Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-17
WANTS A REASON
For Failure of Mayer to Appoint
Police Matron for
City.
WOMAN POINTS TO THE LAW
Administration Criticized For Its Leth-
arey on Different
Questions.


Argus I'm an article concerning the
appointment OF a police matron in
Rock Island. you say there is state
law empowering cities of 10000 To Gre
ate the Office OF police matron." The
statute reads: Cities of 10000. etc.
Permit me to quote the city ordinance
on police department: THE police de-
partment OF said city shall consist OF a
city marshal. deputy marshal. one po-
lice -matron. and such policemen as
shall from time to- time be appointed
by the mayor" The first then, YOU viii
observe. must be had. the rest are con
ditionaI. When the committee request
ed the mayor TO appoint police ma
iron. ne said IL would first be neces-
sary to- pass an ordinance creating
such an Office Being shown the or
dinance IN the revised city statutes.
he said he would aaye it looked up.
tProba5ly in the dream book
Why Refer to Committee?
As YOU have stated a formal applica-
ton was made TO the mayor and coun--
Gil and referred 10 the finance and po-
lice committees. What for? All the rea-
sons why matron was desirable had
been given 10 the mayor and chairman
of the finance committee. Mr.. Ander-
son. II was "a su5terfuge entirely trans
parent. The Iethargy of the city in re-
gard To a certain class OF needed i'm
provements is indeed surprising.
When an effort was first made to-
procure an ambulance for the city. a
committee OF women was Obliged 10 in
teryiew every alderman. the police de-
partment. the mayor. and the overseecr
OF the poor. to persuade them that an
ambulance could be kept by the city il
Il was given.
Endors~d by Phy-irians-
The physicians earnestly endorsed
this effort on the part of the women.
Up TO that time DIR. Sala. the health
commissioner. had not even been able
to get from the city council an appro-
priatiOn Of So for an emergency case
To be- kept at the station and used when
the patrol was called out to- cases of
sudden illness or accident. IL must be
remembered that without this case.
there was not surgical instrument at
hand. not restorative. not an ancs-
thetic or a bandage. and yet the city of
Rock Island could not spare SIS To re-
lieye intense suffering
Raise Funds From E:af~rtaIam~nt.
The first efforts To procure AN am
bulance resulted In an appropriation of
$3.50. about one half enough to pro-
cure a fully equipped. up to date ambu-
lance and none was had until the wo-
men of the city gave an entertainment
to raise funds for the same and pre-
scented the same to- the city.
Fooa For Females
IL Is only few years since the police
station had any room for female pris-
oners other than the public Office and
the room for the men. The two small
rooms for women that are now i'm the
station were fitted mp i'm answer To the
request OF women. The ordinance Gre
ating the Office OF police matron in this
city was procured by tie hard work OF
women. and now they are expected to
go over the ground and convince a new
installment of aldermen that such an
officer Is necessary.
Voters should Act.
Why do not the voters see that the stat
ute is complied with? The chief of po-
lice says he does not want a police ma
iron. No one doubts the truth of that
statement. The mayor says he will not
appoint police matron. the city clerk
says he will not sign vouchers for her
pay il he does. and all the aldermen
say amen IL is to- be presumed that
there is peace in the family.
TAXPAYERS WIFE.
In this connection IL might be stated
that Rock Island at the present time
has rare opportunity To secure a ma
tron amply qualified for the duties in
a lady who is now in the city which is
practically her home. and who has had |
considerable experience I'm the duties |
of matron. She is highly indorsed by |
Police Matron Hill. of Davenport. by |
whom she has also been recommended |