Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-04
INAUGURAL IS
PRETTY event
New Mayor Formally Takes
Oath of Office Before Big
Crowd of Citizens.
GIVES STAR TO SCHAFFER
Retiring Executive Receives Gift
from SucceSsOr-Old Council
Finishes Its Work.

Mayor George w. McCaskrin last |
evening assumed the duties of his OF |
flee in the new council chamber, on
the third floor of the city hall. before |
an audience that filled to Overlooking |
y the large chamber devoted to the use
of the council. There were two I'M !
expected features of the inaugural GER
emonies. and these added materially !
to the happy event of the evening. !
One was the presentation by Mayor
McCaskrin. when Mayor II. c. Schaffer
had delivered his valedictory address, !
and had handed to the new mayor the
gavel and the gold star which is the
insignia of his position, of Il personal
gift, in the form of 4 gold mayors
star, with the dates of Mayor Schaf !
fer'S term. The new mayor made a
happy presentation speech, in which
he expressed the appreciation of the
people of the city for Mayor Schaffer'S !
service, and extended to him the well
wishes of himself and the people Of the
city. Mr. McCaskrin said that he re-
tIt u lsiiS anu (loubICo llldt bCS|t
the chief executive of the city. and he
commended Mayor Schaffer for duty
performed to the best of his ability.
In conclusion, he pinned the gold EN-
blem on the retiring mayors coat. re-
marking that il was a token of friend
ship and well wisheS." Mayor Schaffer
simply beamed his appreciation, ahd
a,l- cd
congratula lions and best wishes
Formally Takes Oath.
The other feature of the ceremony
which has nor been seen i'll earlier in
augurals was the formal taking of the
oath of Office by the mayor before the
spectators gathered to witness Mayor
McCaskrin's induction into office When
the new council had assembled, City
Clerk Nj T. Rudgren arose and read
to the new mayor the formal oath of
office. Aside from these, the inaugural
ceremony followed the long established
custom. The old council transacted
the business before il, and adjourned
sine die, after unanimously giving a
rising vote of thanks to the retiring
mayor and aldermen and city officers.
The new council was then called to
order by Mayor Schaffer, who deliver
ed his valedictory message, which APP
pears in full elsewhere in this issue.
Mayor Schaffer then handed the gavel
to Mayor McCaskrin, and after he had
taken the oath of office, the new mayor
when the storm of applause had quiet
ed. delivered his inaugural. The ad-
dress of Mayor McCaskrin is also pub
lished in full elsewhere in this issue.
Makes No Appointments.
Mayor McCaskrin, at the conclusion
of his address, stated that he had since
his election, received many applca-
tons for appointment to Office, and that
he had given these due consideration.
He explained however, that in a dc
sire to choose the best possible men in
all departments, he wanted to visit
each of the departments before an
nouncing his appointments. He asked
the council TO take an adjournment
until this evening. promising that to-
night he will present a full list of APP
pointments for action. AS the hour
was growing late, and it would be i'm
possible TO dispose of further business
the council readily accepted the may.
Or's suggestion, and adjournment was
taken on motion of Alderman Holz
hammer.
New Aldermen Seated.
In addition to the Inauguration OF
the mayor, the occasion was the in
auguration of the following new mem
bers of the city council: Alderman
S. A LaVanway, Third ward Alder
man William d. Cochran, Fifth ward
and Alderman Charles Borst, Seventh
ward The following aldermen entered
on a new term of office as the repre-
sentatives of their respective wards
Alderman John Holzhammer, FRS
ward; Alderman August Utke, Secont
ward; Alderman Henry J. Prick, Fourtl
ward, and Alderman Martin McNealy
Sixth ward
The new council is democratic in it
political complexion, with the follow
ing democrats among its members
Aldermen Holzhammer, Blochlingel
LaVanway, Thompson, Prick. Cochran
and Lawler The republican member
are six in number as follows: Alder
men Utke, Carse, Schmid McNealy
Ellinwood, and Borst.
Flowers for New Men.
The council room presented an a
tractive appearance. with the mayor
desk and the desks of the city cler
and many of the aldermen banke