Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-22
CITY COMMISSION
IN WRANGLEOVER
PAY OF LINEMEN
Rudgren Urges Contingent
Fund Be Used in Paying
for Wire Removal.
MAYOR STRONGLY OPPOSES
sehrlVer Thinks Sum Should Be Paid
Out Of $1,000 Secured From
Sale Of Old Equipment.

! "hecher the city has a legal right 70
pay hnemen who have been euploved
IN removing the dangerous cable and
wires OF the defunct Union Electric
1eIephone company. with funds secur-
ed from the sale OF the same. was ser
iousIy questioned yesterday afternoon
at the meeting Of the city commission.
oy Commissioner RudgreD, when a
OIL or 5000 for such services was I'm.
der discussion
Inc matter came up when Commits
sioner Rudgren offered a resolution
providing that the same be paid ont
OF the contingent fund. This drew an
immediate protest from MAYOR Schrf-
yer. who insisted there was no good
reason why the men should not be
paid from the fund of $500 which is
now on deposit in one OF the banks, the
proceeds from a sale OF the copper
wire and other equipment which has
been dismantled.
Should Get Judgment.
The city has no right to appropriate
or dispose of the money secured from
the sale" argued Commissioner Rud-
gren. What the city ought 20 do is
to 60 into court and get a Judgment
against the company for these bills.
In the meantime think these accounts
should be paid. II will cost about
$4,000 to complete the work of tear
ing down the old equipment, and 1 do
not intend 10 make myself liable for
The disposition of this money, for l am
confident that If a suit was started to
recover, it would be against me alone"
Your duties are merely minister
ial," replied the mayor. THE city and
not you personally would be liable. If
this sum has got TO come from the
contingent fund, then am opposed to
further work on the project. The pub
lie will have to take a chance with the
dangerous wires. We simply cannot af-
ford to drain the contingent fund for
this purpose. II would be ridiculous
to have to go into court every time
any of the bills in connection with the
dismantling came up for payment. |
Suppose some one started an injunc-
ton, this would hold up the whole |
matter for IS months"
Company Negligent.
The city is simply doing what the /
ought to DO" said Commits /
sioner Hart. THE company ought to 4
take care of Us wires. Since 1t is not 4
doing it, the city IS taking them down. /
Surely the city would not be liable I'M
der those conditions"
When the matter was put to a vote, |
Il was found the mayor alone voted 1
against the resolution providing that /
the money be taken out OF the contin-
gent fund. Mayor Schriver insisted |
that the work of dismantllng should !
not continue If the linemen doing the
work were to be paid out OF the city's
hard learned cash. instead of out of the
fund received from the disposal of the
A. J. Hill of the high school football
team and Walter Flanagan of the
secured the promise of
the city 70 prop up the fence at the
ball park, temporarily. A new fence
s TO be constructed after the fire sta
ion is completed.
$500 for Humane Work.
w. 5. Parks cnd II. II. Robb appear
ID before the commission in behalf of
dona:ion of 5000 for the Rock Island
IOunty Humane society. The council
agreed to give this sum if the board of
and the city of Moline
would do likewise. The board gave
he money. but fear of turn-down
prevented the presentation Of the mat
er in Moline. However, the local
commission ordered the sum paid. and
low an attemp. viii be made TO get
similar sum in the neishboring town.
Commissioner Hart was granted the
light 10 take out $4,000 insurance on