Illinois News Index

Sheridan Road News-Letter (1889), 15 Oct 1904, p. 6

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NIB‘ITIUTIOIAL Good In... 'bv m m I...” w I. Adopted-Iona Io..- . M MI... .0 ‘ an.» Ito-I o! n. . Every voter in Illinois should know that an :1th to the state con- nitulion h pending. It In the duty of every voter to vote on every «mum» noun! queatlen submitted 10,11» elec- tors by‘the anneal auembiy. Thu proposed amendment h unusual in that it applies only to one city in the stateâ€"Chicago. It is in reality an en- abling not. It ratified it will lift eer- , tnln constitutional restrictions from the legislature and enable that body to provide. a specie] charter for the: great city on the .loke. Chicago needs a new charter which will sire the city broader powers in conducting its local government. Ever aim the cities and villugea not. pro- vided by the constitution of 1870 went into eaect Chicago has felt that the provisions 0! that act were too re-- atrictire. The rapid growth of the city. its cosnmpollten character. its widely varied interests. and the prob- lems in municipal government which these create have (or years been a serious embarrassment. Thane re- atrietiona have not been felt in other cities in the state, or. at leaat'they have not had any actions eirect, but with Chicago the harm has been con- stnntly increasing until the situation is almost critical. Perhnps the most unportant feature or the constitution o: 1810 is its pro htbition upon all kinda of special legit!» latlon. There had been prior to that year a great deal of special legisla- tion. much of which had been regarded as an abuse of the power or the legit lame. This power the new consum- tion took away. It is now sought by the pending amendment to bestow that power upon the lecisxature to the um- ited extent of giving Chicaéo a charter adequate to Its peculiar conditions and needs. The necessity for such 1 special charter for that city in not a matter of speculation. It is not a recent de- mand. It to not advocated by any we party, or clan, or interest. The people and the pres. of the city are tinned in the movement. The movement is not new Many atoms have been made in the same direction." More than a quarter of a century ago efforts were being made is: get rid of the evil: of township gov- ment in the city. IL was Sound that this We MW flithout abolishing the system hi the whole of Cook county. To on: the residents of the county outside of the city would not submit. They were satisfied with the operation of their local townshiy governments and the legislatm'éi would not deprive them of it. Chica- go in its growth has spread over- eight or nine townships. These town gov- ernments were superfluous and been me notoriously corrupt as political rings. It was pretty largely the. same with the justices of the, peace and con- stables. This system of minor court: has been proveu an excellent one in country districts and towns and vii- lages. In Chicago it has proven '1 source of corruption and oppmnloo. especially upog poorer litigants. which in ms: class that pullers most at It! in tho class that pullers most at m hands. Yet 0m could do nothing to tree herself from the system be- ctmse the constitution I. mandatory“ to Its application over the whole c081 ty. ' The oppression bu malted large- lv from the uniform I‘m-diction of too-o. moor mum our the whole nutty. Suit! no brought Iain-t ”Idem: of the city not! taken betote Justice. in rouote ports at the. county and set for ummbio boon. When the defendant- oppeor the one. on continued. the object being to worry the defendant- untti tiny tail to ap- par. when Judgment: on obtained by dotouit. Tbi- iI loin. on constantly on a very hm Icoie. ' Poor people on the main Memo. Thole of the (min untiouoiltieo outlet the worst. ‘oud their idea- of Ambricau Juotioo are poisoned thereby. Under the nmendmeht and charter it b lmped to reform abuse. Then than are many taxing board-i of the cig, These are really govern- ment: within the