Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-10
BRIDGE CONTRACT
HELD UP BY CITY
Mayor Will Withdraw sigma.
ture From Document With
Clinton Concern.
LABOR CLAUSE THE CAUSE
Demand Is That Scale Be Paid on All
Steel Work-Alderman Fears
Legal Troubles.

Despite that representatives of the
Structural Steel Workers union an
nounced acceptance of the conditions
named in a stipulation, with the under.
standing that the city had exacted all
It could legally from the company,
Mayor G. W. McCaskrin announced al
meeting of the city council last night
that he would refuse to close a con
tract with the Clinton Bridge and Iron
works unless the concern applied the
union wage scale to all Of the steel
work, both erecting and dismantling,
on the three Rock river spans. The
mayor read a message in which he
went into details as TO his views, set
ting forth that in all city contracts let
during his two administrations he had
exacted and secured such a conces,
sion in behalf of union labor. He knew
that a labor discriminating clause
would not stand before the courts in
a contract. but he found the desired
results were obtainable through sign
ed stipulations attached TO contracts
Such arrangements had been put in eff
feet with the Central Union Telephone
company. the Pittsburg Filter Manu-
featuring company and the Tri-City
Railway and Light company. He did
not propose that the Clinton Bridge
and Iron works should be permitted
TO cause any departure from this poll
cy.
SCHMID SCENTS POLITICS.
Alderman G. l. Schmid, charging
that the mayors message was pre-
scented purely for political effect, NOV
ed that the document be tabled. The
alderman said he was Just as good a
friend of union labor as the mayor,
but he believed there was a legal Ques-
ton involved that might cost the city
dearly were the recommendations of
the mayor acquiesced in by the coun-
ell The mayo requested that all ne
gotiations with the Clinton company
he severed. Alderman Schmid said
that the mayor had signed a contract
with the company after the bid had
been accepted by vote of the coun-
Gil. and it was his opinion that the
company could and would hold the city
TO it's agreements. The mayor did not
deny that his signature was on the
contract, but he claimed that he had
signed the same conditionally, and
that he was not in the least alarmed
over the outcome The mayor held
since the company consented To pay
the union scale of wages on the new
steel work there was no reason why
1t should not make a similar conCes-
sion on the dismantling work. How
ever, this il had refused positively
to do
Finally. a motion offered by Alder
man H. J. Frick thai the message be
referred 10 the bridge committee and
city attorney to investigate and re-
port back at the next meeting.of the
council was conCurred in.
SETTLEMENT WITH VROOMANS.
A compromise on a basis of 5000
was effected with Mr.. and Mrs. John
Nrooman of Andalusia, who had enter
ed suits In the circuit court to recover
damages for personal injuries received
three years ago when their team drove
into gully at Eighteenth avenue and
FIFTEENTH street. r. r Reynolds, at
torney for the couple, agreed to dis;
miss the court actions upon the receipt
OF the city's check for 5000 and upon
vote of the council the proposition
was accepted.
FOR CONDEMNED PROPERTY.
The council ordered that vouch-
ers be issued toe the following to
cover the price agreed 10 on prop
erty dedicated TO the city when the
Sixth ward sewer system was con
structed. Elizabeth l.. Kelly, $50:
Martha A. Rodman. S195; J. c.
Frey, 500; f. f. Black. $45: Cath
crime Davenport, $3.50; Dart estate,
$3.50; Carrie Gregg and F. G. Nut
ting. $3.50; Ignatz Huber estate.
S275; Mary ID. Curtis, $500.
NEW HOSE AND MOTOR.
The council approved a report of
The committee of the whole recon-
mending acceptance of the bid of
the New Jersey Car Spring and Rub
Der company for furnishing 1000
feet Of FIRE hose at so cents per foot.
and that OF the Davenport Engineer
Ing company to install a new 80
horse power motor to operate the