Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-15
zEALOF The MAYOR
FOR IMPROVEMENT
CAUSES CENSURE
Rebuked by Fellow Commits
sioners for Attitude in Paw
ing-Schriver Explains.
TELLS OF CHIEF DESIRE
oversteps Bounds, But Did " for Good
Motive, He Says-other
Proceedings.

A resolution condemning the mayor
for alleged boosting of commissioner
fees in making out assessment rolls on
public improvements in excess Of the
engineers estimate when confirmed in
county court, was unanimously passed
at the weekly session of the city cCm-
mission. Commissioner VI. T. RuGgren
offered the resolution, which was sec
onded by Commissioner r. r. Rey-
nolds.
II will be recalled at the meeting u
week ago Commissioner Rudgren made
a vigorous protest against what he
thought was an unwarranted license
on the part of the mayor in naming a
higher figure for commissioners fees
than that provided in the engineers es-
innate. Commissioner Archie Hart at
that time wanted further information
about the matter. and moved that it
be laid over for a week until the city
attorney could be consulted as to who
recommended to the county Judge the
commissioners fee when the assess
ment rolls were confirmed.
VOTE IL TAKEN.
This plan was followed, and yester-
day afternoon Commissioner Rudgren
brought up the subject again. He cit
ed a number of instances where the
fees had been boosted and asked the
mayor II these were the figures he
had recommended TO the city attorney
TO be suggested to the county judge,
and the chief executive stated that
they were. City Attorney J. F. Witter
was asked by Commissioner Rudgren
II 1t was not the policy Of the county
Judge TO allow any commissioner fee
without hesitancy that was suggested
by the city attorney and he said that
this was the custom, although with
the county judge rested the legal re-
sponsihility for the size of the fee.
Commissioner Hart stated that the
mayor had given the information which
he wanted a week ago, and then Com
missioner Rudgren offered his resolu-
ton, which was unanimously passed,
the mayor himself voting for 1t. May.
or Sohriver explained his position be-
fore the vote was taken, and an under
standing was reached.
PASS RESOLUTION.
The resolution passed follows:
Resolved, That, whereas the city
engineer. in compliance with resolu
ton passed by this council makes a
separate item of commissioners fees
in his estimate OF cost of public i'm
provement; and. whereas, this council
in approving said estimate approves
the payment of not to exceed said
amount as such fee; and, whereas, Il
is the practice Of the mayor, through
the city attorney. to recommend the
amount to be paid commissioners o.
public improvements; and, whereas. L
the best of Cur knowledge and belief
the court has in each case confirmed
the amount recommended by the may
or: and. whereas. in several cases tn,
commissioners fee is fixed at al
amount in excess OF the fee approved
by this council. which. to the best o
our knowledge and belief is due TO tn
mayor recommending a fee in excess o
fee approved in said estimate: there
fore. be IL
Resolved, That we protest agains
the mayor instructing the city attor
ney to recommend or suggest large
fee for commissioners OF public i'm
provement than the amount approve,
by this council"
DEFENDS POSITION.
Mayor Schriver made statement L
the council in free and frank man
ner. stating that whatever had beer
done had been in the interests of pub
lie improvement and through his yea
TO secure such improvement. II hav,
worked hard to create sentiment fo
public improvements" said the mayor
when took this Office determined
that / would improve the city all
could. ] found a hostile sentiment II
certain instances but now the situation
Is changing. People are beginning T.
come and ask us for pavement, ant
water and sewer.
Many OF the commissionershin
have gone 10 poor people living OF
the line of the DronOsed iu,Droya,,,o,,