Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-21
Rock Islands Peril and Why.

hours this essential of protection will be
greatly depleted that will be of little advantage in
case Of catastrophe if indeed the city is not left
without any protection whatever, with only hand
full OF men?
Who are blame?
Certainly not the firemen, who have given ample
notice that they could not exist and subsist the
salaries they have been getting. and who have left
the city a body. but in groups, in order that
the city may not be seriously embarrassed by their
Withdrawals
The firemen last spring gave notice that with
"A the rising Of living, they should have better
W pay and they ready then to seek more lucra-
tive occupations giving the city ample notice They
would have left but the Intervention of Charles
J. MacGowan, president Of the Tri-City Federation
of Labor, who prevailed upon the firemen not to
desert the city until the people had had oppor-
tunity TO pass upon their grievances. The commits
sion being unable to meet the requirements because
Of reduced reFenues due to the voting out of the
saloons, Mr.. MACEDONIAN suggested tax increase
proposition to meet not only the just claims of the
fremen but for provision for essentials in the fire
department equipment and to take care of other
pressing needs of the city. Mr.. MACEDONIAN told the
firenen that he confident the people could be
depended upon to vote the increase, especially
sought to take the place of that which
had come from the saloons.
The people, however did not vote the increase
Who are to blame?
Not the municipal commission entirely, but to
some extent. The commissioners not to blame
because they have not had the revenue increase
meet the demands Of the fremen, but they are
criticised because they did not stand together a
unit when the issue before the people, and
work for the tax increase, which they knew was
necessary. AS matter of fact it is told that only
Of the commissioners were in any way in favor
Of it. Some of the commissioners are blamed for
the short sightedness in this respect and also for
the failure realize their responsibilities as pub
lie servants.
Nothing should have been allowed under any con-
dtions circumstances to have imperiled the city,
and steps should have been taken to have
satisfied the firemen, and prevented reduction in
the slightest degree of the efficiency of the fire de-
partment. It would have been better to have taken
from other funds-from the street department
than to have subjected the city the risk Of being
for minute without the proper fire protection,
such is required by community the size OF Rock
Island
With the withdrawal of company shortly aft
the people voted down the increased tax insur-
ance rates in Rock Island took a decided jump. If
another company is dropped now. these rates will
go still higher. and if the city is without adequate
fire protection it would be surprising if insur-
ance rates cancelled altogether. At all events
they will be high, that the people will pay the
in han bayn
paid the city by the raising of the taxes as was
predicted at the time the issue was on
Who are TO blame?
After ALL the people who defeated the tax issue
must assume the blame for the condition in which
the city finds itself. With immense increase in
population of from $1,000 to 10000 within year
with the government erecting hundreds of new
houses here there arises all the more reason why
the city should stretch out protection more
than before. and yet it is found incompetent TO
properly safeguard the homes of those who reside
here The city a of fact, instead OF aboI-
ishing two companies, and putting out of commits
sion $4,000 equipment, should be adding to its
fire department at this time The fact that it is not
doing is chargeable first Of all, to the absolute
folly and neglect of those who did not think enough
OF q good town with saloons eliminated, to insure
without the saloons the essential revenue for the
maintenance of the institutions that are for public
protection.
In this connection it is not unfair to state that
the city is in a much sorry condition as far
as all means of protection are concerned. than the
people may know Not only is the fire department
shot to pieces. but the police department well,
for which the people paying although the facts
are being suppressed.
It has been suggested that Rock Island may yet