Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-15
INQUIRY DELAYED
Written Charges Must be Preferred
Before Council Turns SearchIight
on Waterworks Department.
ASSUMES LEGAL PHASE
Aid. Eckhart Asserts There is an Effort
Being Made to Silence Persons
Who Have Been Gossipine.

The meeting of the city council as a
committee of the whole last evening
to consider the management of the
waterwOrks department, an action
growing out of limitations of irregu-
laritieS by former employees, ended in
an adjournment to one week from to-
morrow night, by which date any citi-
zen having charges to prefer
against Superintendent p. T. Bancroft
requested to present them to Mayor
William McConochie in the form of
affidavits These. if there are any.
will be read to the council. and that
body will take such action as it sees
it
The airing of the waterwOrkS de-
0artment appears to have created a
sensation of no small proportions
throughout the city, especially among
he republican leaders. who were pres
ent at the meeting of last evening in
aTge numbers. In administration cir
lies there is an apparent disposition
o pacify the storm that has been
raised, Aid. l.. V. Eckhart, who pre-
Slu6u dS CudlI HAL vi llit llCtl.tlS,
openly asserting that if there was an
adjournment to the date mentioned it
would be impossible TO investigate as
thoroughly into the affairs of the de-
0artment as it was the desire of him
and other members of the council to
10.
Wire PuIlers Are Busy.
The pavement has been kept hot
~ the wire pullcrS ever since an in
yestigation was preached" Aid. Eek
TART said What is the reason for
his activity? No one is going to be
lurt if this department has been man
lged as it should be. No honest man
iced fear the closest scrutinizing of
he business belonging to the tax pay
ers that he is entrusted with. But. for
me, | am determined to search to the
bottom. and if there is anything wrong
and | sincerely hope there is not
he public will know of it. | have new
n questioned the honesty of Superin
endent Bancroft. Neither has any
Dther member of this body to my
knowledge. We want information con
;erning the system of management.
hiring and discharging of employees,
tic, and we are going to have it."
Mayor Calls Action Illegal
When the meeting was called to or
Ter Mayor McConochie asked permits
sion to make a statement. He said the
council was not proceeding legally;
hat if there were any charges against
he superintendent they must be pre-
erred in writing. This must be done
before there could be any investiga-
ion by the council. That was the law
If this and every other land under the
sun.
Aid. Eckhart replied that he did not
understand that there had been any
,harges made against the superintend
mt. The meeting was called simply
or the consideration of the manage
nent of the department, and he was
)orne out by Aid. Anderson, who offer
ID the amendment to the resolution
adopted at the meeting Monday night.
City Attorney w. l.. LudOlph. asked
or IA legal opinion, replied that the
statutes provided that an appOintee
,Ould be removed by the mayor on the
ling of charges in writing, but that
lie could be reinstated by twO-thirds
'Ote of the council, the mayor being
'equired to report to the council his
'easOns for the discharge of an ap-
)Ontee.
Aid. Robbins Offers Motion.
Aid. Robbins, who is the chairman
If the waterwOrks committee, there
Ipon offered a motion that the meet
ng be adjourned to week from to-
morrow night. and that before that
late all charges, if there be any. be in
he hands of the mayor in the form of
iffidavits. and then the council would
lave something tangible on which to
proceed. The motion was seconded by
Aid Brooks.
Aid. Westbay inquired the reason
or pOstpOnement to such a late date
AID Robbins replied that several of
he aldermen would be out of the city
md that it would not be possible TO
get full attendance during the week