Rock Island Argus., 1911-09-25
Commission Makes a Positive
Move This Morning to Re-
duce Expenses.
FOLLOW PLAN OUTLINED
As Related in The Argus a Month Ago
Three Employees VIII Be
Without Positions.

ton or three city pOSlt1OnS ana Ine as
sumption of the duties in those de-
partments by the commissioners. The
appropriation for salaries this year
amounts to s17,500, while last year un-
der the old municipal government the
appropriation was but $10,500. II has
been learned that the people are oppos-
ed to the expenditure of the larger
amount, and as the commissioners are
desirous of conducting the city's af-
fairs as economically as possible, the
retrenchment was approved. The
commissioners are to do more work
and devote more time TO the city's af
fairs and thereby aid in making the
commission form a success.
ABOLISH THREE OFFICES.
In order to do this, the commissioner
of accounts and finances will assume
the duties and responsibilities of the
office of the city clerk; the commits
sioner of streets and public improve
ments will assume the duties of the Of
fees of supervisor of streets and street
Inspector; and the commissioner OF
public property will assume the du
ties and responsibilities of the office
of superintendent of waterworks. The
proposed change embodies the same as
that undertaken by the Moline commits
sion some time ago, according TO Com
missioner Rudgren The city attorney
was instructed 10 prepare an ordinance
to discontinue the above mentioned Of
fees.
FOR DEEPER CUT.
ID
amendment to the resolution when it
was offered. asking that the office of
deputy city clerk be discontinued also
When Commissioner Rudgren had ex-
plained that he and his assistants
spent about nine hours a day in the
office and did almost twice as much
work as similar forces. the amend
ment went by default because of want
Of a second. Commissioner Rud-
sren said he would be willing
10 agree To cutting the saar-
les in other departments to agree
with the scale in his own office Mayor
Schriver. in speaking of the discontin-
uation of the office of street inspector.
said that a contractor might be forced
TO give bond. guaranteeing satisfac
tory work, thereby allowing the city
% get rid Of that Office. He, with 9th
er members OF the commission. ex-
pressed the opinion that the work Of
the men at the heads of departments
had been entirely satisfactory.
REYNOLDS Is OPPOSED.
When the vote was taken on Com
missioner Rudg-en's resolution Com
missioner Reynolds was the only one
10 vote no. In giving his reason for
his negative vote. he said that he CON
sidered the resolution an unjust dis
elimination against his department.
and that he would not be in favor of
il till the scale in other departments
is the same
SET OFFICE HOURS.
Ordinances fixing Office hours for
members of the commission and
changing the time of the regular
commission meeting were presented
by Commissioners Rudgren and Hart
respectively. Hereafter, commission
ers will have established Office hours
from 10 TO - o'clock in the morn
ing, when they are out, word may be
left with the mayors stenographer.
The ordinance changing the time
of the meeting from 10 o'clock Mon
day mornings to o'clock Monday
afternoons, was laid over till next
Monday, after members of the coun-
ell refused TO second Commissioner
Reynolds motion for evening meet
ings. Commissioner Reynolds Of
fered the amendment because he
. shnnohs
to avail themselves of the opportun-
ity to present grievances. etc.
Other members felt, however, that
they could better discharge their
duties during the day time.
DEPUTY CLERK NAMED.
Oscar L Johnson, 522 Third
street, was this morning confirmed
as deputy city clerk, on motion OF
Commissioner Rudgren, who present |
ed his name for confirmation. In do !
ing so, Commissioner Rudgren stated !
that Mr. Johnson is at present in the |
department OF the Modern |
is competent and his rep |
utation and conduct are above re-
proach. His salary is TO be $1,000 |
per year. An ordinance providing |
for the distribution of executive and /
administrative powers of the city |
commission was this morning amend |
ed so as to give the commissioner |
of accounts and finances the office of |
city clerk and collector.
WANTS TO STRING WIRES.
The clerk this morning read a COM
munication from A. J. Beverlin, man
ager OF the Central Union Telephone
company. asking that the company
be allowed to construct iron braces
on the bridge across Rock river so
that wires for long distance service
might be strung with safety. The
matter was referred TO Commissioner
Reynolds a communication from
City Engineer Wallace Treichler was
read by the clerk. regarding the COM