Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-17
TURN DOWN MAYOR,
Aldermen Refuse to Concur i'm His
Removal Of Two Pa
troImen.
HEAR CASE OF BAKER AND RYAN.

Both Deny Under Oath the Charges Pre-
to Sustain His Accusations-Councn APP
peals From His Decisions and Exonerates
the Deposed Omcers.
BY a vote of to and s to re-
spectively the Rock Island city coun-
ell last night declared it's non-concur-
renee in the action of Mayor William
McConochie in removing from office.
Patrolmen Henry Baker and William
Ryan. The mayor was either unable,
or did not deem it necessary, to prove
the charges of neglect of duty and
INSTRUMENTATION preferred against the
deposed patrolmen. Twice the execu-
tive ruled motions out of order and
twice the councilmen refused to sus-
tain him in so doing. But these two
officers mentioned were examin-
oath they denied the charges.
The consideration of the removals
will be continued next Monday night,
to which.date adjournment was taken.
1t was probably the most exciting
session ever held by Rock Island
municipal assembly.
1t was 500 when Mayor McConochie
raped violently with his gavel on his
desk. The council room was packed
to the doors.
When the meeting had been called
to order the mayor stated that he sup
posed it would be proper to begin
where the council left off the night
before.
Aid. Wheelan moved that the re-
moval and the charges preferred
against Patrolman Henry Baker be
taken up for consideration.
Mayor McConochie suggested that
in his opinion a motion to reinState
would he in order, and if carried dis
proved the charges and reinstated the
officer.
Here there was hasty consulta-
ton between the executive aud City
Attorney Scott.
Whereupon Aid. Wheelan renewed
his motion, which was seconded by
Aid. Beck, and carried without a dis
senting voice.
Hon. William McEniry, as counsel
for Mr.. Baker, was permitted to APP
pear before the council. Mr.. McEnirv
thanked the mayor and council for
their consideration. Mr.. Baker took
seat facing the mayor.
Mr.. McEniry read the reasons set
forth in the notice sent Mr.. Baker,
giving. the mayors justification
for his removal. He said that it was
not n matter of salary with his client;
but it was one that affected his char
acter, and if the allegations were let
90 by default it would be an everlast-
ing blemish upon his moral standing
in the community and his citizenship.
The mayor in answer to a question
by Mr.. McEniry, stated that the
charges he had instituted against Mr..
Baker were made to him verbally.
Who made the charges to you?'
inquired Mr.. McEniry.
Mayor Does Not Know.
Il don't know" answered the
mayor.
A loud laugh went up from the
spectators.
The city clerk was asked if he was
told by the mayor who it was who
originally made the charges against
Mr.. Baker. He answered that he was
not. Mr.. McEairy then asked the
mayor if he would be sworn and ans
wer under oath such questions as
might be asked him.
mo. l will not. " was the reply.
Mr.. McEniry said it did seem
strange to him that n man should be
called before the council to defend
himself and when he got there was
not confronted by his accuser, whom
he had right to know.
Mr.. Baker was then sworn by the
clerk. In answer to questions put by
his counsel he stated that he had al
ways performed his duty and was not
guilty of the accusations contained in
the mayors notice.
City Attorney j. X. Scott claimed
the proceeding was nothing short of
farce comedy. He said the right
was vested in the mayor. if he con-
sidered it for the best interests of the
city, to remove any of his subordi-
mates. Mr.. Scott said the people
spoke their preference on election day
by putting republican administra-
ton into power. and Mayor McCono-
chic had called into his cabinet those
men who would carry out his ideas
and policies.
If you can't remove a man from
Office without blackening his charac-
ter. for Gods sake don't remove him, ~
said MIR. McEniry in reply
A resolution was thereupon offered
by Aid. Wheelan that the action of
the mayor in removing Officer Baker
he not concurred in.
The mayor ruled the resolution out
of order. Aid. Wheelan appealed
from the decision of the chair. The
roll was called as to whether the
MAYOR. should he sustained. The
refused to sustain the MAYOR
by a vote of . to D.
Aid. Gall arose to explain that his
reason for voting against the mayor
was because the executive had been
too arbitrary in making removals be-
fore the confirmation of his appoint