Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-07-08

Doing the Past Year-Boney johnson Be
comes Ratified.
The city council dispatched large
batch of urgent business at the spe-
cial meeting that it held last night at
the call of the majority members. As
will be seen by reference to the official
proceedings on another page. orders
were given to the street and alley
committee and mayor to carry en-
such work as it was considered was
entitled to immediate attention.
The levee warehouse question was
further looked into and by the next
session of the council it is expected
bids will be in the hands of the COM
mittee. Aid. Wheelan submitted
plans for a wharfboat and for a ware
house. The former. according to the
estimate of Kahlke Bros, would cost
in the neighborhood of $4,000, while
the latter, in the opinion of the de-
signing architect, George p. Staudu-
har, could be constructed under
$4,000. The council as whole
seemed to prefer the land house idea
to the floating dock. The di-
mansions of the warehouse pro-
posed are 30xS0, the building
to be one story, having a cupola at the
west. to be occupied as pilots quar-
tiers. The house faces west. The Office
and ladies' and gents waiting rooms
take up about one-third of the floor
space and the remainder is reserved
for freight storage purposes. The
plan is to locate the building about 80
feet above the waters edge. A bridge
ha oh
trance to the boat so that freight can
be quickly and easily handled. The
bridge is in three sections, so that it
can be either shortened or heightened
as the stage of water may require.
The engineering experts having not
completed their report as to the reser-
Toir, further time was granted the
waterworks committee.
When the election of a poormaster
was reached in the call Aid. Beck pro-
posed the name of Edward Murphy. The
mayor did not feel clear as to whether
the council was legally empowered to
choose this officer. He was informed
by Aid. Wheelan and by the city at
torney that the course being pursued
was in accordance with the statutes.
Aid. johnson thereupon presented for
j. III. Lidders, the pres
ent incumbent. A vote resulted: For
Beck, Heidemann,
Winter, Aster, Fender, Wheclan, Ell
well, Gall, Lawhead, Q. Lidders-Con-
cannon, Freed. Willis. Soderstrom,
Johnson, 5. Upon motion of Aid. Pen
der MIR. Murphy was declared
duly elected poormaster for
the city of Rock Island. The
new officer is a resident of the Second
ward, democrat, and an upright
citizen, one who will make first-cIass
poormaster.
johnson Loses His Head.
The majority members transacted
business with neatness and dispatch,
while the minority aldermen sat back
in their chairs like stool-pigeons. Just
before adjournment "Boney" Johnson,
unable longer to control his temper,
was permitted to say a word He
asked that when the democratic alder
men had another meeting they call in
the remainder of the council also that
they might know what was going on.
'Boney" was squaring himself
for sprcad-eagle arraignment of
his democratic brethren when Aid.
Fender moved a point of order. As
'Boney" closed his face and reached
for his straw bonnet Aid. Wheelan in
formed him there would be TO objec-
tions to his resigning, which he was
at perfect liberty to do in case he
was not satisfied the way the council
was conducting the affairs of the city.
You should remember, "Boney,
said the mayor consolingly, THAT
you are in the minority"
Mayor McConochie deposed Supt.
Of Waterworks Murrin because it was
he did not pay enc ugh atten-
lion to open streets-the paving on
Fourth avenue and Twentv-second, it is
believed, being what his honor referred
10 in his bill of exceptions and which |
Mr.. Murrin was unable to have attended |
10 owing to the frost in the ground. |
The fact that the street has remained |
open since under the eyes of Mr.. Muir |
rims successor shows the insincerity |
IF the mayor when he sought charges |
20 serve as an excuse for removing |
men from office. And it
for a democratic alderman,
Mr.. Wheelan. to finally bring in a res
,lution ordering that the aforemen-
TONED street be covered. And it was
20 ordered.
a number of important matters
were attended to, among others, the
placing of two additional fire boxes
uptown. at the recommendation of
Aid. Elwell.
Annual Library Report
The annual report of the board of
directors of the Rock Island public
library for the year ending June 1,
S99. was read TO the council. The
-eport says in part: I'm our last re-
port we called attention to the fact
# the increase in circulation of 3. 600
-olumes over the previous year. and
low with pride we report an increase
# over 5000 volumes over last year,
Inns eUidencinr [ he fact that NOT nnlv