, 1869-02-10
THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS

Certain of the proposed amendments
10 the chsrter Of the city Of Chicago
have been published IL The TRIBUNE
An increase in the number OF the
wards is demanded BY the great increase
in the population Of tho outside wards,
such as the Fourth, Seventh, Eighth,
Ninth and Thirteenth. The change gives
an additional ward to the South Side,
two to the West Side and one, to tho
North, making the whole number twenty.
We think this alteration is needed, and
suppose that the subdivision Of the wards
is as fair as Is possible in city whose
population IS increasing as rapidly as
that Of Chicago. Ten years ago the
whole West Side had but two wards, the
Fifth and Sixth. The territory now en-
braccd in the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth
Wards was then set of from the Fifth,
and made new ward, called the Tenth.
Since that time the present Fourth Ward
was created, the Fifth nddcd to tho city
bodily, and the Ninth, Eleventh and
Twelfth carved out Of the old Fifth and
Sixth. Tic Thirteenth Ward, when
crcsttd, had less than zoo voters. An in
Crcaso in the number Of wards is ucces-
sary to cqualize tho representation.
We have already spoken Of the pro-
posed change Of the time OF holding
| elections from, April to November. One
OF the great evils OF our system Of govcrn-
mcnt is that the frequency OF elections
dctc1s the best classes Of voters from TAX
ing part IN Them, thus enabling persons
wholly unfit To succeed in getting office.
Not more than halt the voters Of OLics-
| 60, and frequently not over one.third, at
tend the polls oftencr than once In two
years, and yet NO always have two
elections every year. We elect Alder
men and Supervisors every year. Thcst
arc the NTH who levy our taxes, and who
expend the public money. These are tht
men who assess upon this city annual,
near four millions OF dollars, and edt
largely to the fundld debt. Yet but
small portion Of the people take any par
IN the choice Of them. The voters 70 t,
The polls to vote Tor President and Gov
ernor, yet neither Of these officers has |
in Lis power to levy taxes upon them, O
to txpcnd their money.
| There is an amendment providing 70
the election Of presiding Officer, IN th
place OF the Mayor, in tho boa1o OF a.
dermen. This in i'een IS proper, bus
,s another e,sp in the reduction OF tn
cftlco ~ Mayer to purely ornaments
Zone. Tho Mayor Of Chicago ought to b
; an Executive office with general power!
One BY one his powers have been take
; away, and now it is proposed to displac
!, him as presiding officer OF the Commo
;. Council. &c will then be, officially,
!. mere cypher-a sort Of 3gure-head, Wit
!. no power over the city officers who al
4 appointed By the Council upon his uomi
n nation. He ough. to be ex-eEcio mem
Il Der OF the Beard o. Police and Fire Con-
;. missioners, and have general supervls
# ing power over the other officer
!, by whom the affairs of the cit
:. ale administered. The Mayor in q
:. especial manner represents til
ii whole city, and should have powers an
$, duties appropriate to his Office.
], Tie Board Of Education has reached
If point Ealing tor thorough retoruasio,
J. LIS annual regular expenditures nc
reach nearly half u million Of dollar
It Acting in concert with friend. In tt
It Council, the members csn perpztua
IN their OWN official existence, s.i1c n
d Inquiry and reform, and expcnd the M
cl lie moley recklessly and was.efull
e. Tic wisest course is by charter amen
l. .ment to Icgislste the present board out
e, office, and provide new one, to cons
r. OF five members from each division, to
" appointed by the Mayor AID confirm
D. by the Council. The system OF elccti
ut public c1lcers by vote OF tho Allcrm
n. Is vicious one, and inevitably leads
n combination Of interested parties, en-
d. ing sooner OF later In corruption.