, 1870-07-04
THE COMMON COUNCIL AND THE AN
NUAL APPROPRIATIONS.
Letter from the Chairman Of the Finance
Comusttee.
10 The Editor of The Chicago Tribune:

zb The Editor of The Chicago Tribune:
In your issue of the lat inst ls IN editorial nm.
Ter the head OF " The Common Counci.n reflect
ing upon the Finance Committee, which desire.
Is member Of the committee, to have corrected
with the truth. cannot think You would do US
Injustice II the facts In the case Will not bear It
cut, Notwithstanding the strong feeling you seem
70 have against the Common Council The ouly
compensation we expect to receive for the
'aeor and time we have given
70 making up our report Is the pru[se
and cens1le Of the people, and we desire aa litte
- NE latter az possible particularly when feel
You say, II there had been a competent F.
:.ance Committee the BIZ! ought to hare been re-
ago fhe . estimates Of the Comptroller" ~ were 3of
IL The hands Of the Finance Committee The pro-
-eedtngs Of the Council show that the estimates
committee, md Juae y the ordinance vas report
,a4s "a 70 ane g. cSGnci; The estimates were in the
IL iss &c !, ys
unlimited to the Council Mayl7 Ordinance renort-
I'd back June lin hands Of committee IS Iays.
i.oried TO Council June 11-ln hands Of the com
:nsttee q dnys.
From this it will be seen, that the Finance Com
.nittse Of the present counci! had the estimates
vt the Comptroller under consideration o1lS four
lays longer that those OF the committee Of 1860.
Ill. Vice and myself were new members Of the
';o1nGil. and We necessarily were Obliged 70 deyote
he different departments, and we have only taken
our days longer than the committee Of 1862 all OF
whom had been members OF the Finance Commit
nc Of 1855 We trust that this explanation viii
clear us from the charge Ii this particular.
fou further state that .tthe ordinance Itself Ia
eckless sqnande,ing Of public money"
The Finance Committee feel that they hare done
he1r duty In the premises, as between tha dlflrr-
.ur committee were politicians, We had no friends
20 reward nor enemies to punish, but did our dutV
honestly and featlesaly, and we are willing to
may have erred in Judgment, but nos in
.'uFposc. The different departments assured Us
hey made their estimates closer than ever be-
IS possible. rs there vas such cIy Of high
-Axes" The consequences arr, we had less 70
= cut doWn," but: noMtTthstandlng IT s that. we re-
:afe to DO without crjppltng the finances OF the
city, which We did not consider our duty to do.
Aitss al NJ tae sale and een.a;e Of the Finance Com
:eeksss sausndsrins @ Ing ea0' q It's 1na money, M
Tnnld y. a,,,,sl simply say that notwithstanding
llation, and public Improvements (which are at
east Is per cent over last yeaE the amount to bo
:aIsed e. By taxation Will be less than last year by
obliged to pay more than last year on bonds
-ssued, which shou1d not be considered az cx-
2enses M ~ i9 comparison Of one year with another.
A+1N 1HttoHA AHu4Co aAVW 4uE l2lGuSElpGS% hDQ.
~ nny fair and unbiased mind, will prove copclu.
siyely that the Finance Committee made r report
hat viii stand the test Of criticism with those Of
the two previous years.
1870.
Amount asked for By Comptroller. 81. .ssse3s.7 Is
amount allowed " Ftnauce CON-. 4,02l.530.79
ANouht allowed by Council. -. 4,006, ,679.s9
........ 1862.
Amount asked for By Comptroller. t.sn,Taso
1aMount aMoWea by Finance Com. 4, 1903 ,sl276
Anount 8uo"ed by council. :, 800 3i3.50
1861
Amount asked for BY Comptroller. .. 4,15e, ,67a.o3
Amount allowed by Finance Com. 49,. s,577,lo5,05
Amount allowed BY Council ..,, s.2A$5LS5
Hoping that you Will give this an insertion Ia
Tour paper, on the principle OF far play to both
sides, remain yours, etc, J. Il. McAvoy,
Chairman Of Finance Committee,