Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-25
MAKES THREAT
OF INJUNCTION
One of Unsuccessful Filter Bid
ders Trying Bluff on the
City Council.
AFTER SCALP OF ALvoRD
Lobbying With Aldermen in Attempt
to Reopen Canvass-Aldermen
Have One Course.

One of the companies that was I'M
successful in bidding for the contract
TO build the new filter plant in Res
ervoir park, through representative
who is on the ground, has made the
threat of bringing an injunction
against the city awarding the work to
the Pittsburg Filter Manufacturing
company in accordance with the rec
ommendation contained i'll the report
of John w. Alvord, the consulting en-
gineer of Chicago. If any such move
is to be attempted it will in all like
lihood materialize at the special meet
ing of the city council called for this
evening. 1t is understood the consent
has been obtained of Rock Island
taxpayer to appear as the petitioner
in the application for the threatened
restraining order.
Council on Inspection.
Mr.. Alvord arrived this afternoon
from Chicago. and is spending the af-
ternoon at Reservoir park with the
members of the city council going
over the specifications of the proposed
plant and explaining features of the
bid of the Pittsburg concern for the
enliehtenment of the aldermen. 1t IS
probable that at the meeting this ev-
ening. unless an obstacle in the form
of an injunction intervenes. the report
Of Mr. Alvord Will be accepted, his
recommendation cOncurred in and the
city attorney instructed to draft a for
u
pany.
HObnOb with Aldermen.
Representative of two of the con-
Germs that did not succeed in convinc-
ing Engineer Alvord that they had
propositions that We're superior 70
the one submitted by the company
which he has favored in his report, de
spite that one of them made a lower
figure than the Pittsburg concern, have
been hobnobbing with the aldermen
whom they could interest in an effort
to convert them to a movement to
reopen the report. bringing the matter
of selecting the bidder before the
council in its entirety.
VIII BE Put on Record.
Whether they have made any head
way will appear at the meeting this
evening if a motion to accept the re-
port and recommendation of Mr. Al
word is put. AS The Argus has stated
heretofore. the only interest the tax
payers have in the matter is that they
be given first class plant at the low
est price consistent with completeness
IN.
of Mr.. Alvord is that he was unani-
mously selected by the city council
from a list of a dozen experts whose
names were submitted for conSidera-
ton. 1t is assumed that ne is compe-
tent and honest, and therefore that he
has been impartial in his selection of
the successful bidder. The council
must place its confidence in some en-
gineer. The only excuse for recan-
vassing the filter bids would be that
some irregularity had been discovered
The members of the council are not
competent to pass upon the technical
merits of the bids. no more than is
any other citizen of ordinary intelli-
gence in things mechanical. If they
were luey NOulu IOl nave 10 employ
an expert and pay him $50 per day for
his experience and his judgment and
counsel
should Talk to Engineer.
Therefore, it is up to the council
either'to stand by Mr.. Alvord in his
verdict, or dismiss him and employ
some engineer whose recommendation
they are willing to support. The filter
men should not be permitted to go be-
fore the council and seek to confuse
them in such an important matter. If
they have any business it is with the
engineer whom the council has en-
gagged to direct that body