Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-15

pen. No innocent man would be
harmed. If Mr.. Bancroft had conduct
ed his department as he should it was
better for him that there should be an
investigation. His family and his
friends should demand the fullest in
quiry by the council.
Aid. Anderson thought it time that
the council cease its idle talk and get
down to business. There had been in
situations rejecting on the integrity
of Mr. Bancroft and there remained
but one alternative. and that was in
insisting that if there be accusations
they be submitted in writing. as re-
quired by law The council should not
heed street gossip.
Aid. Benson could not see that any
Roadway could be made by listening to
verbal statements.
To Rcfute Statements.
Aid. Wilson inquired what the coun-
Gil adjourned to last night for.
Aid Westbay answered him. He
stated that it was for the purpose of
allowing Mr.. Bancroft and the en-
ployes of his department to come be
fore the council and refute the state
3lltIll ubNSltu ny w diclS.
Aid. Wilson believed that the meet
ing was in the spirit of fairness only.
Delay would only injure Mr.. Bancroft.
Until the atmosphere was cleared
there would be cloud hanging over
him.
Aid Robbins said the matter was
not going to be dropped. He did not
want it stopped. He wanted the in
vestigation to be thorough. but he IA
vOred the council acting legally.
Aid. Westbay said that Steve Durling
a former engineer at the waterwOrks,
who had been discharged by the SUI
perintendent, repeatedly had petitioned
for a hearing before the committee
and council, but never had been al
lowed one. He asked Aid. Robbins
for an explanation. Aid. Robbins re-
piled that his committee was ready at
any time to hear Mr.. Durling, but he
had found in the ordinances that the
superintendent was authorized to dis
charge an emplOye. and he supposed
the matter should end there.
Too Much Politics.
Don't You think this man should
said Aid. Westbay. HE is a compe-
tent engineer. performing his duties
faithfully and well. Is the waterworks
political institution? Does a tax
payer have to vote as you or in order
to hold job in the waterwOrks? Any
man has a right to hold a position
there, if he is qualified, regardless of
his politics or religion"
Aid Robbins told Aid. Westbay that
he was touching on a delicate question.
Aid. Robbins had lived in Rock Island
81 years. During all those years city
were political. No mat
ter how competent the men were who
we're filling the positions. when there
was a change of administration they
usually lost their heads. Aid. Robbins
heartily favored the placing of the wa
terworks department in charge of
board of control. by which its employees
would be engaged and discharged and
all it's business carried on the same as
a private enterprise.
Board of Control Not Remedy.
Aid. Sexton disagreed with Aid.
Robbins that a board of control would
remove the waterworks department
from politics. If the board members
were appointed by the mayor he would
see to it. if he were a republican, or
vice versa, that the majority would be
men of his political faith. There were
men holding city positions who pro-
fessed to be democrats who would turn
traitor to their party on election day.
rs the library controlled by poll
tics?" asked Aid. Robbins.
You bet your life it is replied
Aid. Sexton. And any time that you
appoint a democrat to a position, be-
fore you land him you come pretty
near making a republican of him
Aid. Eckhart stated that Mr.. Dur
ling's petition for a hearing as TO why
he was discharged by Superintendent
Bancroft had been before the council.
and on two occasions when he sought
to bring it up there was rushed through
a motion for adjournment.
DurIinE Ready to speak.
Mr.. During at this juncture rose in
the audience and said he was prepared
to tell the council why he was relieved.
having since learned, but Aid. Eckhart
advised him to remain silent until
later.
Aid. Robbins motion for an adjourn
ment to a week from tomorrow even
ing was put and carried by a vote of
seven TO six:
Ayes-AndersOn. Brooks. Benson.
Sexton, Christensen. Robbins, Trefz.
Nays-O'COnnor. Wilson. Westbay,
Wilkins, Oberg, Eckhart.
AID Hause was absent There were
two shorthand reporters present, f. r
and II. d. Blakemore, to take
record of the proceedings.