Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-03-30

Two such statements as these on
behalf of a candidate, com sining
as they do humiliating admis-
sions of past incompetency and
n mere excuse for what may
be expected hereafter, ought to be
sufficient TO convince the average
mind as TO the weight of ono who is
again yearning to be mayor. And
vet the record of failures under the
former Knox administration was not
confined to the police department. 1t
does not require any stretch of imag
ination to recall the deplorable condi-
ton into which the paid fire depart
ment. the pride of the city. fell while
Mr.. Knox was at the helm. With refer
ence to this, judgment was so far
lacking that he placed at its head an
old fire fighter who, while having
made an admirable chief of the
volunteer department. knew about as
little of the requirements and dis
cipline of paid uP-to-date system as
it was possible to conceive.
Paid Fire Department DemOraIized-
Gradually under the incompetency
at the head. tolerated from day to day
by the "kindly feeling" of the mayor,
the magnificent standard that had been
attended by hard work on the part of
the city, irrespective of politics, began
to lower, and finally when the Knox
administration came to an end the
department had fallen into such
state of Generalization that with his
return to Office Mayor Medill was
obliged to bring an experienced MEM
Der of Chicago's fire department here
to restore order out of chaos. 1t is a
gratifying fact that since that time
the Rock Island department has been
on plane of efficiency not eXcelled by
that of any city in the country-and
the people want to keep it so.
Weeds Grew In the Street.
But the Encouragement of public
affairs under Mayor Knox did not end
with the police and fire departments.
There are people living Oh some of the
principal residence streets who are
still able to recall the crop of timothy
and weeds foot high that sprung up
through the neglected brick pave
ments. BY the end of June, 1896, the
street fund had been entirely exhaust
ed and the work of the season but
fairly begun, and thereafter there
were unkempt thoreUghfares in the
business portion and weeds fiourished
undisturbed in streets that taxpayers
had expended literally to have i'm
proved.
The Storm Drain.
But the eliminating fizzle of all
in the Knox administration was the
storm drain, in which contract the
city was defrauded by contractors in
inferior cement. Night after night the
operation of switching. Milwaukee
cement into Portland sacks went on.
The public is familiar with the facts,
a wagon load of Milwaukee sacks
having been, through the work of
Aid. Kennedy, unearthed in shed
on Seventh avenue, east of Tbir-
tieth street. They were carried
to the police station, and were offered
as evidence in the trial in the circuit
court of the contractors for alleged
The original contractor
on the storm drain ian shy on funds
shortly after the work had been in
and the contract was then
given to M. Schnell. From that time
on the rascality was practiced. To
this day the city has refused to pay
for the ditch.
After such a record of stupidity and
failure it is amazing to most people
that Mr.. Knox should have again
sought the office of mayor.
Saloon Notice.
Mallard duck lunch at the Ponce de
Leon saloon, opposite the Postoffice,
tonight.