Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-17
WILL SETTLE Il
Understood Phone Questions
Are to Come Up for Final
Act n Next Week.
A LONG CONFERENCE HE'LL
Aldermen Discuss Troubling Problems
Before Going into Regular Coun-
Gil Meeting.

The telephone ordinances did not |
come up before the city council last |
evening in the formal session of the |
aldermen, but there was a long con
ference in the mayors office before |
that the telephone matters were the
cause of this session. The meeting
was attended by the mayor and the
city attorney, and u members of the
city council, the other two members
not reaching the city hall until later
Nothing is given out as TO the dis
cussion at this meeting, but it is I'M
derstood that the questions, both as
| to the proposed new ordinance for the
Union Electric company, and the ne
sotiations to end the fight with the
Central Union, were thoroughly dis
cussed, and that the aldermen reached
q practically unanimous agreement to
finally settle both matters next Mon
day evening.
1t is understood that three ordi.
nances at that time will be disposed
of, each company submitting an ordi-
nance, and the city Offering a third
to each of the two companies.
One of the first things done in the
council session. was the adoption of
q motion by Alderman Anderson that
when the council adjourn it be to
next Monday evening.
As Seen in Davenport.
Before adjournment the aldermen
had an opportunity to learn something
of the view taken in Davenport on the
relief measure applied for by the
Union Electric company Alderman
Ogden of Davenport was present at
the meeting, and at the invitation of
the council, addressed the meeting for
Isome little time. He told of the woes
and troubles of an alderman, and re-
called some of the big propositions
that have come before the Davenport
council during his term Of service as
alderman. These included the electric
light controversy, the Rock Island
railway differences and the Union
Electric phone matter. OF the latter
Alderman Ogden said in part: lone
export did during my term was &c
take up the Union Electric Telephone
& Telegraph company and place this
struggling infant in a position of fail
competition with the Bell system
, The Bell company in Davenport has
all sorts of charges. it has poor ser
: vice, and other things which must
, frankly be termed evils.
1T took the council of Davenport
? only a little while to determine this
5 Question The only solution of The
d proposition was to continue compe
b tition. and competition could only be
: secured by placing the two companie:
S on as even basis as possible.
One of Best Acts.
"The vote was unanimous to take
n care of the Union Electric company
v and | regard my vote for that measure
? as one of the best acts | ever did TO
Y the people of Davenport during IN.
term in office l think the request
of the company are right and just
81 am not speaking to you here il
Ii the defense or assistance of any COZ
r poration, nor in defense of any act o
[, mine in the Davenport council. l an
y merely here relating experiences
e The aldermen are placed in the coun
y Gil to use their judgment and to d
S the city's business and do it righ
l. Of course there are criticisms Otter
but this may be expected, for if Jone
Ills pleased, Smith will likely be O
tended"
Ordinances Adopted.
The council adopted two ordinance
4 which were outlined at the last NEE
a ling. that providing for the employ