, 1875-04-04
OH GbEmapn Ufibusae.
Sunday Morning, April 4. 1875.


Sunday Morning. April 4. 1875.
THE CITY CHARTER.
The bill originally prepared by the Citi-
zens' Association providing a new general
law under which the City Of Chicago may be-
come Incorporated has passed both Houses
Of the Legislature, and when approved by
the Governor will be q law, and in force after
July 1. The Inv provides for special cleo
ton to be held On the 10th Of August next,
at which time the people Of the city will vote
for or against the adoption Of this charter.
The opposition to the passage Of this law
hes been an extraordinary one; it has been
bitter, malicious, defamAtory, and mendacious.
There we're serious and strange combinations
against it The bill had for its object the
reorganization OF the City yGovernmentupon
responsible basis It had for its purpose the
lifting Of the City Government out Of the
ruts into which it has been sinking deeper
svery year Il proposed to dispense with the
various Independent Executive Boards, and
establish one Executive and responsible head.
It proposed to reduce the present absolute
authority Of majority Of the Common Coun-
Il, by providing for the election of two
Boards, each having a negative upon the
other. The present Common Council natu-
rally we're opposed to being legislated out Of
office, and opposed to having any changes
made in the City Charter which would lessen
their influence and control in the City
Government, and by IN almost unanimous
vote protested against the bill For
some time the aGts-zatung, of which Mr.
HEsSG is chief proprietor, opposed tho char-
Ter; but after it had been modified and
amended in varions important particulars be-
came supporter Of it. From that moment,
the Chicago Times, which for years has borne
sestimony to the vicious system Of govern
ment provided BY our hotch-potch charter,
became an un6crupulous opponent Of the
reformed charter, and appealed to the
neanest prejudices by representing that the
new charter was designed to make Mr:
HEa1Ne Mayor! The Chicago Journal, which
ought to hare been on the side of Reform,
has an insane prejudice against any recogni-
ton of miror;ies in the Government, and
assumes that majorihes ought to bo supreme
and absolute, and that the result Of all cleo
lions ought to be all one thing or all the other.
Sooner than allow the minority to be repre-
sented in the City Government, it nreferred
to cling to the old charter, with al its hideous
deformities. The nter0ceaas, which is the
mere official organ Of the Common Council
and lives upon what that body doles out to it,
Of course followed It's patron and denounced
the bill IS soon as the Council set the exam
pie
The new charter has been thoroughly dis
russed, both IN Chicago and in the Legisla-
lnre; it has been from time to time modified
and amended, and We think, upon the whole,
improved It was impossible to frame in I'd
vance bill Of this important character SO as
to meet all the views even of those who fa-
Eo1ed reform The discussion was beneficial
to the bill. 1t led to the correction Of imper-
fections, and to the elimination Of objection
able details, without weakening the funda-
mental principle Of ths biu,-which was Of
fetal responsibility.
The bill provides for three Aldermen from
each ward instead Of two as now, and a.
voters to have the privilege Of cumulatng
their votes, thus securing to the minority its
fair representation The Board Of Council
nes is to be elected by general ticket through
cut the city. This Board of Aldermen retains
its powers to originate all financial 1egis1a-
tion- The affirmative notion Of both Boards is
necessary to all legislation. The Mayor is
clothed with veto power.
Instead Of thu present Boards of Health,
D~rs 1T
10 be single Commissioner for each Of
shese departments; all of these Commission
eB except the Commissioner Of Health are
to bs appointed BY the Mayor, with the con-
sent OF the Board Of Council. The Mayor,
Comptroller, Corporation Counsel, City nt-
torney, Commissioners of Fire, POLICE,
Health, and Public Works, are required to
hold public meetings once week, at which
the condition of all the departments Of the
city will be examined All proposdsfor con-
tracts for all departments must be opened
and compared before this cabinet Of heads of
departments, and no contract can be let with
cut the recorded assent and approval Of q ma-
Sority Of the officers Hero are publicity and
responsibility secured: Each Of these eight
officers must have official knowledge 1T oil
1ettinge Of contracts not only for his own, but
al other departments, and msdority
of the whole must concur. At pres
ent - each Board does its own busi-
ness, without any responsibility to any
one, and without the knowledge or ap-
prova1 Of any other branch of the City Gov
erament The proceedings and transactions
u the meetings of this cabinet Will be as
public as are these of the Common Council.