Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-09
COUNCIL HAS
A LIVELY TILT
over STREET
Refusal of Mayor to Have it
Closed According to ResoIu-
ton Starts Trouble.
HOT WORDS ARE PASSED
Alderman Smith Refuses to Serve as
Chairman of Committee-Pro-
vide for Water Mains.

There was something of a lively
Time at last evenings session of the
city council, and for time it seemed
likely that the meeting might develop
something more than conflict of
words.
Inc trouble arose over the differ
ences between Alderman c. ]. Smith
OF the Third ward and Mayor Schaffer,
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of closing Thir-
tieth street from Fifth to Seventh av-
enues, pending necessary improve
ments in that street. The council at
Its last meeting adopted a resolution
ordering the street closed and the nee
essary repairs provided for, at once
The matter was placed in the hands
OF the street and alley committee. of
which Alderman Smith was chairman.
Friday Mr.. Smith, acting on the au-
tfority of the committee. ordered the
street commissioner to close the
street in accordance with the resolu-
ton, and requested the city engineer
to report the repairs necessary. Bars
were hauled to the street, but about the
time 1t was being closed Mayor Schaf-
fer interfered, and it remains OPEN
Blocks the Council.
Alderman Smith last evening. after
stating the situation. demanded to
know. of the mayor whether resolu-
tons of the council and action of COM
mittees have any standing, or whether
they are effective only by the consent
of the mayor
The mayor replied that he does not
deem it necessary or advisable to
close the street, and finally he declar-
ed fatty that he would not allow the
street TO be closed.
Alderman Smith then stated again
the situation as he saw it. and de-
clared that he would refuse to serve
longer on a committee if that COM
r1ittee were mere advisory and pow
erless body. He insisted that the
mayor consider this his resignation
from the Craftsmanship of the street
and alley committee. and the mayor
said he would
Brewing Company's Power.
Alderman Ellinwood at this juno
ture broke into the discussion, declar-
ing that he did not deem il proper
that the council give instructions to
city employees direct, but that it would
be better form to recommend to the
mayor that such employees be, instruct
ed by the mayor to do this or that.
This precipitated a heated discussion
between Alderman Smith and Alder
man Ellinwood, Mr.. Smith claiming
that Mr.. Ellinwood had not opposed
the measure in the council or the
street and alley committee session
He called on others to support this
contention. The two also disagreed
as to the expressed desires of certain
of the property owners relative to the
closing of the street, and to settle this
Street Commissioner Thode was called
into the discussion. Alderman Nc
Nealy protested that the mayor had
rot the authority to ignore action Of
the council, and he added that the
matter gives the impression that the
Rock Island Brewing company instead
of the aldermen, runs the affairs o.
the city. The mayor did not deigr
4 defense, but merely declared tina
the paving had been repaired where
i, was in the worst condition, ant
that repair work does not necessaril,
mean closing the street.
smith VS.. schmid.
In some way Aldermen Smith AM
Schmid. who have adjoining seats il
the council chamber, became engage,
in an argument ever the matter. ant
while Alderman Smith had the foo
the alderman from the Fifth inter
rupted. This started bitter words be
tween the two in the course of whic
the Third ward alderman made slul
ring remark relative to the attitud
o; Alderman Schmid in the contr,
versy over the Fifth ward seat. Tn
two became decidedly bitter and pc
sonal in their remarks, and Mayo
Schaffer was for time unable to s.
cure order.
The matter ended with Alderma
Smiths reiteration of the declaratio
that he refused to serve on commi
tee that has no authority.
Pass Improvement Measure.
The council adopted the ordinanc
providing for the extension of wats
mains on Thirty-ninth street betwee
Eleventh and Fourteenth avenues, an
ON Eleventh avenue, by special asses
ment
The question of the Sixth wal
sewer system was up again. and Il
council discussed somewhat the pro
osition of planning complete syste
independent of the worthless Twent
fourth street storm drain. The aide
men are generally opposed to come,
ing with the Twenty-fourth sire
ditch, but there is objection to pla
ming the work in such way that Z
entire cost Of the work will have to
paid by the residents of the hill d
trict. The system is designed to ser
the territory on the hill south