Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-15
TO CLOSE avenue
MAYORS Ditch Places Lives in
Jeopardy and City is
Liable.
CRITICISED By ALDERMEN
Opposes Benson From Committee on
Streets and Alleys by Correc-
ton of the Minutes.

Principal among matters discussed at
last nights meeting of the city coun-
Gil was the situation at Eighteenth av,
enue, where Mayor McCaskrin had dug
ditch for a considerable distance
along the middle of the avenue. The
council has ordered the street closed
providing the South Rock Island com.
missioners will close their half, on &C
count of the liability of the city in dam
age suits that might result from people
driving into the ditch.
i Money in a Hole.
\ 1t appears that the considerable
amount of money spent by the mayor
in digging that ditch there was simply
thrown into a hole. He says he did it
for the purpose of turning South Rock
Island water out of Rock Island, but
/ the report of the aldermen on the mat
/ ter was to the effect that while it might
not run in at the same place it did be-
fore, Rock Island gets the water just
the same, but doesn't get the money
that was put into the ditch.
| The mayor was severely criticised
by the aldermen, it being their
! idea that he had exceeded his au-
thority in going around expanding such
;. an amount of money in digging ditch
in the middle of an avenue that now
| has to be closed in order to avoid liza
bility for damages for accidents.
| What are you going to do about it?''
was the extent of the mayors answer.
| The council will probably be obliged
to arrange either for thing or joint
plan with the South Rock Island com
missioners for the improvement of the
lthoroughfare, as it is an important one.
i Opposes Benson.
/ After the minutes were read last ev-
ening Mayor McCaskrin sought to
make a correction, removing Alderman
Benson from the craftsmanship of the
committee on streets and alleys, giving
that place to Alderman Blochlinger,
and putting Alderman Dauber on the
committee to represent the Fourth
ward instead of Benson.
Some of the aldermen objected to
the mode of procedure, saying that the
minutes were recorded correctly and
| that he could not make such a change
without the consent of the council. A
motion was made to approve the min
utes as read, and the mayor, invoking
the gag rule tactics that he has tried
previously, pouted and refused to put
the motion, declaring it out of order.
Alderman Robbins appealed from the
decision of the chair, and George said
no In Mo ut oil in
that game and refused to put the ap-
peal. The mayor caught some of the
members by telling them it was simply
an oversight. However, Alderman Eek
hart accused him of attempting to per-
petrate piece of spite work.
You said on the street that you had
got even with those suckers down
there" said Alderman Eckhart You
made your brags that you were going
to get even with Benson at this meet
ing" Alderman Eckhart accused the
mayor of using even more insulting
epithets.
The mayors only defense was that
the council had tried to block things
on him.
Aldermen Eckhart and Robbins both
tinue to block such acts as he had tried
to get through there upon some occa-
sions. The appeal was lost by vote
of to z.
Alderman Blochlinger is an excellent
man for the head of the street and al
ley committee, both through expert
ence and ability, but his appointment
would have. come with much better
grace from the mayor had it been made
in the first place, instead of elevating
merely as a means of spite.
Harry McCaskrin's Resolution.
II. M. McCaskrin submitted a reso
luton to the council, speaking briefly
upon it, authorizing the initiative and
referendum in all questions of public
policy. ne ANNOUNCED that on later
date he would speak on the subject on
Market square
An ordinance was presented increas
ing the salaries of members of the po-
lice and fire departments from the
chief down. 1t was referred to the
committee of the whole.
Return the Bond.
The finance committee reported IA
vorably upon the bonds of George w.
McCaskrin, mayor; II. c. Schaffer, city
clerk; ]. F. Myers, health commission
er; August Sehnert, health officer:
James Brinn, detective, and William
Brough, patrolman. That of John P.
Sexton was ordered returned to him, he
having never been confirmed by the
council.
BeaI G. Schmitt.