The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-08
CHARGES
Is|IIIssED
BEFORE COUNCIL


] Last nights challenge created q
sensation that has not been equal
"a In many previous council meet
1ngs, owing to the fact that both
swanson and Skinner are candi-
dates for the Republican n6mina-
ton for mayor.
Tha alderman denied that he had
charged the present council with
crooked work.
Thirteen aldermen were present.
Of the IL seven made speeches de-
tending the councils reputation
and the so-called star chamber
or executive sessions were strongly
endorsed.
There was not q single supporter
among the counciimen Of Alderman
Swanson's fight against these pre-
liminary meetings which have been
called by various names, including
star chamber, secret sessions ana
committee of the whole meetings.
Alderman Fred Holt Of the Third
ward made the assertion that . citi-
rem of his ward had told him that
Alderman Swanson had accused
the council of crooked work.
when pressed to reveal the
mans name, Holt said the resident
is M. D. Rosenfield Of the Abraham
Candy company. Mayor Skinner
said that 1t was Mr.. Rosenheld who
/ had told him Of the alleged charges
\ OF Alderman Swanson.
Last night was the first time
since the return Of Moline to the
aldermanic form Of city admtnistra-
ton that the mayor left the mayors
chair and made a statement from
the floor Of the council.
The regular business OF the
=. council seemed to be over. The
mayor had issued the last call for
other business. There was no re-
sponse. Then Mayor Skinner him
self rose. -.
There Is a matter" he said
shat l wish to bring before the
council and / want the aldermen's
permission to speak from the
door. II there are no objections
will ask City Attorney Johnston te
take the chair"
No objections were offered and
Mr.. Johnston took the mayors
chair. The mayor walked dowr
among the aldermen.
II would prefer" he said, 1T
bring this matter up In the so
called star chamber session, but
have been urged to do it in thii
way.
There has never been word o.
] suspicion attacking the integrity o.
the present council. But In thu
heat Of the present campaign 1t has
been reported to me that one Of cul
members, in fact Alderman Swan
son of the First ward, has accused
this council Of crookedness-
III Alderman Swanson knows o.
any crooked work he should expose
It, II Alderman Swanson knows o.
any crookedness and doesn't expose
it he is more guilty than an!
member of this council. II he hal
evidence, let him present it."
Alderman o. F. Anderson OF the
Sixth ward asked Alderman Swan
SON il he accused the council o.
crookedness.
mo. sir" replied Alderman
Swanson.
II am not Q candidate for re
election" continued Mr.. Anderson
land will soon cease being q mem
(. her Of the council But II wer'
z going to continue a. alderman
would want the business conducted
In committee Of the whole. A maj
( can say what he pleases there, ant
! there is nothing in our rules which
{ prevents anyone from bringing VI
. proposition and debating 1t In thu
regular session"
Alderman Wilcox Of the FIFTH
ward said he didn't see "how VI
are going to get along without
those secret sessions" IT," he con
tinued, you are going to discuss
some OF these things In open coun'
Gil you would be here until or
IT. the morning. believe in those
secret sessions. II q man is in thu
minority he can get up in oper
council and have his say. / am II
favor Of doing as we have DONE"
Alderman Swanson arose. &c.
don't think" he replied. that
have ever said there was any crook
ed work. never mentioned crook
edness."
Then" replied Mayor Skinner
1T IL q question Of your wore
against that OF q man in whom
have every confidence. He told m,
that you said there was crooked
work going on"
Alderman Swanson's statements
are alleged to have referred to tn,
executive sessions. The First ware
alderman yesterday admitted b,
had made q statement about the fir,
committee. Later he said that h,
had questioned the fire committed
authority to change the days of
for the ilremen without FIRST con.
sulting the council.
The Second ward alderman, R. s
Hosford. was the first man to de.
fend the executive sessions. 1.-THE
only reason" he said. II thought
we had those meetings was to ex.
pedite matters and to better &C.
quaint the aldermen with what was
going on"
Alderman Charles Elmer Of the
Third ward declared he couldn't
see how the council could get ON
In any other way. can call a man
almost anything in there" he de-
clared a. he pointed to the mayors
ONCE. II don't have to be afraid
.of what ] am saying every minute.
Lcant zee any crime In Il. It's jus.
9 business proposition. Are We
here to give . side show or to do
business?'
u The public doesnst I'M TIA v,y
1.sSs III III IA