Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-05
A HOT DISCUSSION
Ordinance Providing for Purchas
ing Committee of the
Council.
SUCH COMMISSION is NAMED
Consists of Aldermen Brooks, Trenk-
enschuh and LawIer - Mayor
Makes Threat of Veto.

With the coming up of the ordinance
providing for purchasing committee
something approaching a first class
row was precipitated in the city coun
Gil last night. Alderman Lawler
presented the ordinance a week ago,
and it was laid over under the rules.
He called it up on this occasion, and
the fight was on. Alderman Wilson
had the most to say in opposition to it,
Alderman Smith thought that there
was no authority given the council to
II elect a committee; that it ought to be
appointed by the mayor but the alder
men who had sought legal advice re-
ported the ordinance valid in this re-
spect. He further objected because of
the power given to the few men, Aid
erman Blochlinger said he favored n
purchasing committee, but thought the
one specified in the ordinance too
small He said he did not like the
system as it is followed at present in
diSpoSing of bills.
Argument of Supporters.
Alderman Eckhart presented the
principal arguments in favor of a pur-
chasing committee, saying that he had
III
years He said that this system form
ed complete check and balance be-
tween the finance and purchasing COM
mittees, and is a system followed in
many of the larger and some smaller
cities The ordinance applies to arti-
cleS of less than 500 in value, all
above that amount to come into the
city council for consideration. The
measure passed by a vote of 10 to ],
Aldermen Blochlinger Smith, Dauber,
| and Wilson voting against it. The
committee, as named in resolution
following, consists of Aldermen Brooks,
| Trenkenschuh, and Lawler.
Mayor Makes Threats.
The mayor then made series of
threats about what he was going to
do. He was going to veto the ordin-
ance. he wasn't going to sign any
| vouchers for articles purchased by the
| committee, and he was going to see
that the city's funds are tied up, and
| indicated himself as favorable to the
| success of the injunction suit of NJ.
| Schnell. ct al. against the city of Rock
| Island of which he has been suspect
ed all of the time. This is the case in
which he told the aldermen that he
had hired an attorney to defend HIM
self, but that they need not be in a
hurry about securing any special coun-
) sci to look after the citys interests.
Too Many BurgIaries.
After the council had once more re
fused to confirm John p Sexton as
marshal. by vote of 10 to 4, Mayor
McCaskrin submitted a resolution that
it be the sense of the council that it
does not want a chief of police This
precipitated a tilt between the mayor
and Alderman Eckhart. The alderman
from the Second ward called attention
to the way burglars are having their
own way in Rock Island, and said there
is dire need for a chief of police. The
mayor denied the allegations as to the
burglaries, but then there are other
things the mayor said did not exist in
Rock Island. Upon motion of Ander-
man Anderson the resolution was laid
on the table by vote of to 6, but
one of the aldermen who voted to lay
it on the table explained his vote by
saying that he thought the vote was
on the original motion, which he want
led to vote against.
Third Ward improvements.
An ordinance was passed providing
for the construction of about two and
one-half miles of concrete sidewalk in
the Third ward, connecting up all of
the walks in that section and remov-
ing those constructed of lumber. The
lprobable cost. as estimated by City En-
gineer Treichler, is $19,765.S0, the
amount to be raised by special taxa
iton.
The plumbers are to be notified that
any further tearing up of pavements
by them or others without first obtain
ing permission from the city council
will be followed by penalties. The in
Icident that brought the matter to the
attention of the council was the act of
the Peoples Power company in tear
ing up pavements on Seventh avenue
to make gas connections. and petition
ing the council afterward, and the re-
port from the property holders whose
trees were being disturbed that when