Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-07-21
COUNCIL ACTS TO
DRIVE PANDERERS
AWAY FROM OTTAWA.
BEGGING NUISANCE, WHICH HAS
BEEN GROWING WITH MARKED
REGULARITY, DISCUSSED BY
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

Pandering, pest which has been
growing with incessant regularity dur.
ing the past few months, is to be
made an unhealthful vocation in OF.
tawa, il plans laid down by Commits
sioner Ed. Dougherty. who preached
the proposition at the regular meeting
OF the city council, are carried out.
Mr. Dougherty said that he had noted,
particularly on Saturdays, that ottawa
was becoming the begging mecca for
large and increasing numbers of one
legged, two-legged deformeds and 9th.
ers of the aims seeking gentry, until
now II was high time the administra-
ton took some official cognizance OF
the situation and took steps to stop the
nuisance.
Attorney Harold Nicholson. sitting
in" for the first time as the official
legal adviser OF the municipality. in
his capacity Of city attorney, was ask
ed for an opinion on what should be
done to drive the pestilerous beggars
from the loop. He cited an ordinance
which made begging by able bodied"
men n violation OF the law, but could
find nothing in the ordinances which
made II an ofense by the code which
forbade Grips from soliciting aid from
ID. passersby
The newly appointed city attorney,
however, supplemented his opinion
with a statement that he believed
police would be within their rights to
drive beggars from the streets if they
are so instructed by their superiors.
Commissioner Dougherty said he
was In favor of issuing some such in
structions to the police and his recon-
mendation was received with acclaim
by all colleagues sitting around the
administrative table.
Discuss "a" CuIvert.
~ The c., b. & Q's disposition to liz
more requests from the city to prepare
plans for culvert to take care of di
verified Goose Creek when that work
is begun, was brought up by Commits
siOner Dougherty, who during severa
futile attempts has found it impossible
to get anywhere" with the railway
people. The creek. once the diversion
is started, will run under the 20
near the Porter factory. but until thu
railroad adopts some method for thu
culvert, the city is bound and help
less to proceed with the Improvement
for which $4,000 on bonds have beer
appropriated.
City Attorney Nicholson was re
uuested for an opinion on what cOulD
be done to get action out of the rail
way and he replied that inasmuch a
the cuIvert was to be situated outsid
the corporate limits, there was, a
first blush, indications of the city be
ing a trespassor if it undertook t
cross the Burlingtons right-of-wa
without proper consent from the con
pany officials
AS the city was thus situated
was agreed nothing could be done bu
wait the railways pleasure in the ma
ter. but it was suggested that if tn
proposition was handled properly tn
%" would be willing to do its shar
toward helping out in the emergenc,
with something definite in the way
and would, in time, come across
with plans for the long delayed Gu
vert.
Bridge Repairs Near Completion.
Commissioner Dougherty reporte
that the Illinois river bridge repair
were about completed and another da
or two would see the job finished TIL
N. |. l.. e r. company, Mr.. Doughert
said, had paid 1924 towards its shar
OF the repairs, while the city wouI
have to pay for the work being don
on the main roadway.