Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-16
SOON PASS new
PLAN PETITIONS
Rock Island Business Men s
Association to Seek Voters
Signatures.
BLANKS ARE ORDERED
Hope to Have Commission Govern
ment Question Settled at No
vember Election.

Petitions are soon to be circulated
by the Rock Island Business Mems as
sociation for the placing on the ballot
at the November election of the propo-
sition whether the taxpayers of Rock
Island desire to be governed under the
commission form, as provided by law
enacted at the recent session Of the
legislature
At a meeting OF the association direc-
tors last night Secretary Charles Cor
was instructed to, obtain a supply Of
petition blanks. These will be placed
in the hands of the members, all of
whom are enthusiastically in favor of
the abolition oS the present system of
municipal govel >ment, TO obtain sig
natures. The law requires that 10 per
cent of the voter shall sign the petit
lions requesting the county judge to
order the proposition placed on the
ballot. The aim of the association is
to have the preliminaries out of the
way in order that, assuming the PEG
pie will go on record as favoring an
election under the new form, the COM
missioners may be chosen simulta-
neously with the expiration of the
terms of the officers of the present adj
ministration.
Senator DAILY to BE Speaker.
IN line with it's agitation for the
adoption OF the commission form of
government, the business mems asso-
citation will have the question discuss
ed at its annual banquet, the date Of
which has been fixed for April IA, by
Senator John DAILY of Peoria, member
of the Illinois legislature who was one
of a committee of five designated by
the upper house to visit several cities
which are operating under the COM
mission form. Mr.. DAILY supported the
law throughout the fight for its adop-
ton by the legislature, and is thor
oughly informed on the subject. The
other speaker at the banquet will be
W. ]. Pilkington, one of the live wires
of Des Moines, a city that is conducted
under the commission form. However.
Mr. Pilkington will speak on another
topic. the title of which is to be Re
failing of Merchandise as a Science"
George E. Green of Peoria, secretary
of the state business mems associa-
ton, has been invited to be present
also, and if he comes, as all of the
business people here hope, he can be
relied upon to have an interesting mes /
sage to impart. The place of holding
the banquet was left to committee
In addition to the addresses there will
be musical program. 1t is proposed
to make the affair the biggest of its
kind aver held under tho aucDicao Of
the association. There will be seat
ing accommodations for $50, and it is
the intention to invite every business
and professional man of the city, |
whether a member of the association /
or not, to attend.
Abolition of Bridge Tolls.
The directors of the association also |
gave further consideration to the new
state law making it obligatory upon
counties to assume maintenance of
bridges within the county, the local |
associations interest bearing on the |
situation as it applies to the Rock |
river structures between Sears and |
Milan The law contemplates. how |
ever. that the bridges must be in first |
class condition before the trans |
fer to the county can be forced. |
The association is urging the city to |
improve the bridges in order to place |
them under county control and thereby /
abolish the provincial system of toll |
thereby making charge to travel the
only inlet there is to the city from the
farming country at the south.