Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-01
DEFEATs RAISE
TAxESALLOWS
THE FRANCHISE
Rock Island PrTes INV Willingness
to Provide funds 10 Make
Up iefecit.
WOMEN HELP BEAT PROJECT
Expected Help on Part OF the
"nigs" Prore unsuccessful
As Proposition Fails.

Rock Island piers proved their
uuw.lIiugness Sturday to allow
The increase il municipal taxes
whereby the daoit caused by the
exit Of the salons could be sup
planted. In otkr words the peo-
pie declined TO pay the price OF d
cleaner city. although the CON
templated and requested increase
was from SI20to 81 on 500 as
sessed valuatim, the voters evi-
IDENTIFY did not hvor the extra tax.
Men and vDmen alike voted
against the rase in taxes Men
east total of1.559 votes against
me raise and tie women 65l votes.
Both helped tc defeat the project.
A majority u I,l72 against the
raise was east
The Tri-citv Railway company
was allowed a 20-year franchise or
.ne present witch Tower and Mi
IAN lines. Tina voters cast ma
,ority Of 1900 votes in its favor.
For the franthise. the company
turns over 10 The city its right-ot-
way on both lies to be opened and
paved by the city.
knowing thg the city is in need
Of funds for the upkeep Of the fire
ard police Departments, the people
refused 10 allow means whereby
me citv's treasury could be taken
care of sufficiently TO make up the
deficit caused by the removal OF
the saloon reIenue-
Expect Retrenchment.
Retrenchmelt Will be made first
IN the fire ami police departments.
/ is said. However, Just when
shis action will be taken is not
known. The Increased tax pTOpo-
sition will agrin be put % the vote
Of the people on June %. 1919, I
s understood Providing the tax
raise had bean allowed. il would
have been Effective only until
Jura %, 1918 After that day il
ould have bsen necessary for the
sople to vote again TO keep the
sher rates IN effect.
odd as il may seem, members Of
lie city commission and the pO-
Ice are largely 10 blame for the
result Of the election. While the
police force is affected by the lack
Of needed funds, it is understood
hat the mabritv OF them were
strongly opposed to the increase.
The proposition carried in but
four precincts. the 18th. 18Th. 18th,
and 18th. and then only by small
majorities. The balance Of the %
precincts is Recorded against the
raise.
!. The VETS voted against the in
crease for revenge and to prove
.hat the return Of the saloon IS es-
sential to the maintenance OF the
sity revenue. They preferred 70
see the city 'down-and-cut' as a
result Of the loss Of saloon license
ices for the city treasury.
Results Today!
However the people have decid-
I'd. The city must now begin re
! Tenchments te prevent placing the
,ity's finances in a deplOrabIc
condition Results Of the election
IRE expected TO be discussed al
he meeting this afternoon OF the
1ty commission.
In favoTing granting d franchise
% the Tri-city Railway company.
he voters have given the city a
4 lew street. The right-Of-way for
nerly owned by the company is
low the city's property. The fran
.hise was granted on condition
hat the city open the street from
Eighteenth avenue south on Elev-
snth street to FoTty-sixth avenue
IND east on that avenue to the
Watch Tower.
double track IS to he laid OIL
ne street where two rails are not
4 ilready in use. in general the
addition Of the street will help
aock Island. While Twelfth street
now opened and paved. the ad-
iltion of Eleventh street IS a bene-
~ because Of the many improve
nents now under way SOurh Of