Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-03
CITY COMMISSION
SPLIT ON CLAIMS
Mayor Takes Issue With Other Men,
bers, Refusing to Vote for Pay.
ment of Two Bills.
SAYS PRINCIPAL is INVOLVED
Council Decides. to /. to Settle With
Former Attorney and StenOg.
rapher in Suits Pending.

Mayor McConochie split with the
Rock Island municipal commissioners
yesterday over the payment of claims
from former City Attorney J. F. Wit
ter and his stenographer, Miss Hattie
Nelson. The mayor voted against
payment
Il have fought bills of this kind to
finish before and have never paid
cent" the mayor said.
Commissioners and City Attorney
Scott explained that the claims were
different from ordinary damage suits
and pointed out to the mayor where it
would be more costly for the city to
| fight them than to settle.
Il don't care said the mayor.
There is a principle involved. If we
| pay them we'll have a whole wagon
! load of other claims in here"
The bill of Mr.. Witter was for $500,
fees he claimed in appeals for the riot
cases which were carried to the SUI
preme court. They were remanded
! back to the circuit for another trial.
The ex-city attorney agreed to settle
! for $780, He has filed suit against
the city, hearing of which is set for
Monday in circuit court. The case
will be dismissed now that settlement
! is made.
The claim of s244S7 of Miss Mel
son represented the judgment and
court costs in the suit heard in county
court several months ago in which she
sued the city for $500 for salary she
claimed the city owed her in prepare
ton of ordinances.
Difficult TO Evade.
Mr.. Scott explained to the commits
sion that it would be difficult to evade
the payment of the money to Mr.. Wit
ter He said that members of the Rock
Island County Bar association would
go on the stand in behalf of Mr.. Wit
ter and testify that the sum asked
was just He said that he would be
unable to secure any attorney to take
the stand and say that the claim is
unjust. He declared that the city
ordinance provided special fees in
payment to tn city attorney if he trav-
eled outside OF the city to act in a
case for the city. Mr. Scott stated
that the claim was for a salary and
was not in the nature of damage
claim. Vote was taken and Mayor Nc
Conochie recorded himself against
payment. The four commissioners
voted for payment
The city had considered appealing
the Judgment to the appellate court
!. in the case of Miss Nelson's claim The
case was tried in county court and
judgment rendered. Mr.. Scott told
the commission that the appeal would
be expensive.
If we should win the case in the
, appellate court, it would cost US
more than to settle now. ! am in
formed that the typewriter records in
; the case alone will cost US SIS and
printing the briefs will cost much
more. l advise settlement"
Commissioner Rudgren stated that
:, in his opinion it would be expedient to
.. pay the judgment. The mayor said
!. that the principle involved should be
, sufficient for the city to carry the
case to higher courts.
NO use to cut your nose off to spite
, your face Commissioner Murrin said
; Commissioners Liedtke and Juhl in
! dictated they thought it cheaper and
therefore wiser to settle Immediately
Vote was taken and the mayor an
swered no." the others recording in
favor Of payment
9 Discuss New Ordinance.
Revision of the city ordinances and
] the proposed new ordinance regulat-
ing the laying of concrete sidewalks
was discussed. The commission de,
cided to study the present ordinances