government. Bo- ulde- ctty. county and state there are men townships wholly within the city. on park hoardm school “brim Mnttary district- am with tax levying powersâ€"to the confusion not only of the levying of tones. but to the economical and eat-cute application of the revenues. Consolidationand simplification have long been de- mantle-Ll and no one disputéxs that by such change of system tile city would be greatly benefited. It ls, not asserted that more change of governmental system will do every- thing for Chicago. Able administra- tion. the electlon by the people of hon- est’ofllclals, are Indispe‘nnnhle. but un- der such a cumbersolnv and _ in- adequate uyn’tem as Chlwuo has at present there must be a minimum of results for the revenues mined and ex- pended lrrespwtlve o! the quality of the ndmlnlptratlon. The evil: which It ls al'med to eradicate under the Lpropooed amendment and the new charter that will follow are of the mad that can not be wiped out. in any other way. The amendment itself changeh no existing law. It does not empower the legislature to change any law for any part of the slate outside of the city limits of Chicago. It can not change any law applying to that city ti) the detriment of the rest of the state. Under the provisions‘_ot the amendment the legislature can change the revenue system in Chicago as it applies to raising funds for corporate pmposea. but it can not aim-ct thgxstnte hm Chicago can notfiynile paying the same proportion «the state taxes “the pay: now, nor is the movement intended to increase" taxation in‘tliht city. It is expected to ram; re: salt; from the revenues'fiisefiffahfl to map Chicago‘ a manner. 35W xgovei'neci, and a more uptoadc‘te MQW' The amendment manners I Wiy of an the mtea mat at the Novamber eiection. Every vmer in the state shohld mark his special bal- lot in favor of this proposition. _ “UIGLE JOB” ON THE PENDING CONSTITUTIONAL LIKED- Speaker Cannon is among those who are telling the voters throughout the state to vote for the pending constituo tional mnendment. He has been in Chicago and knows what a vast deal- of room for Improvement there is in that city. He says that it the amend-‘ ment can» do anything to improve con- ditions there (and he thlnks it can) the voters of the late would Ilmply be lncurring the wrath of God to cast their ballots against the measure. A ‘lmt many of “Uncle Joe'o" heaters are likely to take hie word for it end not'nk for my further lnetruction or Mom-non. THE SHERIDAN 304p NEWS-min“. ! his Al MIL! NI 81110110! I... o! “(Paddy-I. “MI...- our-tumbw Alvm The oflort which Chlmlo II mk- In: to ”cure an annulment to the constitution ln-‘otder to get a new charter bu created a little dbcuulon u to the cereal adequacy of the [not out constitution. It has been In ton-co thirty tour non. and five am1 ments to it have been adopted. Instrument lma in hut been regarded“; by eonutitutio oi authorities as one or 1 the best of nnv state in the Union. Since its adoption it has been copk'd1 very largely in the constitution: of the ‘ newer states. Colorado took it no a model. Some of Its prorisiono lune been complaint-d ot notably those fox-1 minority representation and the re. Itriction on special legislative aots.1‘ The chief advocate of the former was: Joseph steam and 'ot the latter w.1 F. Cooihnngh. both of Chicago. They! are well remembered as two of the most able and fearless men in the con- vention. Mr. Medlll‘s fame as on edi- tor was world-wide, and *tor forty years he (was n power in the state.1 "Mr. Coolbaugh in his day wan a great financier. who began his eureet in Iowa, subsequently engaging in innit-1 ] in; in Chicago Having observed the‘ eviifi of spatial legislation in two 1 states. he was very posithe in his op- 1pooition to it. and carried his point “:1 the _convention. Be V“ 'o than of; sirens comictiom and great ability,1 but met with annual reverse! in the1 penic oi ’73, and died by his own hour“ at. the foot or the monument to1 in”. "It; at ,0." v0 :W No other city has no nanny toxin: neat: to It have 1;: ogopud. The} boom: nnd sulrmualclpulltlee. New “mm”. .m m not hm, Wm“! York. Phlladelphla. Boston. sc. Loonâ€"- by eonntltutloJl authorities as one u! ‘ all ”"9 “i”? “9‘1““? “M""W "‘1‘ he. beat or any state in the Union. they “9‘ ”3" results ”‘1‘ of “‘9’ llnce ltq adoption It has been copk'd': ’"°“”?