Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-06
Make No Compromise with Fraud.

Regardless of what may be its pres
ent day disposition or attitude relative
to the Twentyfourth street storm
drain. the city should not consider.
much less accept, any proposition in
volYing a compromise with fraud. 1t
does not require a recital of the cir
cumstances of this notorious tranSac-
ton here TO convince. or even enlight-
en- the public as TO the outrage that
was perpetrated upon the tax payers
of the city of Rock Island some years
ago Ii will amply suffice 10 say that
the job was humbug. a swindle and
a fraud from first 10 last in support
of which assertion every fresh investi-
cation brings added proof. Only the
other day, when Mayor McCaskrin and
number of members of the council
made survey of the drain they dis
covered new signs of the character
of the work foistered upon the city
1t would seem no more than natural
that the city would feel disposed to act
in such a transaction as this. just as
he individual would in a personal af-
fair. If a citizen let a contract for the
building of house. and found when it
was done that he had been deliberate
ly swindled. either by conspiracy or
otherwise. nine times ont of ten he
would refuse absolutely 10 have any
thing 10 do with the house or to accept
it under any conditions He would not
care to recognize crime by paying for
il or TO compromise with a man who
would attempt TO defraud him. In
dealings Of a business character the
closer the city hues to the line that
would be pursued by the individual
in safeguarding himself against i'm
position and fraud. the better. In
word. the citizen who makes a success
of life, who insists upon fairness and
shuns dishonesty, affords a good exam
pie for the city to follow in its business
transactions
In the pending proceedings the city
surely ought not 10 be swayed by con
path of duty to itself, ana hence to the
citizens generally of Rock Island. Up
10 the present time the city's side Of
the case has been regarded of suffi-
cient importance to warrant the rein
| forcement of the city attorney by the
best of legal talent. There certainly
can be no reason for any deviation
| from this course at this time. especial
| ~ as the new city attorney. has de-
clared that he is not as familiar with
the case as he might be. Any ten
dency to deny City Attorney Olsen the
advantages thai his predecessors have
| had would assuredly meet with disap-
prOval on the part of the people of
| Rock Island. There are instances to
/ be sure where technicaIity. which has
| its good and proper uses in our sys-
TEN Of law. has been employed to in
tercept and delay the course of jus
| tice bur firmneSs in the right will
Eventually win in all things, and all
men will receive their dues.
! Doubtless there were those involved
in the storm drain fraud who were in
nocent of criminal intent or disposition
to deal otherwise than hOnorably in
the discharge OF public obligation. and
who consequently have suffered for
the wrongs of others. On the other
hand, il public sentiment were consult
ed it would say that there are men run
ming at large today who ought TO be
doing time for their part in the motor
| ious storm drain case.