, 1873-03-03
BILLS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE,


BILLS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.
Senator Williamson hns introduced bill to
establish now court In Chicago, which will be
known as Aahton's "Court OF Common pleag."
Tho trouble is, that Mr.. Ashton has Horvcd tho
Republican party long enough in petty oifccs,
whore tho compensation, however much okod ont
by constructive service on committees, doos not
pay, and lo now expects recognition by having q
judicial Office. This bill ploposos to create an
of&lco for him especially. To place 1t beyond oil
doubt or accident, he ahould DO namod in tho
bill. Nc hayo now, in addition to tho United
statos Courts, tho County Court, and eight other
Judges In this county. There is tho Superior
Court with three Judges, and the Circuit court
with fvo Judges. Thoso al have con-
current Jurisdiction. Tho Constitution pro-
v1dos for an incroaso' of tic Circuit
Judges when tho population Of this
county shnll exceed 100000 by another Circuit
Judge for each Il, 900 population ovor that num-
ber. It is possible that tho Legislature, in order
to givo relief, might inoroaao tho number Of
Judges Of the Superior Court at lcast tompo-
rari1y, until, under tho census OF 1876, tho NUM-
bor Of Judgoa Of tho Circuit Court may bo con-
stitutionally increased. Wo do not want any
moro oourta. II AHhton's court Is to bo concur
ront with the othor courts, lot 1t bo matlo part
OF ono Of them; II it 10 to DO IN inferior court,
will go up on appeal. It has boon proposed, and
the suggestion is wiao ono, that In casca Of
great urgency Judges from tho adjoining cir
cults whore there is comparatively little busi-
ness could be invited to hold torma in Cook
County, receiving from this county compenHa-
tion therefor. This measure, which tho Legisla-
ture can authorize, will answer all necessity until
an increase Of the number Of Circuit Judges can
be had.
There Is very ominouH bill before tho Logis-
Of wards in this city. When it is remembered
that tho Aldermen are expecting to ba paid sal
aries, proposition to doub1o tho number Of
wards has much significance. Tho wards i'm
mediatoly to be cut up into two or threo wards
each arc Wards Q, 8, O. II, II, aud perhaps
otherB. Tho present number Of wards is twenty,
with two Aldermen oaoh. II this number OF
wards be increased to thirty or forty, and oaet
Alderman iH paid from 81 600 to 81, 600 each, tho
city can form IN estimate Of what will be tho
future character Of tho City Council. Wo do
not belieyo any respectable citizen refuses to
servo in tho Council because there is no salary;
largo number Of those now sorying would not
rcsign their places evon it to hold them they
had to pay $500 oaoh per aunum. II tho
office without any salary has attractions
for mon Of this class, what will bo the
result Of giving each of them 800 month, aud
doubling tho number Of wards Another reason
why tho wards should not ho doubled ia, that
whatever necessity once existed for it, oxists no
longer. Tho division OF city into numerous
wards WIS originally roaortcd to that conveniont
places Of voting might bo furnished, aud not to
meet any supposed antagonisnl in intoras! be-
tweon tho various parts Of tho city. As popula-
tion was increased, tho number Of wards WAS
enlarged. But remedy for this was soon found
by dividing wards into numerous voting pro-
cinots thus securing to tho votors all that could
he accomplished ny an increase OF wards. LII
Now York City, with 100000 population, there
aro but twenty wards, and III Phllauolphia,
whoso aroa is far creator than Chicago. and
whose popnlatlon ID aoublo ours, tnoEe aro hut
twenty-five TardB' We hnTo enough wards.
A Common Council OF forty momboss
is far more useful than ono Of eighty
can e7oF No. anu "o hopo lno Acg's-
latafo WILL nos 'nA'ct 'o'7 ea'a"lty up
On omcago' AZ I'll o'onts' ''' 'uo 1oB'7'a'uto