Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-05-03
COUNCIL IS READY
To SING SWAN SONG;
PAY OFF OLD HELP
LAST MEETING FOR WINDING UP
AFFAIRS OF OLD ADMINISTRA-
REJECT ROTARY CLUB PETl-
TON.

An adverse opinion rendered by City
| Attorney Roger Clark forced rejection
| this morning of the Rotary Clubs pc
| tition for help in paying off the exist
ing $l799.5S on the downtown deco
ratiye system when the city council
met.
The attorney ruled on the petition,
which was filed yesterday and held
over pending an opinion from MI.
Clark, stating that the appropriation
would be illegal from several phases.
Primarily all city FUNDS have auto
matically been absorbed by the gen
eral fund, this being the close Of the
municipal year. and there would be no
money with which to pay the bill, even
though there We're not other Compica-
tions entering into the proposition.
The law makes is compulsory that bids
be advertised for and regularly let for
paying out of all sums in excess Of
550 o. Mr. Clark says, Another para
| graph pointed out that the council
was Liable to pay heavy fines for not
observing the statutes regulating such
matters When the opinion was read
/ A vote was called for, and the motion
/ to adopt the resolution and accept the
| terms of the petition was voted down
| by a unanimous decision from the
| mayor and commissioners A deleea-
{ 81, nf
meeting and were quick 10 realize tn
impossibility Of getting any money out
Of the city TO help pay tor a PROPOSE
/ ton that really is only the city's bene-
/ it. All the retiring officers Were
| agreed that the city had a moral Oh
iga'iOn in the premises, but the law
/ VAS so specific there was nothing they
/ ould do to relieve the situation.
Singing Swan Songs.
This mornings session of the coun-
,i.men vas dangerously near the swan
| song of the present administration.
/ The chorus numbers were being roL-
/ lcred at O'Clock, when the final ai.
/ fairs Of the present regime were being
( NblHu NV l'dNE ipI iSN' i''''''''.'' d
when the city government will be
turned over to the incoming officers
officers Report.
| Reports of the city treasurer and
| CITY clerk were read, while other ern-
Dloyes gave in their monthly state.
uents
Caicf Zurich reported twenty-siX ar
rests during April and fine collections
If $5I.
The plumbing inspector, William
Wilson, had busy month, making
aieht-onc inspections and collecting
| IA in fees.
Health Commissioner DR.. w. A. Pike
reported during April one case OF
smallpox, three each of chicken poy
and measles. and four of diphtheria.
The street department expended
nS415 in different jobs about the city
Commissioner Palmer reported that
he lease on the fire station buildings
expired April / of this year. He alsC
recommended abolition Of the pest
house. which now is located on the
Hall place, northeast Of the city, He
notified the incoming council that the
large clock in the city offices was
leaned by Fred c. BEEN, and continues
to be MI Beem's property. He thanked
Mr. BEEN for his timely benetactions
Then came the pay roll-the tina
one to be made by the present officials
While the present list of employees
will hold over until Tuesday. theiI
money will have to come from the in
coming administration. The counci
: serves during May without compensa
lion. il was said today The pay rol
amounted to $3.50.