Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-12
TWO WARD CONTESTS.
William Eckermann and B.
Winter to Demand a
Recount.
NOTICE GIVEN TO THE COUNCIL.

lnsccuEacies in the Second and Third Al.
legged BY theDemocratic Candidates, Who
Are Shown to Be Defeated on the Face of
the Returns by the Marrow Majority Of
One Vote.
As will be seen by referring to the
official proceedings OF last evenings
council meeting, called to canvass
the vote on aldermen at the recent
election, William Eckermann and
B. Winter have given notice that they
will contest the election of G. A.
johnson and Frank A. Andrews, the
republican candidates, who are
shown on the face of the returns to
have defeated them each by one vote
in their respective wards, the Second
aud Third. The council declared
johnson and Andrews elected-sub-
ject to contest-along with the five
successful democratic candidates.
Robert c Beck in the First, George
W. Aster in the Fourth. Henry l..
Wheelan in the Fifth, Harry d. Ell.
we'll in the Sixth, and John W. Law
head in the Seventh. Aids. Ken
nedy, johnson and Gall were ex-
cused from voting on the confirma-
ton of the canvassing com mittee's
report; Mr.. johnson because his cleo
tion was contested. and the other
two aldermen because they were not
quite clear as to the legal status of
the matter.
City Attorney Marshall said that
all the council could do was to take
the returns as reported by the Judges
OF election. II petition we're flied
asking for recanvass of the vote,
the council, being the Judge OF the
qualifications of its mem bers, could
determine who should be entitled to
the seats in controversy. In the mean
time those whose election is shown
on the face OF the returns could
serve until such time as q solution
Of the matter was reached.
1t is understood MIR. Eckermsn
and Aid. Winter will immed-
lately file petitions with the city
council demanding a recount by that
body of the votes cast in the Second
and Third wards, where they will
allege Inaccuracies have occurred as
a result OF the ballots of the Second
and Third wards icing mixed. and
some Of them voted and accepted by
the judges. The law gives 80 day.
in which to file such petitions, but it
Is probable the contest will be SET
tied at the semi-mohthly meeting of
the council next Monday night.
Proposition From Jewell.
G. F. Hodgkinson, are preventative
of the Jewell Filter company, Chi,
csgo, was given permission to adj
dress the council. He said he had
just learned that Rock Island was
about to put in q new filtering plant,
and wanted to know if it would be
acceptable il his company were to
make q proposition for the installing
Of q system OF mechanical filtration
instead of the one proposed in the
plans which the city has already ap.
proved. Mr.. Hodgkinson said that
when his company put in the plant
now in operation at the waterworks
here mechanical filtration was in its
infancy. He said great strides had
been made since then; that his com.
psny would install plant at q COM
paratively moderate cost, which it
would guarantee, whereas. he ar
gued, the sand bed filter, which the
city has planned to put in. was mere
| ly experimental. Mr.. Hodgkinson
thereupon extended an invitation to
q committee of councilmen to visit
and inspect large Jewell plant now
in operation at Kansas City. Mayor
Medill told Mr.. Hodgkinson that he
did not believe there would be anv
harm in him submitting a PROPOSE.
ton. 1t is possible that the mayor
ard the waterworks committee will
accept the Jewel folks invitation to
inspect the Kansas City plant.