Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-15
MORE SEWER TALK
City Dads Have Another Night
on the Storm Drain.
BUT THE END IS NOT YET

C0ntraotors Who Coasidsr the Job . Good
One Air Their Views, and Aldermen and
Attorneys Enter Into . Lengthy Discus
sioo. Hut without Result.
The city council had another COM
mittee-of-the-whole meeting on the
storm drain last night. But little
progress was made, however.
Mayor Knox said in his opinion
all the council needed to know is
whether the contractor has lived up
to the specifications. He said an OPP
portunity should be accorded the
contractor to refute the charges pre-
ferred with reference to the quality
of material employed on the storm
drain job. Failing in this. the
mayor said, the city would be better
prepared to act.
| John Looney, as the representa-
tive of Mr.. Schnell, then addressed
the council and said that he had pro-
cured the evidence of several more
experienced men, whom he would be
pleased to have the aldermen hear
statements from. Mr.. Looney said
that he was in the dark to q certain
degree; that the contractor had not
been given q chance to question the
men who testified before the finance
and sewer committees about the
changing of the cement. He consid
cred it no more than fair that these
men confront the contractor with
these allegations. Probably these
men had a motive in giving testi-
mony detrimental to the contractor,
said Mr.. Looney.
Aid Kennedy said that if he was
the contractor and knew these men
gave currency to false stories he
would have them arrested.
A joint statement signed by
Charles Sheriff and P. Flynn. of Dav-
enport, was read. 1t said the job
sas an average good one, to all ap-
pearances, from the outlet to the
Ninth avenue manhole, where a
break occurs. and which, they say,
is due to weakness 10 the eartben
walls.
Aid. Foss said the questions at
issue were being lost sight off. He
said three matters are to be de-
termined: Has Portland cement
been used. has hard burned brick
been used. and has concrete been
employed where called for in the
Specifications?
Discus Ion Of Details.
Il Then followed a lengthy d sous.
sion of the details leading up to the
Investigation which resulted in the
alleged revelations. Aid. Surmar
wanted to know why Aid. Kennedy
did not have the work stopped when
he found that the specifications were
being disregarded. Aid. Kennedy
replied that he did SO; that he die
not consider it fair to give publicity
to the charges until he satisfied him
self of their truthfulness. Then tn,
Sixth ward representative went OF
to explain how he became acquainted
with the alleged "jobbery," as hal
been heretofore published.
Aid. Maucker accused Aid. Ken
nedy of being prejudiced against the
storm drain contractor.
In the course Of his explanation al
to how he subs, antiated the charges
made against the storm drain con
tractor, Aid. Kennedy said that OIL
being told that poor grade of ce
ment was being worked into the Jot
he interviewed Spencer Mattison, o
the Port Byron Lime association
from whom the cement was bought
but he denied that anything other
than Portland was sold by him II
the storm drain people. The mayor
here asked if Mr.. Mattison was pres
ent. statirg that he had notified him
to be, but the gentleman was not OF
hand. The mayor considers Mr.
Madison an important witness.
Mr.. Stratton, Of Davenport, ssatet
, that he had been through the drain
and considered it constructed in
workmanlike manner. and of appar
emily first class material.
Then followed another length,
wrangle, in which Mr.. Looney an,
City Attorney Haas played a con
lspicuous part, their opinions differ
ing on legal questions pertaining t
the power of the inspector. Mr.
Looney said he would like to have
chance to refute the charges mad,
by workmen with reference to tn
changing of the cement. Aid. Ken
nedy did not believe in going an!
further in the Investigation. He wa
satisfied that one of the most out
rageous steals had been attempted
on the city. So was Aids. Nelson
and Gall prepared to decide the affai
at once. But Aids. Maucker, Sur
man and Fender and the mayo
thought it would be only fair L
thoroughly sift the matter, tn
mayor stating that he had two i'm
lportant witnesses whose testimop,
he desired the council to hear. 3
it was decided that the committe
report progress. and adjourn unit
the semi-monthly meeting next Mon
daylight, and then finally determine
the controversy. The council de
cided to do this. Mr.. Looney prom
Used to have evidence to break dow
that submitted by the storm drai
lvorkmen who testified before tn