, 1874-09-29
LAST NIGHTS COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.


Last nights session Of tho Common Council
WAS sad commentary on tho vtcousncsR Of tho
ward Bystom Of politics. While tho bnsincsa
mon OF Chicago arc alnrmcd to an extent that
both our large fires havo failed to produce. md
whitu tho yory foundations Of our commercial
system aro threatened, tho Common Council
ppout 1ts timo III hageliug over political
ordinations aud rocrlminations. Tho [rc-
spectab1o and conservative clomont was
not strong enough to koop down tho
bad blood, which must needs find Homo low
political consideration for every proposition
looking to the improvement Of Chicago'a condt-
tion. Tho nolsieHt inou in tho Council could not
riso above tho level Of tho ward system which
brought thom into bciug. Cullorton, who ia =
legislator for the State as vol as tho city, held
himaelf up aB M illustration of tho ass Ia 1ton's
skin. Ho tried to roar and only succeeded in
brayiug. 1lo had a following Of enough Alder
mon to ronder tho uoiso loud and offensive.
There woro two or tlroo mon who Wed
with cncl other in moving a reference OF Mr.
Dlxons ordinance appropriatfns 100000 for
laying 8-incA pipe in tho district bounded by
Chicago avenue and Sixteenth stroot, and Hull
stcd atrcot and tho lake. Tho merits of this
proposition lavo alroady been explained aud arc
referred to in subsequent article. Tor tho
roat. tho necessity for this improvement is
obvious aud ita economy roadily do,non-
strated. But tho Aldermen With Ears from
tho outside wards Immediately discovered that
hero waa an appropriation, 10 part Of which
would be expended III tho particular districts Of
which thoy ato tho presiding goniuscs. This WIS
Huflciont ronson for tlom to object to It's inlmo-
diato consideration. utterly ignoring the fact
tint tie district described contaius the great
mass Of tho business and wealth of Chicago,
and that iss protection js essential to every
party Of tho city. Unless 1t DO both protected
aud injured, wo Of the opinion that tho people
who live in tue outaido wards will have to move
oven furthor away. Then thoro waB q fierce op-
position to it because It was foarcl tint the AL
derman who introduced it intended 1t to bo us ed
as lover to his personal Bucccss in politics.
This thought was enough to mako twenty
othor Aldermen howl, any ono Of whom would
have introduced resolution to havc a1I
tho watcr-pipeB In Chicago taken up II
ho thought ho could thereby DO elect
cd to a second term. In addition to
these opposing elements, thero wero tro or
throo who lnvo conceived sudden affection for
tho Holly wator-works. though it IL conceded on
all sides tint Chicago's wnter-works in them
selves aro exceptionally thorough md probably
superior to those Of any city in tho country,
Fortunately, tho ordinance has been reforred to
Tho Finance Committee. whero 1t is likely
to receive fair consideration; and in
tho meantime no may hopo that l.
majority Of the Council will loarn to consider
the proposition on its merits without reference
to polticH. or wnrds, or other Byateuaa Of vator-
works.
Tho reputation Of tho Council waa partially
redeemed from tho imputation put upon 1t by
tho insurance companies by tho engrosemcnt of
tho ordinance appropriating e2o1 1000 for addi-
tons and improvements to the Fire Department.,
though NIT without nasal protest from one or
two long~earcd gentlemen. Raving got this far,
however, it is likely to be finally passed. And,
in the end, we may also secure tho paasaeo of
tho resolution for additional pipos, after tho
gcntlomen opposing it shall have exhausted
thoir resources for damaging the reputation Of
tho city. Meanwhile lot every action of every
individual Alderman bo regarded With reference
to tho coming election.