Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-13
TOO MUCH WINE;
KILLS HOSE BIDS
Good Fellowship of Agents
Causes Council to Order Re-
lection of Proposals.
MUST BEGIN OVER AGAIN
Alderman Prick Protests Against the
Tactics Employed by Companies
Seeking Contract Here.

Six bids received from as many diff
ferent companies for the supplying of
1000 feet of hose to the Rock Island
fire department were rejected by the
city council at its meeting last night
upon recommendation of Alderman H.
j. Prick, chairman of the fire and
light committee. Alderman s. A. La
Nanway, another member of the COM
mittee, could not understand the rea-
son for the position assumed by the
chairman, and requested the latter to
make an explanation to the council be-
fore vote was taken on his motion.
Il have hesitated in making known
the grounds for my opposing accept
ance of any of the bids presented"
Alderman Frick said, but since there
seems a desire to know the fact | will
tell them. l have grown tired OF an
noyance from the representatives of
these fire hose companies. At every
bidding that we have in this city these
men flock here and hang on until the
contract is finally awarded, each trying
to Guido the other as a good fellow
giving suppers and wine celebrations.
am opposed to such business, and |
think it's about time that we alder
men let these agents know that they
must win on the merits of their goods
instead Of seeking to influence our
votes by giving entertainments for
our benefit The fiddler must be paid.
and you can depend upon it that the
company that secures a contract under
conditions which I mention will charge
the expense up to the city. We may
M h. hrrt will no
slipped in just the same"
Alderman Tricks motion carried,
and the clerk was instructed to adver-
tise for new proposals for furnishing
the 1000 feet of hose.
Goes 10 Lowest Bidder.
The council adopted a report offer
ed by Alderman Charles Borst, chair /
man of the bridge committee, recon- |
mending that the contract for the re
placing of three of the spans over
Rock river be awarded to the Clinton /
Bridge and Iron company, Clinton, /
iowa, that concern having submitted .
the lowest bid on the work. The may
or and clerk were authorized to close .
with the company for the /
installation of the new steel spans. /
There is available from the Tri-City .
Railway company $4,000 to help pay .
for the improvement. This amount /
will about cover the expense.
There was received but one bid in
response to the advertisement for far
nishing an electric motor to operate
the Fifth avenue sewer pump. The .
proposal was not opened, and the clerk
was instructed to advertise again in an
effort to induce competition.
Fire Company the Bluff.
The bridge committee and the alder
men of the ward were appointed by
the mayor, upon a motion by Alder
man Borst, to select a lot on which it
is proposed to build a fire station in
the bluff section of the Seventh ward.
1t was also ordered that $25 be made
available to be used as option money.
The committee will report back to the
council.
Alderman William Cochran COM
planned of delay in carrying out in
structions given in a resolution that
he introduced last June providing for
new sidewalks in the first precinct of
the Fifth ward. He said there was no
excuse for putting off the work. mas
much as the owners of the property
to be improved were anxious that it be
lone. It was decided that a meeting
Of the board of local improvements be
leld today to advance the ordinance.
Controversy Unsettled.
The controversy among the automo-
)ile companies for the privilege of oc-
,upying the avenue in front of the New
Harper with their cars while waiting
or patronage is still in the hands of
he license and markets committee.
The committee asked and was grant
ID further time to complete its inves-
igation
A resolution offered by Alderman
Cochran that crossing gates be placed
N First avenue at Seventeenth, Eigh-
eenth and Nineteenth street, was
Ldopted by the council.