Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-20

there having been, l think. uniform
courtesy on both sides"
| Speaking further on the subject. he
said, 1--WE are not complaining because
you do not accept our ordinance. but
we do feel that if it is necessary for
us to leave the city of Rock Island that
we ought to be allowed to take down
our own poles and wires. You gentle
men here would not relish the idea of
| having the police force come and de
stroy your home or property That is
exactly what it means to us. We have
our property here upon which we have
been paying taxes for long time Our
differences are legal differences that
it would be useless to discuss here. We
think we have rights and you think
that we have none. Under these cir
cumstances | believe we are entitled to
the same business and reasonable
treatment given to others | believe
the company is right. but generally
misunderstood; not by the council but
by the public. | think the coNncil has
come to understand our situation quite
thoroughly In consideration of this |
think we ought to be given time to
communicate either by mail or by tele-
phone with our head officers
Listen to Constituents.
In support of his resolution Alder
man Sexton explained his position by
saying that he thought that now the
people had been heard from. the alder
men should cast aside their personal
preferences and act as advised by their
constituents and this seemed to be the
idea of nearly all of the aldermen. 1t
may be stated in this connection that
some of the aldermen have never been
anywhere near an agreement with the
company and so stated III open coun
Gil. Others who failed to state their
position last evening were Outspoken
a week ago on the same matter and in
the same manner.
The council was thus unanimous in
taking the stand advised by the Retail
Merchants association. 1t had nego-
tiated long and patiently with the com
pany and until the association spoke
as a body the aldermen acted in their
individual capacities fighting every
inch of the way, but not delivering any
ultimatum. The association spoke,
was heard, and the council responded.
Mayor Made His Little Play.
The boy mayor could not permit the
evening to pass without another little
grand stand exhibition. On his desk
in the council chamber was receiver
stand and battery box belonging to
the Central Union company, which the
mayor explained had been torn from
the wall in his Office, indicating his
contempt for the company and as an
example TO others if they did not like
the company's treatment of the city.
After the close of the council meet
ing the representatives of the Central
Union company held a conference.
Nothing could be learned of what
might be expected as the next move on
the part of the company, although w.
B. Mann. the general attorney, Hon.
William McEniry. the local counsel.
and superintendent Rottger all declar-
ed there would be no receding from the
companys position relative to the rate |
clause.
'All that we can say now" said Mr.. |
Mann, lis that we have been honest |
in our position. We propose to con-
tinue SO, and what is more, we will |
be consistent"
The Substance of the Situation.
The substance of the situation, thsre- |
fore. is that in the crisis that presents |
itself. the company may recede abso-
lutely from its position and surrender |
to the demands of the city, which it |
must do before tomorrow night, or the |
city. unless it retraces its steps, will |
be obliged to adopt drastic measures.
XIII License Ordinance.
Mayor McCaskrin offered his ordin- |
ance raising saloon licenses from $500 |
to 81 900 per annum 1t was disposed |
of with little ceremony 1t was laid on
the table by a vote unanimous with the |
exception of Alderman OCOnnor.
Bids for the construction of the adj
dition to the water works plant were
opened and will be reported upon by
the committee at the meeting Wednes-
day night They are as follows: Con
crete Construction company. $4,000;
John Konosky, $7,130; McConOchie &
Sons, $6,G7150; c. j. Larkin. $6.750.
YOUNG ROBBER Is KILLED