Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-21
CITIZENS MUST
PAY WATER RENT
is CITY'S EDICT
Commission Resolves to Shut
OFF Service to Those Who
Are in Arrears.
cARELESSNESS IS CAUSE
Council Declines to Repeal Ordinance
Letting Soothssyers Get Foot
Hold Here.

Laxity on the part of property own
ers in the payment of water rents
caused the council yesterday TO pass
a resolution offered by Commissioner
Nj. t. Rudgren, in which it is provided
that all owners who are in arrears two
bills-that is two regular collection
periods regardless OF their length as
some pay monthly, some quarterly and
some at longer intervals-shall be de-
prived Of city water through having
their service discontinued. An inves-
tigation by Mr.. Rudgren, who is ex-
ofiicio collector OF water rents. and
Commissioner Jonas Bear who is head
OF the waterworks department, has
shown that some $4,000 is due the city
for back water rents. This amount
would prove very welcome TO the city
az any time and especially now when
the funds are very low. II is held
by the commissioners who investi-
gated that for the most part those who
are in arrears are amply able TO pay
but have merely neglected il for one
reason or another. II is thought that
shutting OF the water will have an i'm
mediate effect. The ordinance requires
this action on the part of the city, but
in the past It has never been enforced
DON'T WANT SOOTHsAYERs.
Attorney &. J. Schroeder appeared
before the council at its meeting yes
terday and for the second time re-
quested that the present city ordi-
nance fixing a prohibitive license fee
for fortune tellers. palmists and the
like be repealed or else a reasonable
fee agreed upon. City Attorney ]. F.
Witter reported as per instruction at
the last meeting that he had exam
fined the ordinance and was not sure
OF it's legality because of it's being
prohibitive. The license fee is $50
a week
Members Of the council. while prone
20 admit that the ordinance might be
invalidated, we're nevertheless reluct.
ant about changing n of their own
initiative, being content TO let II stand
as It is as long as il accomplishes what
Is Misunderstanding out the soothsay-
ers. In order for the class TO get a
foothold here. it will be necessary for
them 20 institute legal proceedings
and show that the present ordinance
is Invalid Attorney Scnroeders re
quest that II be changed was accord,
ingly refused Commissioner Archie
Hart voiced the sentiments of his
colleagues when he said: I'VE have
enough family troubles in the city now
without having a bunch of fortune tell
ers at work breaking up homes by
telling wives that their husbands are
keeping company with dark women
and apprising husbands Of the fact
that their spouses are in love with
tall handsome men"
PLACE OBJECTION ON FILE.
petition signed by 29 owners Of
property on Twenty-fifth street south
OF Thirteenth avenue and represent
ing 1902 feet Of the 1920 feet involved
was presented 20 the commission yes
terday The signers protested agains
the paving OF Twenty-fifth street sout,
OF Thirteenth avenue. North OF Thir
tecnth the sentiment seems strongl!
for the improvement. The petition wal
received and placed on file. no actor
being taken in the case.
Several Second avenue propert!
owners appeared 20 register protes
20 the repaying Of that thoroughfart
between Seventh and Fourteenth
streets They told OF the hardship i
Won d work and that IT would neces
sariiy force them to sacrifice theiI