Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-05
HAVE few ROUNDS
immense Crowd Throngs coun
Gil Chamber Expecting Some-
thing Interesting
AT LAST NIGHTS SESSION
Two Branches of Municipal Govern
ment Still at Loggerheads, but
Main Question is Omitted.

Before a crowded gallery the mayor
and city council went a couple OF
rounds TO a draw last night. From the
spectators standpoint. the affair, how
ever, was a disappointment The coun-
| ellis gloves were too heavy, fguratively
| speaking. They weighed at least eight
ounces. The Sunday closing pair, skin
tight and with spikes in the backs
| we're not brought into the ring at all.
| Only once when one J. W. McClusky
| asked permission TO address the coun-
| Gil ash business men throughout tn
United Statesh,' incidentally stating
this council Ish runnin' the city like
boys" was an attempt made TO throw
| this issue into the arena, but the cOun-
Gil stood this gentleman off City At
| torney Olsen got within range at one
stage in the proceedings and received
a rap with the open hand, but that is
another story.
1t was a tame show for those who
had fought their way into the council
| chamber and sweltered and gasped for
| air through the two and one-half hours
of the session. Many no doubt would
F! liked 10 have had their money back.
| Evidently most of them looked for the
spiked gloves TO be brought into play
and some of them appeared to be per-
sOnally interested Peanut Dick was
by the ringside. holding a prominent
place in the councils corner.
The MayoraI Message.
To begin with. in the exuberance of
his public spirits the mayor read mes
sage and it opened the evenings en-
tertainment, though it said never a
word about Sunday closing, slot ma
chimes, others forms of gambling or
even The Argus.
In Article No. l the mayor served
notice upon the city legislators that he
does not propose to stand for the old
fire truck any longer and that unless
some regular steps be at once taken to
safeguard the lives of the firemen who
have to ride on the worn out contrap-
ton. he will take such steps as he sees
fit
In Article No. , Rock Islands need
of an adequate fire alarm system was
once again mentioned.
Article No. 3 had to do with the urgen-
cy of the need of fire engine. Article
No. 4 called attention TO the inroads
made upon manufacturing contractors
at Rock Island arsenal by the private
contract system and advised united ac-
ton by the mayors and city councils of
Rock Island, Moline and Davenport.
next Friday evening being suggested as
the date OF a meeting at Turner hall in
this city
Article ; demanded provision for the
appointing of a building commission to
prevent the erection of cheap and I'M
safe structures in the city.
Article 8 advocated city stone pile
Article : urged immediate steps look
ing toward establishing police. fire and
water commissions above and beyond
the reach of politics TO take entire
charge of these departments of the
city's affairs.
Awaits solar PIeNus Jab.
Article s declared counsel for the
city had Numbered grieyously in the
plea upon which the storm drain case
was decided in favor OF the municipal
ity. and that the future good name of
the city would forever suffer unless of
fetal steps were taken to wipe out the
records.
After the message had been received
and placed on file the mayor without
waiting to draw breath handed the
clerk To read a statement of dog taxes
amounting to s579.50 not before &C
counted for. which the chief executive
had just turned into the city's funds,
thereby blocking an expected jab that
might have reached the solar pleXus.
At this stage Aid. OConnor tried the
mayors guard by suggesting that some
explanation be made of the fact that
the police magistrate during the new
administration had been turning in bu.
a fraction of the amount of revenue
that had come to the city from this
source under other administrations
the amount for the last month being
but S41.50. where it had formerly aver
aged about $500. The mayor side
stepped by refusing to discuss the mat
ter Aid O'Connor's object apparently
was to draw out the confession thai
the police have been instructed to
make as few arrests in disOrderly cases
as possible. thereby giving the impress
sion that the city is an unusually well |
behaved one. There was no reflection |
intended against Police Magistrate FL |
lott, who is not under any suspicion |
of falling TO account for any /
business that the mayor suffers 10 |
come his way.
The first round of what looked for |
a time like a real go was opened by
Aid. Anderson. who led off without any
asking whether the may
Or intended to submit any other report
on the dog tax collections than the one
hat had just been rendered. Aid. An
ierson referred 10 the ordinances
which provide that commission for the
collection OF the tax. which the mayor
he had allowed of his own
accord. be audited in the regular way