Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-05
JOB is REJECTED.
Council Disposes Of the Storm
Drain Question.
SENSATIONAL TALK FROM KENNEDY

ny nSo1ok1Sy mokee SOD0 Htutcsy Su8
Restions to the Aldermen With Refer.
ence to the Improvf ment of the Levse-
Illegal Dealing With tho City Aired.
The seats Of Aids. Winter and
Schreiner were empty at last nights
session of the city dads.
The report OF the Joint committee
on the Twenty-fourth street storm
drain, recommending that the job be
not accepted. was read by the clerk.
aud on motion Of AID. Nelson was
ordered adopted. The mayor said
that he had heretofore requested
pos'ponement of dttinits action on
the drain. his objec: being to have
5. Mattison, manager of the Port
Byron Lime association, and two of
his employees testify, but that they
had refused to come before the coun-
Gil. The mayor called James Farrell
from the audience and asked him il
he had not seen a wagon load of Mil
waukee sacks, which were brought
to the waterworks to be burned. Mr..
Farrell said be did not notice the
labels on the sacks. but he said a
load had been delivered at the wat-r-
works to be destroyed.
Aid. Foss said that he was con
WINGED that the specifications govern
ing the storm drain bad been disre-
garded, and therefore he could see
no other course for the city to pur-
sue than in refusing to accept the
job. Aid. Maucker said that il the
question was forced to a vote he
would certainly place himself
against the acceptance o; the work,
but since the contractors had not
submitted the drain for the councils
approval. he believed that there was
no hurry about taking definite ac-
ton.
Aid. Surman said the public was
firing of discu ssion of the storm
drain. Aid. Cal thought likewise.
The longer we let tn matter go, "
said Aid. Kennedy, "the more rope
we give to the Contractors and their
representatives to dupe witnesses.
By the time the case comes mp in
court--if it goes that far-the
chances are that half these people
will have skedsd led anyway; for no
worse low down gang OF thieves have
ever been engaged before in doing
a contract ;or the CITY,"
Aid. Nelson's motion TO ADOPT the
co nmit'ee's report rejecting tie
storm drain was put anu unanimous
ly carried.
Buls from Alder min.
Two bills from C. j. W. Schreiner
for work done for the city were
for consideration by Aid.
Foss, chairman Of the finance COM
who said since the statutes
forbade an official from entering
into contract with the municipality,
he did not feel like recommending
their payment.
The mayor said he had done work
in his line and been paid for it BY the
city while he was an alderman, and
did not detect anything unlawf OF
unreasonable in allowing Mr.. Schrei-
ner's bills.
Work has been done by the
College Book concern for
the city," interposed Aid. Dauber,
land 1t has been paid for. too"
well, what of it?" asked Aid.
Foss, lin not interested in the Book
concern or Augus,ana college. one
penny"
IL think there is little politics AT
the bottom Of this" replied AID.
Dauber.
1T looks queer to me too." said
Aid. SCrman. Bills have BEN al
lowed t. city officers right along Tor
years. i don't ike To say that tn.
finance committee is mas ing po-
litical play. bur it appears # this i.
an illegal rroCes ding that it shun d
not be allowed TO 20 unheeded this
long"
Aid. johnson said that IL was il!e-
gal to contract for work with a city
official and tina, tie aldo men would
50 find if they would read up; and
that they were liable to prosecution.
The city attorney brought forth the
statutes and settled the dispute. cit
ing that no officer Of the CITY is al
lowed to receive payment from the
municipality for contract work or
merchandise.
III we are going to start a re-
FORM" said Aid. Maucker, 1--WE had
better start at the bottom. The
finance commit. e has been auditing
bills - inducing themselves - for
meetings for which they are not en-
titled to payment. have been study
ing up the statutes, too, and | ind that
aldermeu are not entitled to paw for
meetings. Let's cut off
this expense irst. Then go on in
other directions The city attJr-
ney bore Aid. Maucker out in re-
spect to the Injustice of aldermen
drawing money for acjourned meet
ings.
AID. Kennedy said these "small
schemes were not practiced unit, the
democratic administration of three
years ago took hold" Aid. Msucker
took exception TO the sixth ward
insinuation. and re-
him that if he had any none
tary transactions with the city it
was not gained on the strength OF
his being an official He also re-
mi SoA Ala EonpoJ- chat 10