Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-01
Mayor McCaskrin and Attorneys
Discuss Storm Drain
Case.
FOUR HOURS OF ARGUMENT
Council Takes Up Several Matters
Close With Fireworks Brought
On BY SchneII Case.

him by City Attorney Olson that the
public sentiment was against a settle
ment of the storm drain case
The mayor felt called upon to an
swer Mr.. Olson and c. J. Searle, who
had come before the council and made
statements to the effect that while
they did not know whether or not the
mayors action had hurt the standing
of their case in court they felt that it
did not do it any good. Both attorneys
spoke at some length on the question
and then the mayor replied.
Offer Resolution.
City Attorney Olson wrote out a res
olution. which was offered by Alder
man Eckhart stating that the council
had no knowledge of and did not con-
cur in the action of the mayor in serv-
ing notice on Mr.. Schnell. This mo-
tion passed after some debate. The
question arose as to whether it was
intended to create a breach between
the mayor and the council and when
it was made plain that it was only to
help the attorneys with their case in
court and not intended as a criticism
of the action of the mayor the motion
carried. The mayor stated to the al
dermen that they need have no con-
Germ as to him in voting upon that
question; that his work was done as he
believed it should be done thus far.
Alderman Sexton insisted that the res
Olution was offered for political reas-
Ons, and said that he could read be.
tween the lines, and voted against its
adoption, as did Alderman Dauber
Four Hours.
For four hours the aldermen wran-
gled and talked, it being only a
few minutes short of midnight
when the body adjourned, but practi-
cally nothing was done. Along toward
the finish there were some fireworks
but the smoke cleared away.
The special meeting was called for
the purpose of dealing with the West.
ern Union Telegraph company, which
wanted to proceed with the stringing
| of wires on First avenue. The out
come of this was that the ordinance
committee and The city attorney were
instructed to draft an ordinance re-
| quiring all wires to be placed under
ground. This matter was brought to
the attention of the council by the
mayor. who had stopped the Western
Union company from work on Second
avenue, informing them that work
there would be of no use as the desire
of the council was to place all wires
under ground. Then the company
wanted to move its poles to First av-
enue, and while the council at first
thought favOrably of this the company
went ahead and set some poles with
out first consulting the proper authori-
ties as to where they were to be
placed. Under these conditions the
council took this definite action.
The Central Union Company.
Much of the time that was consumed
in the arguments as TO the wires. was
in giving attention to the Central
Union Telephone company. The final
outcome of this was that the mayor was
instructed to notify the company to re-
move all poles that have been set with
out the consent of the proper authori-
ties within As hours.
II is the intention of this proceeding
to bring the matter to an issue and a
show down as to what the standing OF
the Central Union Telephone company
is in this city. Resolution after resOM-
ton has been passed since the alleged
repeal of the ordinance granting to
the company franchise, but nothing
has yet been done. Mayor McCaskrin
asked that some plan be outlined Civ
ing him authority to do business and
he would proceed Immediately against
the company and determine whether it
has any right here, and. if so, what
they are.
Accepts Resignation.
The resignation of Chief Hastings
from the fire department was address
ed in part to the council, so it was
brought before that body. The alder
men desired to extend to Mr. Hastings
a vote of confidence. so they simply
voted to place the resignation on file
thus leaving it to the mayor, who ac-
cepted it.
Chief Hastings explained in public
what he had previously said in an in
terview in these columns: that he felt
from the outset of the administration
that he did not have the confidence OF
the mayor. The aldermen at first
thought the matter was between the
mayor and the chief and that a settle
ment could he reached if they took no
action on the resignation, but Chief
Hastings informed them that the resig-
nation was before them for action;
that he and the mayor would not come
to any agreement in the matter.
Mayor Explains
Mayor McCaskrin explained his posi-
ton with reference to the departments.
saying: While | am mayor of the city
/ want 10 know as much as can Of
every department. have not been in
a hose house except in company with