Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-03


lief and information.
His second point was that the cura-
tive measure, house bill No. 8I2, passed
by the legislature and effective last
wednesday, was good and valid and
cured any possible defects IN the an
nexatfon proceedings at the time Sears
added the / 500 acres lying between the
former village and this city. Prac-
ticauy the whole fight was based on
this question.
Law Not Repealed.
Another point raised by Mr.. Ken
worthy was that the annexation law
passed by the legislature IN 1883 did
not repeal the union ordinance law
adopted in this state IN 1872 but on the
other hand had no bearing on it. fur
Their than it offered only new chan
nel through which territory could be
annexed to d city or village.
! His last argument was that the city
had a perfect legal right to make the
/ contract with Sears, to promote the
/ improvements listed in the union ordi-
nance.
~ %.
for the petitioners dWe1t largely on the
chief contention that the house bill did
not cure the alleged defects in the pro-
! ceedfngs in which Sears acquired the
I 800 acres OF land. Claiming that the
petition filed with the village board by
property owners in this territory ask
| ing that vote on the annexation be
} 81
ers and property owners, the attor-
news for the compliments declared the
act Of legislature coud not legalize the
annexation Of the territory to Rock Is
/ land because the village never had jur-
lisdiction over it.
Annexation Long Desired.
/ Just before Judge Ramsay took the
case under advisement yesterday aft
ernoon, William McEniry for the city
and village made very impressive the
! probable results should the court see
fit to grant the petition.
A review Of the history of events
shows that practically during the
entire year thus far, annexation Of this
territory has almost constantly been
before the eyes Of the people of Rock
Island
In February the village board Of
Sears conceived the plan Of annexing
500 acres Of land and petitions were
circulated and signed. A vote was held
and the village almost unanimously
voted to take in the territory.
/ Former Mayor H NJ. Schriyer and
city officials became interested and
gradually enthusiasm was worked UP
in the village and talk Of annexation to
Rock Island was started. This enthus-
lfasn grew in leaps and bounds and
soon meetings were held between resi-
dents Of Sears and Rock Island citi-
zens and petition was fed in county
( court asking a vote on annexation OF
the entire territory to Rock Island.
Pass Union Ordinance.
Later residents of the former village
and local citizens thought that a fav-
orabIe vote for annexation would be
assured beyond q doubt If an agree
ment between the village and the city
could be made so that the residents OF
Sears would be assured Of fulflment
of promises made by the city officials
The union ordinance scheme was dis
covered a little later and annexation
stock was boosted and when the ordi-
nance was voted on April 20 it re
ceived almost the unanimous support
Eof all electors both in the village and
the city.
Curative Bill.
Long before the court procee dings
were started rumors were current that
alleged defects were to be attacked by
some few disgruntled property owners
in the territory and so action Of the
legislature was decided on as the steE
Ito end this. Former Mayor SchFlyeI
land other citizens spent much time If
/ Springfield on this bill, and Mayor Nc
tConochie and the present commission
backed them nobly and the bill passed
almost unanimously.
i Two weeks ago mandamus petition
was fled in circuit court, naming
/ States Attorney Floyd z. Thompson
defendant. The states attorney had
refused to sign the petition asking
leave to HE the quo " a. ANU anu s1t'
mandamus asked that the court force
him to sign it Arguments on the
Irnandamus started before former Judge
r. ". Olmsted but we're continued I'm
til Tuesday. at which time tentative
agreement was made between the
counsels and the city asked Mr.
Thompson to sign the quo warranto Sc
that the case could get 10 a speedy
hearing.
Many Attorneys in Case.
MANY attorneys were employed II
defending the rights Of the city and th'
village. Aside from City Attorney ]
K. scott. there were J. T. and 5. R
Kenworthy William McEniry, E. "
Schoede. Clyde Walker and H. NJ
schriver. searle & Marshall repre-
sented Mary Dougherty, ct al. the com
plainants.
FIND 40 FISH At
!