, 1873-02-19

oAeIHpout A1cGrttu~-4.
It is lust to state that the four Aldermen who
were absent would have voted for the nonaina-
tiona. Or tie sixteen who voted against the
nominations nearly every ono did 30 knowingly
to keep up tho present police demo1aliza-
tton. Upon that point there is no dig
pute, nor was tho purpose disguised or dontod.
Tho community, howovor, has reason to rejoice
that tho cauae Of law and order Ia not in m
actual minority in tho Council. Considering
the efforts that have boen made by the ox-Polico
Commissioners and their clients, the vote on
Monday night was gratifying. Tho legal opin-
ions Of MoBsrs. OBrien aud 8chaiYner failed to
satisfy tho conscionces Of majority Of tho
whole Board, and Mr: K1okko failed to bo rocog-
nizod as tho municipal dictator. Nevertheless,
the failure to confirm tho nominations Of tho
Mayor proionga the ugony Of tho Police and FIRE
Departments. Neither Of those bodies has
received pay slnce. Docombor. The pay
rolls for January, amounting to about
S7o,000, arc awaiting legal conarma-
tion; and, until thero nre Commissioners
to certify to tho bills, there can be no payment.
Tho argument induatriously employed to mnko
the police content 1lndor this deprivation is, that
as soon as there is new Police Board there will
l'o general overhauling Of tho forco and tho
habitual drunkards, tho idle, lazy, incompetent,
and dishonest mon on the force will be diBmiss-
cd; while 40 long as tho old Board is retained
all tho present forco arc secure Of their places.
YYndnr tfaan ncar1, ntrn3mnn <vhn
knows that ho is fraud upon tho public is 4
pnrtiBan Of Klokkc, and inHists that luis Alder
man shall voto to retain tho latter.
The community will havo noticed a1ao the prop
osition to ask tho Legislature that zach Alder
man ahal1 be paid $1,000 year, and SO
| would DO equal to $4,000 year for
each Alderman. Among those who aro
| activoly 1aboring for this Aldor1nanio pay are
those of tho sixteen who aro tho most zca1ous
partfsana Of the old police, and the most vigor-
| ouB champions Of the gamblers. That Aldermen
aro entitled to somo compensation for tho time
given to tile public service may be truo, and may
properly DO advocated, but tho strongest argu-
ment against 1t is, that 1t Is demanded by the
larger proportion Of those who figure in this list
| Of sixteen. When tho prosecutions Of year
ago, for corruption In the Council, were ended,
it waa thought TINT the Board bud boon purified,
or that no further blaokmailng would be at-
tempted. Tho expectation has hardly boon roal-
izcl and 1t is ikoly that tho domand for regular
salary has beon instigatod On tho part Of several
members, in the hope that comfortable living,
If not handsome profit, may DO made from sal
ary and blaokmal conb1nod.
Ono Of tho greatest OWLS Of all municipal gov
ornment is that, owing to the caralesaneas and
inattention Of the classes most Interested in
| good, responsible government, the moat worth.
less and dangerous classes elect tile law-makora.
Tho result is tho present disgraceful dead-locl
in tho City Government Of Chioago,-tho entire
Fire and Police Departments without any hend
tho authority Of the law put ut defiance; the
Common Council openly consortlng with the
revolving Commissioners; aud tho poaco ani
order Of the city impor11ea in order to keep the
police force In the control Of law-breakers ant
mutineers,