, 1874-11-29
U{}e Gbuago Ufibu1se.
Sunday Morning, November 80. 1874.
WITH SUPPLEMENT. Z.

TIE C0URT-EOUsR J0B-SHARP PRACTICE.
The most striking instance We have had OF
late of official tickery is the attempt to con-
clude contract between Cook County and
James P. Egan concerning the new Court
House. The County Commissioners represent,
It is true, Cook County, but that includes Chi
cago and when Chicago and Cook County
are at variance over matter OF TAXI
ton the county ceases to cut much
of q figure. The occupation of the
Courthouse Square is the joint right Of
the city and county. The County Com
missioners, having the power to issue
and sell bonds, have been in hurry
ever since the fire to begin and
build new Courthouse It, however, was
necessary for the city to cooperate, and the
city has had no money, nor has it had the
power to borrow. 4 year Or more was spent
in getting up plans, which resulted in award
ing the promised premium to the Ti1ley plan.
There the matter ended until some months
ago. the County Commissioners elected James
2. Egan architect upon thepart of the county
to prepare plans and superintend the con-
struction of the Courthouse. The Common
Council attempted to do likewise; it, how
ever, elected three architects, and then it Was
discovered that the Common Council had no
power to appoint any such officers, and that
Whatever public building was erected for the
city would have to be erected by the Board Of
Public Works. There the matter rested un-
til the 10th Of November, when the County
Commissioners resolved to go on with the
work alone. The next that was heard
was thet Mr.. Ashton, as President of the
Board, and Egan had signed contract, pre-
pared by the County Attorney, by the terms
Of which Egan was to prepare plan and
specifications for the county part, or half of
the building, which was to cost not exceeding
S1,250,oo0. For this plan, when approved by
the Board Of Commissioners, Egan was to re-
ceive $4,000, and in addition $500 for
serTices as architect and superintendent, or in
Ill 837,500- When this contract was pre-
sented to Gen. Lieb, the County Clerk, for
MIN to aifx the county seal thereto, he re-
fused to do it, SO the contract re-
mains unexecuted, although the County
Attorney processes to believe TINT the
contract is good without his signature
In the meantime Mr.. Tilley presents his pro-
test, claiming that when the city and county
accepted his plan they adopted it as whole
tor the entire building, and himself as archi-
tect- The Common Council, being powerless,
is compelled to stand idle. But when the
public remember that the people and proper
ty OF Chicago are to be taxed to build the
c1tys half OF the new building, and to pay
flve-slxths of the cost of building the other
ho1f, this attempt Of the County Commits
sioners to hurry this business through in
the last hours Of the old Board. to
the exclusion Of the city from all voice
in the selection Of either plan or IT.
chitect, was, to say the least, most
reprehensible. Suppose Mr.. Ashton's con-
tract is completed and A1r. Egan's plan
adopted By the Commissioners, and the
elty authorities should refuse to accept that
plan, but insist on some other, what possible
mode Of e1t1icaton will there bo7 Shall we
nave joint building erected upon two differ
sas pl0ns'-one half Gothic, or Do1ic, or Co
sntnlan, OF Ionic, and the other half after
some other order? II this contract had been
eaeeu1eo, and Egan's plan adopted BY the
eounty commissioners, then the city wonld
oave 40 choice but to accept the same plan,
ED employ the same architect at the sa1na
cost To do otherwise will necessitato
the erection of an entirely different
building, separate and distinct from that
erected BY the county. The hurry and e.
pedihon shown in this matter by the r..
fring Board Of Commissioners indicate thtt
this Was the real purpose, and that the end
sought Was to force upon the Board Of Pub
lie Works. and the City Government. .1r.
I .,an as the architect, and Mr. Ls.u-; zaa-