- f "n with the rum” rory largely to the constitution: of thef 3:"th 32‘; '23:): (tn '1 2‘ ward! lower state“. Colorado took it u I ‘ nodal. Some of Its prorlslona have, ‘I’gbéfig;nl;m:n°$z tmpfihmfl‘; , ‘ l l f . . ., flaunt??? Numnfflm «1:311:13: '2'! cm" have more to “10" for their mm,“ (ml special legislative acts. i jaxee than Chicago has. krom every rho ('th advocate of the former was! may"?! (‘33:;(‘2'1‘3‘53' ‘:o{“e:g:'u°;t$ :‘fifinfifigl‘ 1:3: :1! (tllh‘lamigfeghg! system by way of 11' new charter «and are well remembered as two of the an cogifimflonnl aaemlrnmfi. Nuth- most able and fearless men In the con- stn‘tewln 2‘5"“;12‘ng m0": taut: 3:31:32; 3.10213? :dkligs {glagepafj’rnutfiiy- mental. 0n the 0th“? hand "IQ state ,3"; m; {mpg m my mg,"mainsluixdatrlwz'l: nufiéfifi'fifié ‘13; dagg‘fisrzer 1:; carried the people of Chloago wm try Iowa, subsequently engaging in link-é :fxn“v“;lt;: :2:fl::;£': ”ninety”: . ' I . el't 133;“; 22.3% ‘ffigfifflfiflwflftfifz , fore. and mm from other pom at the states In - - . ' , ‘stnte will stand jnat no much lest . e was now poulthe in his 09-: ha 1 beln _ . ‘ M poultlon to mom! curled his potnt In; mfur 33px;? “:9 m: the _convemlon'.‘”né nigh "loan “or; 'u’m‘t'mfi "‘2‘:th 0"." $121) :mfgn‘ straw; convictioun and great ability, 5 ' ‘ ' but met with financial ”VOW h! the‘ Democmts and Pnohlblthnlnmllko. punk: 0! ’73, and died by his own hand! favor 2;; “mad?“ 3" éhfivmo’ at. the foot of the monument to l on. pm on '-°“ ' oled My,“ A. Douglas in‘ Chicago“ A ‘ for become ti ’1: good pone, .I well “\m can mnfiv'nthn firm-uni m .. MM lfliht' There were many'other strong men In the convention, and thélr work “and: the test way. It ls not at all likely that another convention would Improve upon lt. It is a much safer and saner plan to amend a finale ar~ llcle «the constitution occaslonnlly where'lt is akaolutelgt needed. No doubt the special charter for Chlori- go is a necessity ‘to that city. The amendment now pending will enable the legislature to grant it. It will be good policy for the voters all over the state to mark their ballot: for lt. mold Adam con-mum“: Amndml -le. Chicago New Chum: uni! In flinging for broader powers of _m V " , geqmmnt Chicago is not making” I mm tor anything unusual. Her g woman new charter will not he a'ni lm‘rm'uflon. At my; most it \ull be- nothing more than (1.9 powws and an tholity unjmod by new huge city In ‘ the I, nlmd States. It will be nothmg more than what (‘hicngo lnul prior to: the adopting of the present constitu-‘i lion. . ! Perhaps it they be that the people of ‘ llllnoin generally are not aware that the other huge citiea of the Union have no township governments and no1 townships. that most of the other lax-36‘ cities have. minor courts on a diflerent system than'timt of Justices of the. peace and constables, but these things should be generally known by the voters. They should know also that there is not another city of importance in the Union that tho not use its credit to a reasonable extent. This Chicago to nhnolntely forbidden to do by the term- of the mnstitution which limits the debt of cities in the late to ii per cent. of the named minn- } tion of the property within the col-nor. GOOD POLICY FOR THE STATE ah limit; ‘xaariy all an. have a limitation placed on the amount at lu- Wodueaa which they can incur. but in no other state la it ao rattled“. an in lllinoia. This _ cam'e about W the revenue law and a daemon ot the auprcme court that the 5 per cent. limit appliea to the aueaaed valuation of one-lull instead of the full valuation of properly. And Chi- ago is up to the limit with a very mil public debt.

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