Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-24

The result of the action OF the coun.
Gil will from present appearances mean
the destruction of the last hope of the
city in the fight against the oppressive
Central Union monopoly. 1t is merely
q question of short time when the
independent company will go out of
business, and in fact the council meet
ing hau hardly adjourned before steps
were taken for that purpose.
The peculiar phase of the situation
is that practically all of those who
voted against the ordinance, including
Mayor Schaffer, profess that they ia
vor the intentions of the ordinance.
Attorneys Inconsistency.
Responsibility for the failure to pass
the ordinance may be placed on the
mayor directly, but the aldermen who
voted in the negative claim the blow
is with City Attorney James F. Witter
indirectly and more, completely. Mr..
Witter states that if he were repre-
senting a private client in matter
such as the city telephone entangle-
lhNHb NOuiu tAat Tic iiSohN
De dropped and settlement made inn
mediately, but that as he represents
the city, he does not find it his duty
to give such advice.
Mr. Witter says the city has no case
against the Central Union on the rate
question or any other question, but
he argued before the city council last
evening that the adoption of the I'm
on Electric Telephone company's or
finance might prejudice our case
with the Central Union Telephone
company"
Champions Peoples Cause.
Alderman Louis Ostrom charged in
his address to the city council last
in two kinds of advice for the mem
bers of the city council. One brand is
for delivery in private. while the 9th
er, the direct opposite, is fer use in
public. From the remarks made by
Alderman Ostrom, the city attorney at
the private committee of the whole
meeting held last week very frankly
informed the aldermen that in his
opinion the city has no chance of con-
|quering the Central Union and bring
the Bell monopoly to time through the
medium of the courts. Last evening
in the council meeting the city attor-
ney urged delay in the decision on the
Union Electric matter on the ground
that the court case might be preju-
liced if action was taken"
Mayor Schaffer overlooked the in
consistency in the city attorneys al
itude, and accepted the advice that
favorable action be delayed. Several
of the aldermen, unable to solve the
city attorneys position, and not car
ing to grant the franchise under the
conditions, voted against the ordin
ance while protesting that they favor
| the purposes of the measure. Some OF
those whose votes are recorded in the
| negative column have expressed them
selves, in public and in private, as
ifavorably disposed toward. the plea Of
| the Union Electric company
| Adoption is Moved.
| None of the aldermen felt disposed
to bring up the telephone matter until
when the roll call was nearly conclud
| ed, Alderman Prick inquired whethe
the proposition was not to be takel
up. He moved that it be considered
and the ordinance was again read, ant
Alderman Pratt moved it's adoption
Alderman Anderson called on the cit,
attorney to state the situation as t,
The bearing of the ordinance on tn
Central Union case. Mr.. Witter in
formed the council that it would no
be good grace for him to take a stant
contrary to that taken by an attorne,
who is representing Moline in its figh
on the Central Union company. In re
sponse to leading question by Mayo
Schaffer, the city attorney said tina
the time was inopportune for any fl
vors to the Union Electric company.
Then Alderman Anderson said tina
with this legal advice he would b
compelled ITO vote no, and Alderman
Fuckis approved Alderman Anderson
position and declared it to be the on
he would take.
DIR. Ostrom Talks.
With this turn of affairs DIR. Ostror
arose, and championed the people
rights in the telephone question. II
said: ITO me there is something de
cidedly queer about all of this. Thi
is not the turn that was taken at tn
meeting held last week That NEE
ing, as supposed. settled this matter
The city attorneys position then wa
not the one he takes now, and TIL
legal advice given the council at ths
meeting differed greatly from tina
which the city attorney gives now"
Seemingly anxious not to be in e
ror in his statements, DR.. Ostrom he
itated moment, and expressed th
desire that his remarks be challenge
If they should be incorrect. He col
] tinued without any interruption, an
his statements were unchallenged. H
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