Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-19
CLEARS OFF CLOUD
Aid. Eckhart Says There is Moth
ing Wrong in Waterworks
Known to Him.
he HAS BEEN Misunderstood
Presentation of Charges in Writing
Demanded by AID.
Kennedy.

Louis '. Eckhart. Jr.. alderman
from the Second ward. whose remarks
al a former meeting led to the infer
ence that he had discovered something
wrong in the waterworkS department.
did the amende honorable at the ses-
sion of the city council last evening.
His explanation was brought out
by resolution introduced 10y AID.
William Kennedy. a member of the
waterNork> committee. ordering AID.
Eckhart to present to the council in
writing any Information involving
members If that body in any irregu-
laritieS that he knew about.
Before the resolution was put on
its passage the Second ward repre-
sentative made it clear that he did
not mean to imply dishonesty. where
upon the resolution was withdrawn
by Ala. Kennedy. The conversation
that took place sounded thus wise:
Eckhart: l did not say that there
was grating.
Kennedy: If you did not. what you
did say had a suspicious ring. for
others besides me believed YOU were
making charge against the charac-
ter of members of this council
Eckhart: | was in the middle Of
sentence when | was interrupted by
you ami Ala. Robbins. You both kept
sticking i'm to me. not allowing me OPP
rortunity to make my position plain.
The remark to which objection has
been taken was that Il know what i
going on" If YOU would have permit
ted me to finish | would have said
that Il know what is going on in
many cities IF this country in rela-
tion To the operation of waterworlls
plants. and know what * needed in
Rock Island" Both aldermen were
standing.
Kennedy; But YOU have not answer
ed me satisfactorily yet. Did YOU
mean to imply that you knew Of any
grating in the waterworkS commit
tee?
More Unpleasant Things Said.
Eckhart: No. sir: ! did not. Now
are you satisfied? Unpleasant things
have been said about me. but | have
passed them up without obiecting TO.
them. | was accused Of being in the
employ Of a meter company. but the
assertion was 80 ridiculous that
gave no heed To il. am not 50 touchy
as other members of this council.
Kennedy: We'll. ! am. sir. do not
propose to sit by and allow any man
TO throw out insinuatiunS rejecting
on my character. | have served in
this council number of years. Never
has my name been involved in scandal,
and | do not propose to have the inn
preston go out that there has been Il
false step On the eve of my retire
mcnt.
Blochlinger: If any alderman or
head If department knows of IT.
rcgularities he should report them at
once to this council. Let's not stand
10y and close our eyes now to have
our names besmirchcd in future
years. a. * the case at Grand Rap
ids. Mich.
Kennedy: If the other members of
the council are satisfied with AID.
Eckhart's explanation. move to
Withdraw my resolution. This was
carried unanimously.
New BID on Pump Repairs.
There was another sparring match
over the watcrwurk> pump PROPOSE
ton AII. Eckhart reading a bid from
u. ID. Quirk. a competent machinist
uf this city. agreeing To repair the
old Holly quadrupleN for $1,000. put
ting IL in first class condition. The
alderman also showed report ON Il
test of this pump. now declared To be
fit only for the scrap pile. creGiting IL
with maximum capacity of 500. 500
gallons in - hours. After il was re
paired il would easily pump 3.0000oO
gallons daily. Men who had operated
il i'm years past say il i the best ma
chine that was ever installed in the
local pumpiu" plant. according to
what AID. Eckhart had learned. AID.
Robbins. chairman of the watervvnrkS
committee. stated that the pump could
he repaired for 5000. but there could
he ne guarantee that II would remain
i'm condition longer than - hours af-
ter il was started. He believed the
growing needs of the city demanded
new pump. one Of AT least S.OOO.O0O
gallons capacity. Letters from 7. ID.
Whcc!o,k. superintendent at Moline.
and T. y. Hooper. superintendent at
Davenport. bore out Aid. Robbins
claim that ii would he a poor invest
mcnt to repair the old pump The bid
was referred to the waterworks com
mitteC.
Want Building Inspector.
Two representatives of the Jour
ncNmcu Carpenters union were pres
ent. and i'm addresses to the council
suggested the need of a building in
>pector. pointing cut several struc-
lures that are completed or in course
Of construction which they declared
To he veritable fire traps. The mat
ter was referred To the fire and light
and ordinance committees.