Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-30


fusing TO issue the notices to the alder
men. his argument in support of this
being that he did not have time To
serve such notice in the % minutes
necessary to give the aldermen five
hours notice, the meeting being called
for s o'clock.
Notwithstanding this fact, however,
all of the aldermen net in informal
session and discussed all of the mat
ters. and with the exception of one
case that of the storm drain. probably
accomplished as much as they would
have in a special session.
VIII Meet Wednesday.
The storm drain proposition was one
of two important matters the mayor
wished to dispose of at this session.
and with this he proposed to have sub
mtted his resolution serving notice on
the contractor or bondsmen to put the
drain in condition according to con-
tract within a certain length of time.
He announced however, that he would
not call another meeting. but before the
body adjourned Aid Dauber made a
motion, which carried, that a special
meeting be held Wednesday afternoon
at $50 for the purpose of viewing the
ground ON First avenue where the
Western Union Telegraph company
wants 10 string its wires. after which
an adjournment viii be taken to 100
to consider the storm drain and other
business.
Mayors Position.
The mayor defined his position to a
certain extent on the storm drain ques-
ton, speaking as follows: The storm
drain case comes up in court Wednes-
day. The records of the council will
not show that there was any resolu-
ton passed notifying the contractor TO
put it into condition. Now, I'm not
wanting to pay a cent for the storm
drain. But if you can find any man
who can show that the contractor or
bOndsmen were notified to put this
drain into condition. you can find more
than | have found. have heard a lot of
talk and bombast about settlement, |
but have never heard of any PROPOSE |
ton to settle for Is cents or $4,000.
Political Suicide.
81 shall not call another meeting |
myself but if | don't get that meeting |
I'll serve the notice on the bondsmen |
myself, as mayor of the city. / have |
a perfect right to do ii. I'm going to |
do my part fearlessly. If it is political |
suicide to do business, let her go sui |
eide. That has been the talk long
enough. | want you gentlemen to go |
on record one way or another, the
same as l have gone on record"
VIII Refuse Warrant.
The mayor also referred. to the ex-
pense of court costs and attorneys
fees in taking the matter TO the SUI
preme court. without having even serv-
ed notice upon the contractor to com
plete the drain according to the con
tract, and said: And when you want
the mayor to sign a warrant TO pay
the peoples money for it, you will not
get it, You will have to do it over my
head"
Little Discussion.
While no action could be taken by
the council, all other matters were
freely discussed except that of the
storm drain. Possibly the aldermen
are not afraid of it but are awaiting
TO have the proposed resolution put
before them in its proper form. as it
held. Aid. Sexton was the only one
aside from the mayor who had any
thing TO say upon the question. The
alderman from the Fourth ward eX-
pressed himself as in accord with the
mayors view of the matter. He said
that he believed in laying aside all
prejudice and taking it up as bust
ness proposition and not acting as if
they were afraid TO tackle il. Il want
To say he said. that if il is to the in
terest of the people TO settle the mat
ter. / have the nerve and courage TO
stand here and vote To settle it. And
want 10 say if il is to the interest OF
the people 10 stop up and abandon the
drain as not constructed according to
contract. have the nerve and courage
TO stand up here and vote to stop it
up"
Electric Wiring.
One of the principal reasons for
calling this meeting was TO dispose of
the question of the stringing of the
wires of the Western Union Telegraph /
company superintendent OF con-
structiOn is here with a gang OF men |
and has been here for a week or more. /
He came for the purpose OF renewing /
the wires on Second avenue, but was /
informed by the mayor that il would |
be useless 10 begin work on renewing |
the wires on that avenue as the coun- |
Gil proposes to have them all under /
ground as soon as possible on that /
Preparation was then made To re- 1
move the poles and wires to First ave !
nue.. but the property owners along 1
First avenue object to that unless the /
company first secures permission from
the city. So it was deemed advisable |
TO call this meeting TO dispose of the |
question and allow the gang OF men to /
go to work without further delay. A. |
W. Lloyd. who is in charge of these
men. was at the meeting last night and /