Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-08-03
order FIRE TRUCK
BONDS DISPOSED OF
TO THE BEST BIDDER
$4,000 ISSUE WILL BE SOLD NEXT
WEDNESDAY AT SPECIAL MEET.
ING OF COUNClL-MAYOR TO
NAME CITIZENS COMMITTEE
TO INSPECT FIRE APPARATUS.

Bids for the sal 900 in bonds author
ICED July 26 at a special election will
be opened Wednesday afternoon, Au-
gust 0, at 2 o'clock, under arrange
ments agreed upon last night by the
council The bonds call for $4,000 to
purchase new truck aud other
equipment for the fire department;
$4,000 for paving the south side hill
and Courtney street and $4,000 for
erection OF an arched bridge across
the sidecut at Main street.
With bonds of this kind to sell 1t Is
customary to submit them for pur-
chase to houses dealing in issues made
by municipalities. Bidding ordinarily
ia spirited as bonds of this charac-
ter usually fetch an extra high prem.
ium.
In announcing his wish to get the
bonds sold as quickly as possible the
mayor asked the council to approve
his motion for next Wednesday S
letting so that immediate steps could
be taken to push the work to early
completion. The council acceded by
D voting unanimously for the executives
proposition.
FIRE ruck committee.
A committee of unnamed numbers
will be chosen by the mayor to work
In an advisory capacity with the coun.
Gil in the selection of the new fire
trunk authorized by the bond issue ref
erendum.
The plan for having a committee OF
citizens share with the council the
responsibility of purchasing truck OF
standard make evoked some debate
more Of which however was without
full recognition of what the workers
- 'tad uune It the polls % put the three
propositions over on election day.
Commissioner Palmer took eXcep
tions to the idea saying this was the
first and only time he could remem
Der of when civilians were called in
to help the council make a selection
in an undertaking Of this kind. 81
don't know why anyone shCIld help
the council in this matter any more
than any other" said the commission
er. 81 think we are able to do this
thing alone. That is what we were
elected for and | can't see why we
shouldn't go ahead and assume the re
Paying Debt to Workers.
Mayor Weeks who preached the
subject preluded his proposal with an
argument covering the work done al
the polls and the debt the council
owed the organizations which had
taken off their coats" and dug in to
win the election.
PERSONALLY | don't care one way or
the other said hizzoner, but / think
we owe these men something. If this
little recognition helps any / am for
naming committee to serve with us
purely in an advisory capacity.
Against Joy Rides.
Commissioner Bradley said he felt
the same way as the mayor about it,
Commissioner Dougherty did not ex.
press any views on the subject but
Commissioner Sticklen said he would
be for the committee providing that
there were no expeditions around the
country at the city's expense whilst
the committee and council was look
ing over the outlay of apparatus for
the purpose of making a purchase
The mayor said he also opposed Joy
rides about the country at the city's
expense and was confident that any
firm having truck worth buying
would be willing to bring one to OF
tawa to make a public demonstration
of what they had,
The matter was finally settled by
Commissioner Sticklcn moving that
the mayor he empowered to appoint a
committee Of any size he saw fit, just
as long as it was understood that the
committee would function solely in an
advisory capacity and not assume the
authority of closing any deals,
"Therell be enough men to thl'
committee" ended the mayor. I'm
going to make sure that no one Is
sighted when | announce my selec-
tons
Palmer Notified.
Whatever objections he entertained
to the plan were eventually withdrawn
by Commissioner Palmer when he was
assured that there would be no at
tempt on anyonc'3 part to usurp the
councils powers in determining the
kind of a truck to be purchased
1t came out during the discussion
that there would be no chance for the
council to go wrong on the matter, as
every member was committed to tn
proposition of buying nothing but
standard made truck, which means
only three or four companies that deal
exclusively in fire fighting apparatus
will have chance in the bidding.