, 1865-01-21
Letter from 8. 8. Hayes, Esq, ON the
River Commission,

You Will doubtless permit nc few words
headed "a Mr.. Hayes and The River CommiEs.. Commit
sion" In opposing the bill, the advocacy Of
which Is now assumed by the TRIBUNE, I
have simply responded to the publhhed In.
sitatlon Of the committee, who have engineer
ca the project. I supposed that as citizen
and ta1 payer, I had right under the pub
lshed call, to point out to the few persons
present at the so-called citizens meeting, the
o11ectiona to a measure for expending three
millions Of dollars Of the money Of the citi-
zens md tax payers Of Chicago, in an impro-
S1dent and dangerous manner, and without
the coneent Of either themselves or their re-
prcsentatlyes. That did 20 in respectful
manner, every one Of the forty or fifty
persons present will bear witness. Whether
or not, I shall be "run over" as you
predict, because I havo presented those
objections, is not pertinent to the issue,
certainly not influence my convictions or pre-.
vent the expression Of them, In case of such
Importance IS this.
a word more respecting my own relations
to the meeting. I did not, as might be In
1erIeit from your article, assume to represent
some interest IN protecting the finances and
credit Of the city, because as Comptroller
have had that subject specially under my
caarge, because hare induced capitalists to-
Invest largely In our securities, conscientious
y believing the investmenta safe aud judi
and would protect them from loss. and be-
cause, expecting IN = short time to withdraw
from any connection with with the city
business, desire to leave our finances in the
sound condition In which they ere ut present.
You say my remarks about the irresponsi-
ism. think that depends On the motive. I
am not conscious Of any improper motive or
purpose in the course have takeu.t TO de-
fead popular rights and the welfare Of the
people, to demand Justice fortwenty thousand
subject me to the imputaiicn Of dcmagogism
from the friends Of the bill, an impntation
easily made, and often made by those who |
cannot defend themselves by argument, But |
being, as have said, unconscious of any I'M |
charge with indifference, believing. that this
and the members of the General |
Assembly nre too intelligent to be Influenced
BY 1t. In fact feel about It muchas you would
Il some one were to say that your article
Resn bors boqS a9S paid for 5oS by hs
regard snc1 fmpntations, for they are otter
unjust, proro nothing, and hinder instead of
advancing the attainment Of correct conclu-
sions.
You say she CIR. Hayes) knows that an
amendment to the bill requiring bonds, or
would be entire,y:proper, either now or after
the bill shall be introduced In the Legislature. |
But he proposes no such amendment BE
Goes not want to perfect tue bill, but to de-
Feat it."
am glad you now see that the bill does
uot provide for the eafe keeping Of the funGe,
md ought to be amended in that respect.
That is OF G important point gnintd. 1t is a
decided advance on the so-called citizens
meeting, md proves tl1at have done SONIC
5ood. But you are In error in stating that
proposed no such amendment. On tie con-
lutte offered BY me. That substitute con-
aimed all the valuable provisions In the orig +
nal bill, with some additional provisions, re-
1ucing the amount Of bonds from s., ,000, coo to
+, COZ, 200. authorizing and requiring that the
n1 cans Of the : & Canal sas 1nTaSaae Tfaste:.
made to our hand, and said by Mr. Goodlng,
he 6uperint tendent, an experienced, inte:li.-
.eut and highly reputable engineer, to be
uflicient, should be thoroughly Tried, II con
nre Of the two millions ard authorizing
he offer Of bonus Of 81 ,0o0 0Oo0, part OF the
2 600 600, to the United Staies or the State
# Illinois. II they would prosecute the work
4 cutting through the summit level, and
I'D AND d3sepea1RPg ths ean1a H ships
Tas thatit contained thoee. additional pro-
isions, and left the custody, control and ex-
cndhure Of the money in The hands Of the
representatives. and agents Of the taxpayers
nd voters Of Chicago, undeH nil the checks
astead q placing it. in one sum Of ooo oo5, il
3 i've me1 g t'l 10 be p appoiated hS naner aileS
with the movers in the project.
s appears by their ogn resolutions,
We mon who are to give nosecurity and be |!
aouEand dollars or imprisonment for one I
eur, in case they should steal, sguandcr or :!
,se the whole three millions. !
The substitute then was II fact an amend, '
1ent, and tended to perfect the means for =
III, tile cleansing ofthe Chicago river.
You are therefore In error in saying that 1 )
no such amendment. You are also !
, error in suppoaing that sEch amendments :
! sny form would have bssn acceptable to
he friends Of the bill. They not only de- . .
, amend the bill after the obnoxious features I
ad been pointed cut, bat. they defended !;
hose very features, and approved of the bill !
zactly as It stands. :
You, and other advocates Of the bill, at- {
'.upt to justify It, By sxesptng charges of i
I'd Common Council, and the Beard Of Pub :
"The journals Of iris city, one and all T,
:hoing an universal public sentiment, have. /, :
cen calling on the city authorities, NOT. l. '
'erely for months, bat for years, to do this .
'ork. They have called In vain. The city =
uthorities have betrayed on this subject !. !,
cafness, and dumbness, and blindness abso, I
ltely without parallel in the municipal lis !
ory Of any city We ever heard Off
This charge Is entirely. unfoundcd, and par
icularlJ unjust, as 1t is made the pretc1t for :
scheme which disgraces and deposcs. two
>spectable public bodies, while It destroys
&c chartered and constitutional rights Of one :.
nnd1ed and seventy thousand people, !
The nuisancea complained of, which. h1ye | !,
cen greatly exaggerated, and, at the worst. !
re only occasional, are bad water I'D bad :
II. They have received the full measure Of = =
ttention from these city authorities for the = =
!st three yesrs. In the winters Of 1862 8 and
5G34, the river WAS effectuelly cleaned by
implying the canal this way, under an ar
with the trustees. proposed by ,
he Mayor aud sanctioned by The Common
ounci. The attempt Was made to effect the !
v-{nu H~-4f \