Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-03
Donor of the Waterworks
Was Not Pleased.
LONG IN BECOMING SATISFIED
Recollections of a Citizen
Who Knew Mr.. Cable.
Record of Indifference That
Has Been Passed Upon.

II noticed by the Union q few
days ago." said . resident in CONVEX.
sation with an ARGOS reprssen tative,
''that considerable stress is placed
on Mr.. Cable, the donor of the va.
terworks building. being pleased
with ths work done by Mayor Casse
at that time in the matter of the pur-
chase Of the new $25. 900 pumping
machinery. Now, the fact is that /
know the exact contrary to be true,
for l heard Mr.. Cables view from
his own lips, and he said to me tn 1t
after he made the offer to bear the
expense of removal and construction
Of the works, amounting in all to
$25. 900. it required weeks and even
months for him to satisfy himself
that the matter was being properly
managed, and that the removal and
all that pertained to it would be con-
Quoted As it should be. That he was
mayor at that time was q mere CIR
cumstance. Mr.. Cable came voluu-
tarily to the city's relief and gave it
one OF its greatest blessings, but as
far as Mr.. Carse is concerned, his
official relations to Mr.. Cable in the
transaction DID not really hasten the
reformation that came, so much as
to retard it. as Mr.. Cable was not
pleased with his course of procedure.
'Now as far as the purchase of the
engine is concerned, any one who was
familiar with the situation at that
time will remember that the trans
setion was opposed in the council
because the same engine had been
offered to both Moline and Daven-
port at less amount Of money
$4,000. think was the purchase
price named to the other cities,
whereas Rock Island paid $4,000,
and at higher rate of interest too,
and it was these circumstances that
annoyed and displeased Mr.. Cable at
the time. The names of Carse,
Cramer and Lundy were always as.
ISOLATED in the waterworks engine
purchase, and it was considered an
evidence Of weakness on Mr.. Carse's
part that he should have permitted
himself to become so identified"
Was Too Easy % . Mayor.
Mr.. Carse's entire record was one
of laxity and indifference that
brought down upon him the repre-
hension of the people that found ex-
preston in their ballots, not only at
the time Of his enforced retire ment
from office, when he was q candidate
for reelection upon his record, but a
few years aiter-just 10 years ago
now-when he again managed to
secure the nomination, and was again
repudiated at the polls. 1t was dur
ing his umbency of the Office
Of mayor that the only scandal that
has ever disgrsced the management
OF municipal affairs happened. in the
apprehension and conviction OF the
superintendent of waterworks OF
embezzlement, and it was during
the same regime that the street eu.
Perintendent filled private lots at the
city's expense, both these evidences oil
the lack of executive power being &c
freely condemned that Mr.. Carse
suffered when he came up for eiec.
ton afterward for the misconduct O,
his appointees. The greatest source
Of complaint sffecting Mr.. Csrse's
administration was his unconcern
relative to the mauder in which the
various departments OF the munich
pal government were conducted.
The same argument was advanced
against him when he sought to re-
gain tho cheir q fov vo.rs .sto.
will be applied now even with more
emphasis than before. for if MIR.
Carse did not evince the capacity
that was expected to govern the city
properly Is years ago. how much
more satisfactorily will he direct its
affairs now that it has doubled in
population. adopted = metropolitan
system in all its various depart.
ments. and risen to the plane where