Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-07


fered a motion. which was adopted by
unanimous vote, that the mayor ap-
point a committee with power to call
before it Alderman Simser and get
from him a full statement of the
facts that he intimated he was in
possession of. 1t was now after IL
O'Clock, and, a. first blush. the mem
bers of the council felt it would be
satisfactory that the committee give
a report Of its investigation next
Monday night. However, the mayor
believed that the charge was too ser
ious to pass, and he advised that the
committee conduct its inquiry and
report before an adjournment for the
night was taken. The mayor named
as such committee Aldermen ]. T.
Stephens. Arthur A Huff and c. L.
Thompson. a recess of a half hour
was ordered to give the committee
time to examine Alderman Simser
Upon reassembling. the council
called for the report of the commit
tee Alderman Thompson, as spokes-
man, asked that the committee be
granted further time. Alderman
Frick offered a motion that the re-
ed, and it carried Simser, again
called upon to Justify his accusations,
said he had no further explanation to
offer. In other words, he proposed
standing pat.
The aldermen, several talking at
once, demanded that Simser give the
name of the firm or person that held
the jackpot and point out the MEM
bers of the council, if there were any,
who had shared in bribery.
Simser remained silent.
Prick ASKS RESIGNATION.
Alderman Simser having made
charges here rejecting On members
OF this body, and apparently being
unable to back up his assertions, I
move you, Mr.. Mayor" said Alder
man Prick, that this council request
the immediate resignation of Mr..
Simser from this body"
60 ahead" said Simser.
81 believe we ought to move slow
~ in this matter" advised Alder
man La Vanway.
Before Alderman Tricks motion
was put to a vote, Alderman Simser
asked to be heard. "Manifestly l
have been misunderstood" he said.
81 ought to say TO you that i did
not mean TO reflect on any member
Of this council or any city official, as
they are not involved
This was accepted in the nature
of an apology. Mayor McCaskrin /
then presented a message, which was
adopted, calling upon Alderman Sim
ser if he had knowledge of any cor
ruption or alleged corruption in the
city council. to present his facts at (
the committee of the whole meeting /
to be held next Thursday afternoon.
$500 POT. SAYS SCHMID.
Alderman G. L. Schmid stated that T.
he had been informed by Alderman
Simser that there was a pot of 5000
to be distributed among members of
the council in the hose deal.
''Now ] am satisfied that there is
grating going on" shouted Alder
man Charles Borst.
Alderman John Holzhammer took
Alderman Frick to task for his al
legations that there had been too
much winning and dining of members
Of the council by hose company
agents. Alderman Frick stood bys
what he said at a previous meeting
on this question.
Mayor McCaskrin said to an Argus
1t is not improbable
that information that l gave changed
members of the joint committee that
was considering the first fire hose
bids. ] have in my office a report OF
he Merriam commission, which made
some sensational discoveries in con-
1ection with city contracts in Chi
,ago. | showed the committeeman
what the Merriam commission had
% say in regard to one of the COM
1anies that was competing for the
nose contract here. / had nothing
'urther to do with the selection of
he hose which the council ordered
or the Rock Island department But .
do want to say that f Alderman !
Simser knows of any grating or cor !
'upting OF members OF this council
We propose 10 find it out. OF course
le has admitted that no alderman or
ity Official is involved in this charge, {
,ut we are demanding that he name
he parties who he claims had made
I'D a fund to use in an attempt to
,uy votes of members of this coun- \
H." a
MATTER FOR GRAND JURY. c
The message delivered by the mayor v
as as follows: l
Rock Island. Ill, Feb. 6, 1911-To c
he Honorable City Council of the City Z
( Rock Island l have II
he honor TO present a few words 20 {
on relative 10 the charges made by :
.lderman Simser of the Third ward. .
he gravity of the charge made here :
1night by him relative TO the purchase =
{ fire hose deserves your most candid :,
election, conservative and positive. 9,
Ehen | ask you as a body not 10 let 2,
lis matter go, as stated by him. /
.eant il. II there was jackpot or an :
venture of the payment of $50 by any
srson to any alderman. then we should
now who that person or firm was or
that was responsible for such an act.