Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-25
ALL FOUND WELL:
CLOSE OF INQUIRY
Exoneration for Superintendent
Bancroft, Mayor and
Clerk.
CHARGES NOT SUPPORTED
Orders for Sale Of Junk Explained
Purchasers Have Not Paid
MeCaskrin Takes Hand.

Your committee has neto several SEES
sions during which the management
and workings of the waterworks de-
partment have been discussed and
commented upon. During the sessions
held by your committee no charges
whatever have been preferred, nor any
testimony offered which in the least re-
fleets on the integrity, honesty and ef-
ficieney Of the city clerk, mayor and
Of waterworks, and that
there has teen no intent Of any wrong
doing by any of the city officials.
This is the report of the city council
committee of the whole prepared at the
meeting held Wednesday evening. and
which is to be presented for concur
renee at the regular meeting of the
council The session lasted till mid
night almost, and was occupied chiefly
with the airing of the personal views
Of the aldermen as to what should and
what should not be done, all agreeing,
however. on the proposition that an
early conclusion was to be desired; If
there was anything wrong. get at the
bottom of it, if the contrary, so inform
the public.
The chamber was filled. and standing
room from points of vantage in the hall
way was at premium. Some sensa-
tions were anticipated. but none ma
terialized. although there were some
animated exchanges between the alder
men and between G.. w. McCaskrin
and p. l.. Bancroft, the superintendent
of the waterworks department.
Order Issued; junk Not Paid For.
City Clerk H. c. Schaffer was present
also, but Mayor McConOchie was alb
sent. the committee not having sent
him notification. Mr.. Schaffer told the
committee that, after looking through
his records. he had discovered that he
had issued an order permitting the
Morris Bros. to remove the junk at the
waterworkS plant on Twenty-fourth
street. They had promised him they
would have the material weighed. re-
turn the weigh check to him and pay
in accordance Herewith, but they had
neglected to do this. Mr.. Schaffer said
that the order had been issued by di-
rection of Mayor McConochie. and was
nothing new. this procedure having
been customary for years.
MIR. Bancroft Enters Protest.
Mr.. Bancroft followed with a state
ment to the committee. in which he
protested against the manner in which
his department had been attacked on
mere rumOrs put in circulation by dis
charged employees. He was helpless to
defend himself. for the reason that
there were no written charges prefer
red. He produced one of the written
orders for the disposal Of junk that he
had received from the clerk. He had
been given others, but, not considering
them of any value. had destroyed them.
At this juncture Brother McCaskrin
took a stick in the game. He declared
the investigation was a sham, farce,
and the explanations that had been Of
fered in behalf of the management of
the waterworks department insult
Gent
Some Complimentary Remarks.
He was replied to by Mr.. Bancroft.
The lie was passed by the two, a.ad
there might have been a wrestling bout
had they not been separated by the rail-
ing. George having n front seat in the
gallery. The resolution adopted by the
committee was offered by Aid. Ander-
son. There was no opposition to it, but
Aid. O'Connor was excused from vot-
ing.