, 1874-08-06
THE DUTY OF CHICAGO.

@Aa NVA / NE t111GAEQ+
Livery prudent man in q time Of financial hard
snip Husbands bis RESOURCES by Topping Off all
anpcrauoua expenses aud eschowing luxuriea,
anu spends hlH nouey only for what Is ucces.
sary. This rule, which holds truo Of tue iudi-
Vluua', holds true also Of corporations aud luu-
niolpal governments. There never was a timo
IN tie history Of Chicago whom tho city needed
prudent and economical counsolora and guar
dlans OF the public funds 10 badly as now. We
aro doubiy afflicted. Wo are not only in
soro financial atraits but recent diaas.
trous events md q failuro to profit
by their lcssona hayo oroatod a feeling
OF distruBt III us at tho financial centres OF the
country. Now, IL over, ia the time when tho
City Government should practice q sound econ-
on'y, aud only expend it's funds whero al actual
necessity exists. Now t1oro is but ono actually
pressing necessity in Chicago, and tint is to
protect tho city against the ravages of fro, in
order to restore that confidence iu us Which haa
been 80 sadly shakon, aud to maintain our
credit, which would be impaired should capital
and insurance cease to sock investment
hore. Instead Of doing this, however.
thero is On the part OF tho majority
Of tho city officials an ingano haste
to erect new City-uall, and a greedy desire to
get their hands into tho ml[lona which must be-
spent in its construction. A new City-IIall would
undoubtedly bo n very elegant ornament to tho
city, and no objection could stand iu tho way Of
its erection II tho city could afford to build It,
But tho city cannot afford to build 1t: and il
in no condition to throw away what money it has
on elegant ornaments. No valid reason las
yet been urged why 1t should bo built.
In tho first place, it is not needed.
The city and county officers and the
courts have got along very comfortably during
tho last three yoara In their present quarters,
and can got along throo yoars moro, or until
auc, tme al the city can afford to build, without
Inconvenience to themselves or tho public Tho
plea that the erection Of City-Ilall, which is
not necessity, would give work to the uue1n-
p!oyed, has no torco In it, because tho adoption
Of measures for tho protection Of tho city against
tire, Which is necessity, would give moro work
to the unemployed than tho building of a City.
Hall. III tho no1t place. tho Taxpayers Of
tlla city do not want tho new Oity-
Hall. II tho question wc1o submitted |
to popular vote tomorrow, and tho people |
were eivon an opportunity to express thoir son. |
Eimonts, they would pronounce against this rock
eas extravagauce with unanimity which would |
astouud these ollIcials who arc bont upon con-
this scheme for pluudor. This feol-
ing III shared by every o'ass Of our citizens, not
only by thoso who have to pay tue burden Of
a3os and WHO have largo intoroata at atako, but
slso by tho laboring portion Of tho community,
n the last place, II corruption must DO al
,loment in tho building Of tlls structure, It il
'ot favorable time for its operation. If wo
must ho plpnde.cd lot us DO plunderod when
'ur pockets aro full. Let tho thieves hold olr
'hilo our Treasury Ii low aud We a.e trying to
ecoyer from 1ly-recurring d'sastess.
Apart from tha regular current expenses Of
ho city thore Ia hut one object Which callg for
money, and that is tie projection Of tho city
gaiust tlro and, until tint protection is secured
lot one cent should bo spout tor other purpoaoa
east Of all for an ornamental luxury
ike City-1Iall. What ,nonoy no have
hou'd be spent in ieorganizing aud in-
reaulng our Fire Department; In enlarging our
iu constructing reservoirs or con-
uits; in tho employment Of skilled men 10
image hros; III tia laying out Of broad areau
heh An ordinary fire cannot cross and, in
oneral, to take such precautions against lire
lRt. Nf1n t1fHnator ron,ns nva{r II oapoo+ Io | .