Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-10
DROP ATTORNEYS
City Council Votes to Dispense
With the Services of Ken
worthy & kenworthy
IN TELEPHONE LITIGATION
Action Taken, 1t Is Said, for Purpose
of Reducing Expenses-Contract
for Bridge is Let.

For the first time in months the
Central Union Telephone litigation
with the city was given attention in
the city council room last evening, the
council passing a resolution instructing
the mayor to notify Kenworthy & Ken
worthy that their services are no Ion
ger required by the city. The matter
was brought up by Alderman Anderson
of the finance committee, who present
cd resolution to secure a statement
from the firm for services to date, to
dispense with the firms services. and
to have all papers i'll possession of Ken
worthy q Kenworthy turned over to
the city attorney, j. F. Witter.
To Save Expense.
The step taken by the council last
evening has, it is explained,
as its object the reduction of
expense. When KenWorthy d Ken
worthy were employed, the city had no
competent city attorney to handle the
case, but it is felt that the city's in
terests will now be satisfactorily looked
after by J. F. Witter. The attorneys
fees in this case have amounted to sew
eTal thousand dollars and the aldermen
feel that the cost will be reduced with
out injurirg the city's position, by dis
pensing with the assistance of Ken
worthy & Kenworthy.
Whether the action of the council in
this respect was wise or not remains to
be seen.
In Supreme Court.
The telephone case is now before the
supreme court, which has never pass
ed on the question at issue. Various
other cases in connection with the
phone litigation are still pending in the
lower courts here.
Last evening the Union Electric Tel
ephOne q Telegraph Co. filed a sworn
statement of its receipts for 1906, and
for 1907 to date. The statement shows
$202I3.07 for last year and $9,97G44
for 1907.
Let's Bridge COn.racG.
The council received the new bids
on the construction of the new bridge
over the Sears canal, which is to be
widened to $50 feet. The bid of the
Clinton Bridge & Iron Works proved
to be the lower of the two at about
$7,G40, while that of the Penn Bridge
Co. was about $500, the allowance for
the old bridge being deducted. and the
concrete work figured at $50 yards. The
Clinton firm was awarded the contract
and the mayor and clerk instructed to
enter into contract with the successful
bidders for the work Half of the cost
of the structure is to be paid by S. S.
Davis, owner of the water power rights
| and $4,000 is to be paid by the Tri-City
| Railway company.
| Allow Sidewalk Claim.
The council, on recommendation OF
the claims committee, through Alderman
McNealy, allowed Miss Kittie Lannen
| $3.50 for the injuries she sustained in
the collapse of the sidewalk in front of
the and 10 cent store on Second ave-
nue. in May. Several of these claims
have been settled by the city attorney,
who protested last evening against the
adoption of the report of the commit
| II,
and the report finally carried. Alder
men Oberg. Utke, Benson and Ander.
son voting for delay in the matter. for
Investigation by the claims and finance
committees and the mayor and city
Iattorney.
Pay Scmi-MOnthIy.
The ordinance providing for a semi
monthly payday for salaried employees
of the city was adopted, IL to 9, Alder
men Schmid and Anderson opposing it
Action on the ordinance was insisted
lon by Alderman Smith Alderman An
derson stated his objection to be the
Igreat amount of additional work thrown
lOntO the city clerks office, and urged
that the ordinance be laid over until ar
Investigation could be made as to al
Improved system of accounting for the
city clerks Office. The system is de
clared by expert accountants to be al
antiquated one, and the work of the
city clerk could be greatly decreased
by modern system. 1t is probable
that some changes will be adopted il
the near future looking to an improve
ment in the accounting methods.
Tax Levy for Parks.
An ordinance for tax levy of Sc
5S2.10 for park purposes was adopte,
without opposition. This is permissible
D under the new state law, and will prov
S of material assistance to the city il
' maintaining the city parks.
) An ordinance was adopted to max
( the Requirements for cream sold in tn
:. city conform to the state law The ney
: regulation is that cream must contain
|. not less than Is per cent of milk fat.
e Limbs Are Too Low.
5 Alderman Anderson brought up tn
); lquestion of enforcing the law relativ
4 to the trimming of trees over the sid,
i walks. The law requires that tree
l. lshall be trimmed at least 10 feet abov
e the sidewalk, and in many places /
It the city the limbs are less than 6 fec
s above the walk, making it very dis;