, 1873-12-02

Tho immediate RESOURCES Of tho city con-
sist Of:
Taz-cortitcates T. Of sale Of ls7s....."... seooooo
Balance Of Canal Redemption fund ......... lou QUO
Total. s764 7o7
Tho immediate liabilities OF tho city nro "a fol-
lows:
n1taa1,ns nonds ao oee1; 1an i SSa q ea
1ntareat due Jan. !, ,183A................. 407750
Iotal'.. 81 ,8ol 7o4
To meet this debt Of nearly two millions OF
dollars the city has but tho small sum Of
9100, 900 cash and what can bc realized from tho
tax-corti1cates. Tho present bonded debt Of tile
city is $19 600, which is 100000 III oxcesa
of tho limit axod by tho Constitution, so that no
money eau bc raised by tho issue of bonds.
There iB in round numbers $1,10l000 In the
City Treasury, but this is deposited to tho credit
Of spocial funds; 100000 belong to tho water
fund, e100, 900 to tho building fund, aud tho
rest to tho school and sinking funds. Mono Ia
available to meet tho Immediate liabilities. Tho
appropriations for the present Hscal year are
s6000,0 900, aud the tax for 1879 will bo 20 mills
on the dollar, being mills in excoAs Of the levy
Of 1879.
Tho Mayor submits 1t US serious question to
the Council whether, in these hard times with
stringent money market and in tho tacc OF
the unjust tux saddlod by the State Board of
Equalization upon this county, our citizens can
meet this onoroua levy OF por cent Tho
Mayor does not believe thoy can do 10, aud
recommends that tho 1ovy for 1873 DO cut
down to Is mills. Ho also recommends that all
appropriations other than for objects of actual
nocesaity be dispensed with, that tho tax may be
cut down from q rate which absolutely endan-
gers it's collection.
In Wow Of tho prosent difficulties, he urges
that tho Council initiate strictly economical
movement in every branch Of tho Government.
Tho Mayors observations upon tho questions
of the Sunday law arc exceedingly we'll timed,
and are direct enough to satisfy evory porson'
The Mayor states that, during tho late Adnints~
tration, public attention had been directed by
efforts as fruitloss aa frantic to enforce certain
ordinances il regard to the observance Of Sum-
day. However, appropriate these ordinances
may have boen when Chicago waa village, thoy
aro out OF place in ono Of tho great cities Of tho
world. Tho PRACTICE las boen, Of late years, to
trent those as obsolete at tho lato election, tho
question whether thcHe ordinances should bo ro-
tained and enforced, or modified or repealed,
was fairly toBtcd aud overwhelmingly decided.
II tho Common Council shall. therefore, repeal
or modify these laws, they ulll DO but executing
the will Of tho people.
Tho Mayors emphatic declaration Of opposi-
ton to tho construction Of tho Cty-Hall and
Courthouse will meet with universal approval,
us will lis declaration TINT the railroads sliall DO
compelled to fulfill thoir contracts to build via
ducts over tho Btrcetr.
Tho Mayor calls attention to tho enormous
cost Of gas, and reminds tho Council that 1t has
been judlcially decided that no municipal cor
poration has tho right to contract to pay a,1os
greater than tho amounts yoarly appropriated for
specific purposos and, therefore, all the oxist
ing contracts with the gas companies ore void,
md an opportunity Ia afforded for new con-
tract.
Except tho Introductory remarks, which SOON
intondod to blow life into tho expiring embera
Of paat political conflict, and aro to that extent
in bud tasto, Mayor Colyin'a Inaugural Ia worry
| creditablo and satisfactory document.
Unfortunately, tho excellent promise OF tho
Inaugural is not borno out In tho appointment
| Of tho Committees. McGrath anl Bailey, two
Indicted Aldermen, at tho head Of tie Commit
tees on Finance and Public buildings Ito carry
out measures Of economy and reform), consti-
tute tho anti-climax to tho nIayors excellent
recommendations. Perhaps Mr. Coiyln Lad
| poor material to mako up his Committees from;
| but dcoent respect for the Grand Jury should
have consigned these two mon to tho foot, rathor
| than the head, OF tho now Administration.