, 1874-12-15
profit TINT Inns been proposed ainco tho now
Constitution cut OF nll legislation for apooial

constitution cut OF nll Legislation Tor apoclnl
interests
This assumption of municipal dobls by Tho
stato involves, of course, q complete tlisr11p-
ton Of tho present Constitution. It must be
ronched by mn amendment to tho Constitu-
tion ropcaling tho present prohibisory provis-
ions Of TINT instrument, and tho adoption Of
another authorizing this assumption Of tho
local debt Tho total assossed valuo Of tho
taxable property in this State Is, in round
numbers, S1,2O0,oo0, 900, which authorizes
M aggrcgato county indebtedness Of $Go, o,ooo,-
600, and n township Indebtedness of like
amount, and Of a city indebtedness to, per-
hars, one-fourth that sum. It will bo
municipal debt mny DO carried undor our
Constitution Inns not yet bcon reached. In
several instances, rs in Chicago. the maxi-
mum had been rcoohcd at tho timo tho Con-
atitution 1Yas adopted, but as whole there IL
a largo margin FOR municipal dabt under the
Constitution still unoxhaustod. Tho very
agitation Of this subject, therefore, will hnvo
tho tendency to induce all those counties,
cities, towns, md school districts which
hnyo not their full measure Of debt
to hurry up that they ,nay hayo
their whole share Of the plundor. 10
assume tho dobts of tho vnrious municipali-
tics, and mako them general charge upon
tie whole people, MS well those who owo
nothing MS those who owo but little, would DO
nn net Of gross injustice. Itwould 10 making
the pcoplo Of Knox County, or any other
county FREQ of debt, pay part Of tic debt Of
tho City of Chicago. It would mako tho
people of Winncbago Countypa for building
tho Court House in Carlinville, and mako tho
whole State Of Illinois pay tho cost Of
building five orsix millions Of dollars Court
House md City-Hall i'll Cook County. In
general improvement system, 1t was en-
actcd that any county in which n railrond
or q canal was not provided should be
allowed to draw from tho State Treasury n
sum Of money in proportion to its popnla-
ton, to Offset tho advantages given 10 other
counties in the way of improvements. How
is tho inequality between tLcso counties md
towns Which owe littlo or no debt, and those
which are heavily in debt, to bo rc1nedjel
But supposing tho State assume nil tho debta
duo by the several municipalities at the tlato
of the adoption Of tho scheme, say in 1S7G,
what is to prevent these same municipalities
thus cmancipated ngain plunging into debt
to the extent of tho constitutional limit
Then in time will bo roIcatod the job of hnv-
ing the State nssumo tie improvidcnt local
debts, and thus practically tho business and
power Of creating State debts will 10 exer-
eised by every City Cou,cil, Board Of Super
yisors, md Board Of School Trustees in tho
State.
It is stated tint the Legislature will be So
riously asked at this fcsson to propose an
amendment to the Constitution ombodying
this scheme, to be voted on two years hence.
Such scheme is prepoterous. It's agitation
can have no other effoG than to induce MIL
inequalities now hcavil, in debt to suspend
payment, and to iudueoothers to plunge into
debt. 1t should be not ,n1y defeated, hut de-
tented 80 cmpnGtic,lly tint tho iniqrlity would
not be presented again The time has not
yet como for tho repeal Of the universal law
that every mnn should pay his own dehts,
and not ask lis ncighbory to do it for him.