Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-03
POWER IS NOW IN
MAYORS HANDS
Amended Ordinance Changing
Responsibility for City En-
gineer Passes.
REYNOLDS ALONE VOTES NO
Subject OF Dispute Is Finally Dis
posed of by Overriding
Past Act.

| Mayor Harry II. Schrtver now mas
under his direction the Office of the
| city civil engineer for this morning
that department was changed over
from the department of streets ana
public improvements by the passage
adopted in April distributing the ey-
ecutive power and administrative du-
ties among the members of the CON-
mission board. The amended oTdi-
nance was presented last Monday
morning but as there was objection On
the part of Robert Reynolds, the com
missioner most affected by 1t, 1t was
necessary to delay passage till this
morning. On the vote for the change
Of the power over this officer, Commis-
sioner Reynolrs> alone voted no and
therefore the amendment was passed.
UP TO MAYOR NOW.
For several meetings past, there
has been, a desire upon the part of one
official or another to secure the rati-
fication of a candidate for the Office
Of city civil engineer, but as yet there
has been no definite decision for any
one. 1t is now up to Mayor Schriver
TO submit for ratification the name OF
the candidate whom he prefers as the
department is under his control. He
presented the name of Wallace
Treichler, the present incumbent last
week, but because the department was
not under his control, there was objec-
ton. The amendment of the ordinance
followed. He did not submit a name
this morning, but it is thought that he
will again submit the name of Mr.
Treichler within a short time so
that there may be organization of the
board of local improvements.
TO CURB SMOKE NUISANCE.
In order that the smoke nuisance
in Rock Island may be discontinued
City Attorney J. F. Witter was this
morning instructed by the city COM
mission to draft an ordinance which
shall cover that matter, and which
shall abolish that nuisance. Within
the last two weeks complaint after
complaint has been entered with the
city commission and two petitions
signed by numerous property own
ers in the vicinity of places where
there is such condition, have been
formally presented to the council
The first is under investigation by
Commissioner Archie Hart but till
there is an ordinance to cover the
point the matter will be up in the
air.
The second was presented this
morning and was signed by owners
living in the vicinity of Third ave-
nue. between Thirteenth and Four
teenth streets. The signers COM
planned that during the day it was
sometimes necessary to keep the
homes closed up for hours at a
time. 1t was learned after the pc
tition had been presented that the
prOprietors of the plant complained
of had taken steps to eliminate the
nuisance and so the petition was
simply tabled. If there is another
report of the offense the matter will
be considered.
SECOND STREET LINE.
Seven administrations have been
called upon up to the present date by
residents of south Second street for
action in regard to the establish
ment of a street line so that people
will be able to tell whether they are
erecting houses on their own prop
erty or in the streets. The trouble
began back in the COS and since
then engineer after engineer has
been called upon to survey the prop
erty and council after council has
been called upon to settle the matter
one way or the other. The matter
is still up in the air, so to speak, and
this morning several of the people
residing south of Twelfth avenue
along the thorougnfare which has
gained such wide publicity because
of the difficulties. appeared before
/ the city commission.
They asked for immediate action
and it was promised. Commission
er Reynolds is to look over the sit,
uation and he is to report back to
the commission. Action will then be
taken.
ASSISTANT ENGINEER.
An ordinance submitted by Com
missioner Jonas Bear this morning
to make the assistant engineer of
the waterworks department and one
OF the outside men city officials was
passed this morning. The ordinance
was drafted so that the employees
would be entitled to free transporta-
ton on railway lines in the city.