Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-05-29

expenses by the city from the sewer
contractor. Green, and his bondsmen.
Dashane received II verdict Tor nine.
teen hundred dollars, and II new
trial is not granted and judgment Il
entered on the verdict in appeal will
be taken by the city
Both Of these suits involved a large
amount of money, and were prose,
Gated by able lawyers, and large judg-
ments meant possible great financial
loss to the city, and no reasonable set.
Element could be obtained, and the
council including myself, felt we
would be derelict in our duty if We
did not employ an able trial lawyer TO
cooperate in the defense Of the city.
and the services Of Mr.. Conway was
obtained and both matters were han.
died in a skillful ana able manner,
and at an extremely reasonable fee,
and the result has at least appraised
people that w;Icre the city feels that
il Is not legally liable, or, if liable,
the demands are unreasonable, that
the best fight possible will be made,
The financial statements OF the
hospital, library and park boards
show careful management, and most.
of the members of these boards take
interest in their work and as they
serve without compensation, | wish
at this time to thank them for their
effort in the city's behalf.
may shortly make some SnggeS
ions to the council for the coming
year, but shall reserve the same until
after the election is held on the pend
ing bond issues, for, with some in.
creased revenue from taxation, III
creased water rentals and possible
other sources yet to be derived, our
position to keep he city as il should
be kept viii be enhanced, though the
necessary increase in the wage OF
city employees and The high cost ot
material still make our position a.
serious one
A detailed report OF the depart
ment OF public affairs is as follows,
Appropriated Drawn. Balance
Public affairs 81 2SOOU $3.50 90 SUU01I
Contingent e., 317G1S 3,lG0.03 1888
Rcddick's
Library -. 100000 100000 o)oo.
Ryburn Hos
pital . -. 4,9SJ93 49H593 00b0
| would beg to call attention to the
public to the fact that the approprid-
ton OF the one fund directly under the
control of the mayor, the contingent
fund. was for the past year S3,l7G.4>, /
as compared with a contingent fund
ot $a.9SS.91 the year previous.
And ! desire al this time to thank /
the city employees and citizens in gen
eral in every instance in which they
have shown a desire to cooperate /
TED, a., Iva,
to have and to do the best We can
for the city and the material and
moral welfare Of Us all.
Resi- ectfuliy submitted this 2Stn I
day of April A. ID. 1920.
GEORGE V. h. WEEKS
Mayor
Moved by Commissioner StickIen T
that the mayors annual report be re
ceived and recorded
Ayes Bradley, Dougherty Palmer,
Sticklen, Weeks.
Nays: None.
Motion carried.
Mayor " eeks presented annual re
port OF City Attorney, as follows;
Ottawa, Illinois, April 80, l920
The Mayor and Council, City OF QUA
wa, Illinois.
Gentlemen.
| desire to report that the follow /
ing cases are pending trial in the CIR
cult Court of Ia Sale County in
which the City OF Ottawa is an inter
ested party
Catherine Dixon VS. city of Ottawa.
case
City of Ottawa vs.. Celia Nelson.
admx.. certiorl.
" & Cunningham VS.. City of Otta-
wa, case
In addition thereto a motion for
new trial in the case of Frank Du-
shane vs.. the City Of Ottawa will be
heard a. the present term Of the Cir
cult Court and an appeal therefrOm
to the Appellate Court taken ii the
ilnding is adverse to the interests OF
the city.
During the year past the City of OF
tawa has tried and disposed OF prav-
ticalIy all the long standing suits in
which il was party. enc case
alone that Of W. G. Cunningham, was
tnt administration
judgment for the sum OF fifteen
hundred dollars was obtained b., L. e.
lJtElliS III HIS SUI dSull3Hl NAIt tIiN. ~
this can, in my opinion, be recovered
from Green < Sons Company ana
their suretes in a proper action.
| desire to state to your honorable
body that | here pay tribute to the
splendid efforts of the Honorable
James j. ConWay. who acted as Spe-
Cial at torney in the DEEMS and Du-
shane cases. The city was opposed IL
these cases by some OF the leading
trial lawyer at the La sale County
bar and Mr.. ConWays efforts contrib
uted in a large measure to the small
ness OF the two yerlicts against the
city which were redenred in those
suits.
All of which is respectfully sub.
mitted,
GLENN w. WEESE,
City Attorney.
Moved by Mayor WeeHs that the re-
port Of City Attorney Weese be re
ceived and recorded.
Ayes Bradley, Doueherty, Palmer.
Sticklen. " eeks.
Nays: None.
Motion carried.
Commissioner Bradley presented h