Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-27
MONEYEASILYE ARNED
Aldermen Finish Business of
Special Session in Seven
Minutes.
ONE BID ON RESERVOIR WORK
And That Arrived Too Late to be
Considered.-TroubIe in
the Ranks.

Rock Island aldermen made some
easy money last night. The adj
journed meeting of the city council
was in session exactly seven minutes.
The IA aldermen were on hand, for
there was promise that there would
be a continuation of the warm doings
that characterized the preceding ses-
sion. AS the city fathers are allowed
IS per sitting. they were paid last
night at the rate of about ~ cents
per minute.
That's what 1 call nice pay" said
Aid. Kennedy, displaying one of his
vote-gettinS smiles. as he arose from
his seat and lit fresh smoker. There
were seven other members OF the
council who felt about as he did over
the outcome of the meeting. but there
were six OF their fellows who were
tribe disappointed and left the coun-
ell room resolved to have satisfaction
at some later day.
1t will be recalled that at the semi
monthly gathering of the dads bids
were ordered advertised for on the
grading and terracing of the reservoir
embankments. This order was given
only after a stormy discuss Jon. in
which City Clerk Schaffer and Aid.
Robbins exchanged angry words, the
former contending there was not
money on hand to pay for the work
even II it were contracted for.
Clerk scores Point.
The clerk and his supporters scored
their point last night, because there
was only one bid on hand, and that
was received after the hour specified
in the advertisements. 1t was re-
jected by vote of the council. Aid.
Robbins then moved that new bids be
invited 70 be opened at the next regu-
lar meeting, but substitute by Aid.
Kennedy that the work be put off I'M
til next spring was carried by vote
of eight to six.
Eight thousand dollars was ap-
propriated this year for reservoir
after the adjournment. land it's
nearly all gone with nothing 10 show
for it. tell you it's an outrage the
manner in which the city's money is
being used up there at the reservoir,
all due to poor management. For in
| stance, five teams and a sqSsd of men
are now engaged in hauling dirt ILL
ing sidewalks on upper Twenty-sec-
ond street. I'll wager that
every load of dirt that is put
there will cost the city one dollar
in excess of the price that is being
paid for hauling. The rains will do
the business. 1his trouble and ex-
pense could be prevented if common
sense would be exercised. But l guess
it will not go. In the spring the res
ervoir banks, in their present condi-
ton, will be soft and will slide with
the rains. going down Twenty-second,
taking along the new sidewalk foun-
dations, and spreading the clay over
the thoroughfares below"
The single bid for the work pro-
posed at the reservoir was from b. II.
Remley. Other contractors who had
intended submitting propositions, it
is claimed by some of the aldermen,
were induced not to try for the job,
because they were made TO believe
they would not receive pay for it.
Two Warning Factions.
Despite the fact that the republic
cans have everything their own way
in the council, they cannot get along.
As soon as the enthusiasm of the
last election wore OF, outcroppings
of internal strife became apparent.
These have increased gradually until
now there are two factions of
about equal strength pulling against
each other for dear life. No
matter what one proposes. the
other opposes, whether it is right or
wrong. The result is that little or
nothing has been accomplished by the
present administration in the matter
of public improvements. Committee
members are unable to hitch and
meetings are called in many cases
by the chairman without notifying
the parties that do not agree with
him on the questions under consider
ton. Often there are reports offered
by the chairmen of committees that
half the committeeman know nothing
about until they hear the reports
read. It's a pretty mess. And it
seems to be getting more complicated
with each succe edinO Meeting.