Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-10

IHat IN SQUEEZING tDlS SUBSCRIPTION IHe
mayor would be acting against the
judgment of the board This communi
cation was Endorsed by F. C.. Denk
mann. who was present when it was
written. q jkrjH1
Needs $4,000.
a fund of $4,000 is needed TO i'm
prove Longview park as it should be,
and | believe that we can secure that
fund if the proper time and work is
given TO the matter" said Mr. Jackson.
He argued that those who gave $50
TO the mayors subscription would not
give again, but that with the larger
fund in view these men would be ready
TO subscribe much larger sums.
Instead of dollars. we can get hun
dreds of dollars" said Mr.. Jackson.
We can raise s12,5OO. | believe. and /
know now of men who would give $500.
The Tri-City Railway company will
make a big donation, and others are
ready to subscribe large amounts. |
would be ready TO give $3.50 myself
He protested that the park board
wanted TO carry out its own plans for
the improvement of Longview park
INV SoAu IAoN AhV mag vi anu SIly
Gil should not interfere and do our
work whether We want them to or not.
We have been appointed for a purpose.
having filed bonds of $500 to do our
work. and we want to do that work. In
interfering. the only feasible plan to
permanently improve Longview park is
imperiled. If you encourage the may
or's plan, you cannot expect business
men to assist in this matter
He pointed out that the property is
worth 100000, and was secured by the
city without any expense whatever,
and urged that the only way TO show
appreciation of the gift is by properly
improving the park.
F. c. Denkmann, who is also a men,
Der o. the park board, was present,
and fully Endorsed the protest of Mr.
Jackson.
McCaskrin Defends Course.
Mayor McCaskrin called Aid. Sexton
to the chair, and made a reply, defend
ing his action on the ground that he
had solicited the fund because he did
not wish TO see the appropriation of
the council go to any other fund. He
said that the appropriation was made a
month prior to the organization of the
park board, and that he could not have
been interfering with the board in car
rying out the sentiment of the council
as expressed in official acts a month
before the board was founded. He said
that. including the paving taxes, S1S.-
900 had been expended by the city for
the park in the last three years He
held. as did several of the aldermen,
that the $4,000 now at hand will not
interfere with any further subscrip-
tons to the park. and that it will in
stead be big help. 1t was his opinion
that people will not refuse TO give fur
Their because they have donated once
and he said he would guarantee every
dollar represented on the subscription
list he had secured. He denied that he
had ever interfered with the board, but
that he had received Mr..
Jackson's letter expressing his and
Mr.. Denkmann's opinion in the matter.
Mayor McCaskrin concluded by rec
ommending that the council accept the
Aid. Robbins took the stand that the
mayor. on receipt of this communica-
ton, should have brought the matter
to the attention of the council. and not
gone ahead with the subscription list
for the $1,2Oe lie took exception TO
the mayors statement that $4,000 had
been expended on Longview park, and
to other statements of the mayor in his
reply to Mr.. Jackson.
Aid. Sexton, however, held that the
mayors subscription should be accept
ed. and he said he could not see where
in ii would interfere with a further sub
IF 50 citizens subscribed
81 .235. fund of $12.5O0 should easily
be raised among the $4,000 citizens of
Rock Island" said Aid. Sexton. Six of
those on the mayors subscription list
gave $50. Is gave $25, and the remain
der was in smaller amounts. Aid. Sex
ton held that with the $500 remaining
of the park fund. the 81 900 appropria-
ton of the council, and the 81 ,235 sub
scription, the board would have good
start. and that the subscription could
not be a detriment.
Result of Lack of Harmony.
The discussion was finally ended by
Aid. Anderson. who has a reputation
for disposing of difficult situations. He
said that the situation of the council
was the unfortunate result of a lack of
harmony between the mayor and the
park board. He suggested that the
matter be laid over for final disposition,
in order that the councilmen might
consider the matter fully. His motion
that the disposition of the subscription
be deferred to the next regular meeting
of the council was adopted. Before the
vote was taken to lay the matter over,
Mr.. Denkmann stated that the men,
bers of the board did not feel that
Mayor McCaskrin had taken the action
he did with the intention OF interfer-
ing with the board. but that it was an
example OF his zeal in the interests of
the Dark He said that ShnIild tia