, 1875-04-18

OF salaries,-a provision that il important il
Chicago, but not necessary in smaller town
which have not yet reached the financial con
dition Of this city.
The Legislature concurred in this view
and by an almost unanimous vote Of botl
parties in both Houses, there WIS enacted ,
"General Charter Of 1875" which is to b.
| adopted Or rejected by o vote Of the people
of Chicago on the 18th day Of August next.
In the meantime, the Legislature also rem
edied many Of the evils of the old charter Of
| Chicago by re-enacting large portion Of the
| law known as the Mayors $50 that at
the present time the people of Chicago have
before them for their acceptance three ser>
eral charters, as follows:
/. The present charter of 1853, with amend
ments, including the recently y-enacted May
or's bill, the whole constituting the present
City Charter.
2. The general charter of 1872, conceded
to be wholly inapplcable to the City Of Chi
cago unless amended, and not capable Of
amendment without amending the charters
Of other cities in the State. This charter is
to be accepted Or rejected next Friday, April
%. It should be voted down.
g. The general charter Of 1875, which in
oludes e,existing charter, with tho various
improvements made necessary because OF the
growth and peculiar circumstances of the
city. This charter has to be voted On by the
people in August, 1875, and, if adopted, will
60 into operation in November next
It is necessary, however, to understand
that If, next Friday, there should be major-
ity Of votes for the charter Of 1872, then the
present charter will be wholly repealed and,
as the charter Of 1872 is comparatively q
skeleton. it will strip the city Of many essen
tial powers Of government, providing no
equivalents therefor, and will practically
ovarturn the present Government, without
providing q proper substitute therefor. It
will not only repeal wholly the present char
ter, but will, by anticipation, prevent the
adoption Of the charter Of 1875 at the e1ec-
ton in August, and prevent any vote upon
that or my other charter until November,
1877. It will leave the city involved in utter
confusion, with al its elective officers holding
otdca until April; 1877, under one charter,
while attempting to execute another charter,
It will change the number Of wards, re-divide
the city into districts, and generally put the
affairs Of the city into inexhicable confusion.
If the charter Of 1872 be voted down next
Friday, then the people Of Chicago will still
hive the privilege Of retaining the present
charter as amended by the Mayors bill, OF Of
adopting in August next the charter OF 1876.
Those who wish either of these must unite
and reject the charter Of 1872, which, it
adopted, repeals absolutely the whole Of the
present charter, and prohibits the adoption
Of the one of 1875 for some years to come
The city is not in condition to perpetrate
practical jokes when the consequences are
so serious. A gang Of 500 men may, next
Friday, organize and poll several thousand
votes for the charter of 1872, and in the ab-
sence Of any vote on the other side, may
secure ita adoption as = joke; but such
proceeding would be q public calamity, in
volying the city in financial embarrassment
md confusion which would require years to
overcome. Let the citizens therefore vote
On Friday t'Against the Charter Of 1872" and
thus secure the privilege of deciding in Au-
gust next whether they will retain the pres
ant charter, with the Mayors bill included,
or the new charter Of 1876, which includes
the vital points OF the old charter, with the
various important and radical improvements.