, 1869-05-05

Mnynr Rice submitted to tue Common
Council, OH Monday evening, II very lua-
rostant question. Uns1or tho Lincoln Park
act he IL required, upon the demand Of the
Commissioners Of eaiI park. I" eig,i and
deliver I" them city bonds, without tho
authority Of tho Common Council. The
demand has l,cen made for SVh',Mh Of
hr,uls. The Mayor rrfer7,-l the question
10 the Corporation Counsel. aud that officer
hu. given IN opinion, which concludes as
follows.
.Iron ii full consideration OF The questions
proposed NJ could give shctu. III tla tndst o!
t,rtulon, the Legislature had thr constitutional
towrr which It has t1e1rsci 10 require The Matat,
Comptroller ami tity ftrth ~ tssar tanls ol tac
lincoln I'AYk, without thu authority or concur.
rc.cc Of the lDmnnu COUNCIL and 10 ttQ'titc tartf
delivery 10 the 1'cari u l.asI commissioners
within a reasonable timc aftcr irmanI male by
them,
The question before Us relates kivnply to
the power ii the Lcgislaturr to s;'sjcct the
city Of Chicago to municipal debt without
its conscu.. The Lrglsi~tnrs m,y nu-
tlo,.stcAly authorize the city To asstrue
s,sc!l tlei,t Int such M exercise of power
us is proposed l,y this act Of the Lcgisla-
lure. VT. iunst FAY, with all .luv difference
/" the Cur1'nr1tion Counsel. is lart Il settled
question. On the contrary. it il strongly
disputed hy courts and lawyers. In
Gu,try's Constitutional Liulit.4iinn~ this
1u.int ,s very ably discussed. Al }.ss" ::h,
he says:
'twhrther thr Legislature has power, asAins,
'ltr w.i III :RnHls pA Stf7nsa Elnn 10 cd5nFc} hs
:tt:rnA I" a.su.nc All obligation. nnt u discharge
Il hr taxation. when The .uh.lgat!on y oat which
"r,I moi o,,ltna:4!, ta Within the n:llaasE fnnc'
lens Of MuulrtI,sI ::s,vrrrmrat TO enter r,a is
i;.st.n which, Il l. IA 10 hc tlec!dcr1 hs authority.
n not rrttrr1y frrr run, tiifittult. Their ast.
wara deny fue Legislature the t's- rs''tt u
,rs eeea i11wcz: rni wfle, claim tnr ,tis n,ua!-
ctia; "rE situations thc ~atrc exemption lr'1 ran1-
rasT ami legal duties tia. projects The !at,vina
citizen Aud even whczr q n,orad otAE7rnn ma.
ta.Fis ;'e ssht TO rest n.e'n ths municrats.s ~ =
..rnirst sln. cases that the Legislature rsn con
<r.t II INN legal demand, and rn1ere tts isy
1ncul, th.eh II IA conctara lhai It ians nIthotx'
unss' SHs ana .,na7e y ia H. tact eh. i" 10
The case Of Hns:sr,HIch es, M.lwaukes-':
Mis-. ::;;77xis citc,l Ii. that casc the city WI
authorized to issue toHls 10 au a1nu:snt no
cAcee,iins S;A.uo0 10 fnll'rose the harb'F
The city made contract for q stunt larsel!.
exceeding that amount. Subsequent legis
iatiun authorized the isSne .! such at
,uno,,::, uf l,nnds as w.s,l1 lc necessary Il
complete the wrrl Yhe question hefert
the Court va2 whethe1tt:s subsequent ltsis
1t did not appear that tic city had askcl To-
or had ass-ente,a to this additional legislation
In that c.i>e the Court naii;
I'm rhr Legislature. ny rrtnEuz!ss the exist
cner III p7,,y1ousy vuiti contract, ant authnrt1au
t1-sre the city against Its will Into reEfosMAn,.
Of II: Q: aoE> the lsw !caArr tae essent 9. tac cA
wrt1 ~ OF TIC Legislature In order to make IN
<,ls!xaLcu tln.itnE and eEacaeioEs. In MT opiu
tou The latter act. As well - tho tarmrr, u Lee'
A;,,t ran.s be srft rrs>,. 4 contract so,l ID
want Of capaett In one oS hath OF the contract TN
rAys!ts III enter into il. !, no contsaet: II Is as
attempt II m agreement hsa eve. neeu u3ads. An
adul.. thal the L1sai lrr. y! t* aNn eho:tc, M
r:a.r<t the wishes oi either u 10Th Of the ce!
sc4r.tnS rsr:te@ can Eve !. t:c aHd Stcnt t. to
wi tha1 Il 5 within TIC srere Of Legislative su1he
i, a.rest sri;sri nights Of property aoa 10 "A.
.hc n.s1r:11 ct one lad.ytd'sal or corpos sNto1 ~
;ta1Irr II 10 another. Il II certainty Ennftessa
a. THIS ia. TO enter ,nta HI argument, nr IL q
HutAprs1e. 10 >hau 1has under constitution
government uke ours ths Legislature has no su'
l>'Nct.
We AT, aware tha, thsrc are decisions !
the Supreme Conrt Of Illinois, and hy Il
ts'.1'> Of other States, to the effect Ii
uu,ie!s..l corporations created hy the Leg
l4trrt, L,>:ae Io powes> but these direct
granted ~ them. src wholly wi,hi;l ltsis1
:l.c cpat1el, Ar,l that ;i.sy n,ay he altcrs
OF eysE abolished. q: tie pi.asare Of l
Legislature. hut thi> power is confined
10 questions cf FtIe1y- The S:N:s n,
aboilsh tie corporation or Is,li:;c..l oEsa
za,ion If tie city Of Chicago, but il caul