Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-14

erman Pratt to reconsider the ordin-
ance indicated as much, for there
were nine voted for reconsideration, in
GLIDING that of Alderman McNealy,
who was the only alderman who OPP
posed the ordinance when it was adop-
ted a week ago. However. according
to parliamentary rule, vote of two
thirds is required TO reconsider an or
dinance, and so the measure stands,
and five aldermen have lined them
selves against the strong array of pub
lie disapproval of the measure. The
vote on the proposition was as follows:
. Ayes-Ostrom, Prick, McNealy, Law
lar, Pratt, Smith, Schmid, Trefz, and
HolZhammer.
Nays-Oberg, Utke, Tuckis, Benson,
and Anderson.
The ordinance aims at, or at least
affects. the vaudeville houses, and is
an unfair oppression of the theaters
patronized by the citizens of compare
lively limited means. Such a DISPOSE
ton finds no favor with those who pat
ronize these theaters, nor will any who
believe i'll fair deal for all concerned.
Before the provisions of the ordin-
ance become effective it is possible
that a new ordinance fixing different
fees and repeating the disapproved
measure passed last week, will be in
troduced.
The consideration of the theater or
dinance was unattended by any of the
pyrotechnicS sometimes seen in the
council chamber, although after the
vote had been taken Alderman Nc
Ncaly, under the misrepresentation that
the vote had carried, endeavored TO
shoot off some fireworks. He arose
and declared that he was hip to the
whole business before it was up" and
he said that when another alderman
had approached him and said, I'VE can
do this and that" he had replied mo
you have it wrong; you can, perhaps
but do not, say We" Just as the alder
man apparently was about to describe
The skeleton in the closet, the mayor
interrupted, indicating to the alder
man that his speech had no bearing on
anything then before the council, as
the motion had lost.
Litigation Possible.
Mayor Schaffer will be petitioned by
business men to veto the ordinance
and if this is impossible under the law
| it is possible that the ordinance may
be fought by the theater men, who will
maintain. if the matter gets into the
courts, that the ordinance is an unfair
and discriminating measure.
That it is unfair and discriminates
is the general opinion, but whethe'
the courts will hold it so under the
law, remains to be seen, and so fal
the idea of throwing the ordinance
into the courts is merely possibility
| Given Free Water.
| The aldermen, on motion of Alder
man Anderson of the waterworks com
mittee, voted to grant free water serv
ice to the authorities of Rock IslanC
arsenal at the Twenty-fourth stree
guard house. 1t was explained that ;
public convenience will be given il
this manner, and that in addition t.
this reason for making the concession
1.-THE police of the city have the coor
Grafton of the arsenal guards in var
Gus ways, and that this is proving o
considerable assistance to the police
Wants Owl Car Back.
Alderman McNealy brought up tn
Iquestion of the discrimination of tn
lall night service on the Blue line, IN
on his motion a committee to consis
of the mayor, city attorney, and tn
chairman of the street and alley an
finance committees. be instructed tC il
teTview General Manager Lardner an
urge the restoration of the service
The committee was also urged by a
dermen from the west end to endeavC
to secure the service to the west en-
terminal instead of Fifteenth stree
, as formerly.
Favor Phone Ordinance.
A communication was received fro
: local union No. 100, urging favorab
r action by the council on the propose
/ ordinance of the Union Electric Tel
phone and Telegraph company.
The council will hold a meeting
\ the committee of the whole tonig
@ to consider this ordinance. Gener
J. Manager II. H. Bratt intended to ha'
!. a set of automatic instruments to del
/ onstrate to the council the workin
of the automatic exchange system. b
has been unable to secure the app;
atus. The device will be exhibited
soon as the instruments can be
cured.
A committee from the Business Mel
association will be present to EXPIRE
the sentiments of the association,
voted 'at a meeting last evening.