Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-26
Pillow CITY HAS
LESSON
Moline Already Regrets Defeat OF
Increase in Taxes at the Polls
Two Weeks Ago.

Since, the higher tax proposition
was defeated by 400 votes at the
Moline polls on June II. much
dissatisfaction has been expressed
| among the people of the city AL
most daily for the past two weeks
news coming from the city hall
has contained announcements of
deductions in some municipal de-
partment which all progressive
citizens look upon with misgiyings
and which the mayor and commits
siOneTs themselves dislike to make,
but are forced to in order to keep
within the limits of the city's fin
anCes.
Soon after the election came the
edict that no more storm drain i'm
prOyaments would be undertaken,
no more paving contracts awarded.
no more weeds cut in summer and
no more snow shOveIed in winter.
But far more vital than that was
the announcement of d reduction IL
the fire department. Eleven fire
men have already received notices
that their services will not be de-
sired after July 1, and steps are
being taken to store the modern
aerial truck that was purchased
not long ago. The cost of main
tanning and operating it Is evident
ly too great for the financially
pinched city TO stand, so this truck,
the pride OF the department and
| the only one in the twin cities,
must retire for time from service,
in favor of a small, more cheapIy
operated hook and ladder truck.
More protest has been raised ov-
er the plans TO abandon fire sta
tons No. 3 and 4. however, than
any of the other propositions. The
first is located in the heart OF the
city's manufacturing section and
its removal would endanger all the
factories in the Third avenue dis
triCt. Officials of the concerns
have appeared before the commits
sion and insisted upon the cOntinu-
ance OF that station. even if water
rents have to be raised, even dou-
bled, for they point out that a
factory destroyed by fire means q
large number of citizens thrown
out Of work and unsettled cOndi-
tiOns. The other station is lOcat-
ed in more of a residential district
and its loss. too, would be keenly
felt in the east end, for with these
two stations gone the central
house and the one on Fifteenth
street and Seventeenth avenue
would be the only fire stations LETT
in the city
Only Il men remain in the Mo-
line police department and but two
pdtTOlmen are walking beats at
night and but two during the day
time. a tax on vehicles has been
suggested as a means Of securing,
revenue. and it is practically as
sured that city water rents will be
increased.
Last, but not least, comes the
information that a fire insurance
official has asked for a report on
the reductions in the fire fighting
| force and equipment From this
it would seem that insurance rates
may take a jump. With only two
| fire stations in the city and a
great reduction in the force it will
not be surprising if the insurance
/ classification be put up a notch or
two. Moline only recently was
| put down from a higher classifica-
! ton and the average citizen would
not relish the idea Of returning to
! the former standing and rates.
The proposition to raise the city
taxes called for an increase from
$1.2O to s. on each $1O0 assessed
valuation. Eighty per cent Of the
voters remained away from the
polls and by a margin OF $50 vCses
the increase was defeated. EsUf-
mates Of expenditures for the next
fiscal year OvertOp estimated rev.
euues by 100000, and in order to
avoid a deficit the commissioners
have been forced TO plan the radi-
cal changes outlined.
buy Thrift Stamps- S
All the news all the tirue-The
/ Argus.
I