The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-12
RETURN TO ALOERMAnIC
SYSTEM FAVORED AS way
TO CORRECT CONDITIONS
Two Hundred Voters Go
Oh Record as Support
ing New Municipal
Movement.
a

Preliminary steps looking
toward a return to the alder
manic form of government
for Rock Island were taken
at a mass meeting of citizens
in the circuit court room last
night. Two hundred attend
ed and the sentiment reflect
ed strongly in favor of the
overthrow Of the commission
plan.
A committee of five citizens COM
posed Of ]. J. Lerch, Frank Bera-
mex, H. M. Hendren. Robert Kinner
and Josh Brooks was named as the
nucleus Of an organization whose
duty it will be to circulate petitions
to have the proposition of change
brought before the people in a spe-
cial election. This committee is to
select chairman in every precinct
in the city to handle petitions with
ing his territory.
Attorney Ben Stewart, who ad-
dressed the meeting on the legal
phase OF the situation, pointed out
! that after petitions showing Is per
cent OF the voters Of the city are
filed with the city clerk, it becomes
necessary for that official to can
special election within 60 days.
Providing the proposition of re-
turning to the aldermanic form
carries, the voters proceed then to
elect a board Of aldermen and q
mayor at the next regular city cleo
ti9n. The procedure is compare
titely simple.
w. F. Bradley, who was instru-
mental in calling the meeting. pre-
sided as chairman. He said that
12,237 votes were cast at the last
city election within the city limits.
! This would require slightly more
than 5000 signatures to the pstk
tions.
Possible Technicalities.
Possibilities of legal technicali-
ties which might possibly deny thar
| portion of Rock Island lying SCUM
of Eighteenth avenue representa-
tion on board Of aldermen during
the first year were raised. 1t was
pointed out that the law says that
in event of return to the alderman
ic form of government the old ward
lines in effect before the commits
! sion plan must again be observed
South Rock Island was annexed
during the commission regime and
as a consequence has no ward
lines. 1t was argued that the new
| board Of aldermen would have to
form ward lines for the new por-
tion and that until this was done no
steps could be taken to give South
| Rock Island representation.
It was the sense of the meeting
that more concrete legal advice be
obtained on this question, and also
| whether it would be legal for South
Rock Island voters to sign petit
tions or vote at an election present
| ing the question OF returning to
aldermanic form. Some citizens
from that section of the city ex-
pressed the opinion that in event
Of legal difficulties Of this nature
| none Of them would stand in the
way Of the chance to escape the
commission form Of government
The meeting had hardly been
called to order before a motion was
put placing the gathering on rec
ord as heartily in favor Of the
i aldermanic form Of government.
Before this could be put to a vote
others demanded that someone
| show what advantages are to ac-
crue by a change These asked
that some examples Of cities which
have observed such . change be
| (Confiuuod an pano Ninol