, 1876-01-20

A correspondent whose letter was published
in yesterdays TRIBUNE, asked tho question
whether Ed PHILLIPS, who Ind beon drawn
rs ono Of tho members Of the new Grand
Jury, was TINT En- Phillips who ia Assessor
OF South Chicago, and whose name Is by
word and rcproaeh among the $4,000 per-
sonal property taxpayers whom ho and his
deputies :havo robbed by their scaudalous md
partial assessment. It is painful 10 have to
state that it In tho very mAn, and that that
person whom tho citizons OF the South Side
expected to hare indicted by tho Grand Jury
ia himself 1nombar Of tho tribunal to which
complaint has to ba 1nnde.
Under ordinary circumstances, no ono
would expross wonder at such selection. He
Is not specially fitted for the position, but
then weak materih constantly tlnda its way
into the Grand Jury room. Aa tho case nov
stands, howevor, his selection ie' IN outrage
to justice and common. dccency, can haye
boen secured only by tho cooperation Of
some aecomplice Ia tho County Board, and
can hare for its object only tho sitting Of m
investigation demanded BY tho unanimous
voico Of the Taxpayers OF South Chicago, and
the prevention Of the finding Of al inliot-
ment for the greatest robbery over porpe-
trated On the people Of this city.
It seems hardly necessary to recapitulate
what has been already so fully stated, Ito ex-
plain how Assessor PHILLIPS or his deputies
blackmnled those ta1-payers who yielded to
their demands, and treblod and quadruplod
the assessments Of those who did not; and
how the burst Of public indignation which
followed the receipt Of Collector EyAss' no
tices led to On investigation Of the Aases-
| sor's books md the discovery Of frauds
| which should send their author to tho
Ponitent!asy. Tint first outbreak Of indig.
| nation wns succeeded by a fixed determine
ton on the part of tho Cisizens' ASSOCIATION to
bring Ed Philips before the Grand Jury
md hare him indicted for perjury and mis.
| feasanco In Office. It waa tile intention to
havo bronght the matter before the present
body, and no doubt was entertained by tAoso
familiar with tho facta TINT trio bill would
haye been found againat him. Pimtrrs WE
aware Of all this, aud has takcn his measures
to put n temporary stop to 1t by succeeding
in having hi1uson placed on tho Grand Jury,
together with crowd Of Irresponsible bun,
mora who haze no sympathy with those whe
pay taxos, but much with those who live OF
them.
Nothing Inns been expected from peti
juror for aomo time buck, but citizons hay,
hoped that the Grand Jury at lcast could no
DO bribed or packed but the Development
in the pHrLL1rn caso show TINT, no matter
ars now conducted, thera Ia little rotlres
loft for the injured citizen; ho can ncithe
get Petit Jury to convict nor Grand Jur,
to indiot. The man who has robbed bin
,noots him when he appeara before the Gran
jury and informs him that it Ia not advisabl
to consider his complaint. Wherever he goe
to secure justice against Pa1Ll1Ps, thoro
finas PHILLIPS, judge and juror in his ow
case.
But how ia this managed7 How Gun til
Grand Jury bo thus packod? The law prt
vidos that each County Commissioner aha
write on slips certain number OF names
that these shall be shaken up in boz, IN
that ao,ne one shall draw therefrom twent,
three names. This fornality IL goae throug
with, but 1t has long been understood wis
names were to 10 drawn, and the panel, Or
majority Of it, is male up before tho tlrawin
begins. So far NJ can be ascortainet, PM
Ilps' presence on tho Grand Jury Is believe
to be due to Col. CLEApr, who was Collect<
Of South Chicago for year; who has tow
orders which have not yet been cashsdt vi,
Ia = friend Of Pn1tI.Ps', aud who wishca I
he may get the remainder Of tho money whic