street
dressed in his uniform and dead
drunk. But he was not discharged
Why not? Now l ask where does the
Justice come in"
Chairman Schroeder, of the fire and
light committee, said a hearing was
never refused Mr.. Exner. So Exuer
was told that he could appear before
the committee tonight.
An ordinance granting the Tri-
City SPrinkling company the privi-
llege OF doing business for a period
Of 20 years in Rock Island was read
and referred. The ordinance provides
that the company shall be furnished
with water at the rate of cents per
l,000gallons. There was also a re-
port from the waterworks committee
recommending that the company be
Required to pay up what it owes and
allow it to assume operations on the
same basis as last season. There
was considerable discussion among
the aldermen as to the ability OF the
sprinkling company to continue do
u