, 1876-06-18

3 ton of the consequences with which Ii
, state of belief, becoming widely prevalel
: and, in measure, permanent, would be fl
Z lowed among the mass Of men They d
, often men whose life is absorbed in int
lectua1 pursuits, and who are saved by Il
high interest OF their profession from Il
mischlefs left to idle hands and idle mind
cursed as these SO often are with unbounde
means and opportunities of indulgence.
0BsTRucTING THE CITY GOVERNMENT
It is now, we suppose, almost general
conceded that Mr.. HAYES, Of the Comptro
ler's Office, has become an obstruction to th
administration of the government Of Chico
go. There is not the slightest justification
for his conduct, and there seems to be n
motive for it beyond an unwillineness +
give up an Office from which he has been re
moved By general consent. It is difficult t.
believe that Mr. HAYES is Influenced By th
emoluments of the Office, which are liberal
| or that he clings to the offcs because of it
honors. But Alr. HAYES has high opinion
Of the superiority Of his own judgment, anl
|
had his theories about the management o1
the city finances, and seems to be not only
devoted to them, but disposed to compel
everybody else to accept them The new
Common Council, elected by the people, has
quite other views On the subject. But Mr.
HAYES will not yield. With less delicacy
even than the Locum 7enen&, the e1-Comp-
troller holds On de6antly.
# there were nothing involved in all this
beyond the question Of whether Mr. HAYES
should hold the Office and draw the salary, or
some one else do 50, it would be email
affair !; but when this obstinscy suspends the
credit of the city, stops payments from the
City Treasury, and disables the Common
Council from exercising its authority, it BE-
comes public nuisance. There is half q
million of dollars in the Treasury, and there
is nearly that sum needed to pay the July
interest on the city debt; there are S95, 600
of city bonds to be paid or renewed on the
1st of July, and there are 81 1000, GOO due the
city employees. The money in the Treasury
cannot be used, the bonds cannot be re-
newed, and no money can be obtained to pay
the city servants, because Mr. HAYES claims
to be Comptroller, holds the public books,
disputes the authority Of Mr. DER1cxsox,
aud will not resign. He has made himself
an obstruction in the way of the City Gov
ernment,- obstruction for no good pur-
pose, but merely to compel the city to re-
store him to Office and let him have
his own way. Mr.. HAyEs' personal
pride has been mortified that any
other opinion than his has been
listened to; mortified that person elected
to the Office of Mayor should have dared to
remove him; and mortified that the Common
Council just elected by the people should
have with such earnest unanimity concur1ed
in his removal, and in the appointment of |
his successor. We do not accuse him of in
sincerity. To differ from him is, in his asti-
nation, necessarily to be wrong, and so
wrong as to threaten public safety. He |
therefore opposes the Council, thwarts all
Of redress, and, by interposing his
bogus claim to be Comptroller, prevents any
hing being done.
Mr.. DER1cKsos has urged that 1Ir. HAYES
mite with him in joint resignation, thus
Atr: FARwn1, the Chief Clerk, to
'e appointed Acting Comptroller. Under
his arrangement the wheels Of the City
Government could be put in motion, all the
ccruing liabilities can be at once disposed
#, and the money obtained to pay the starv-
ug and destitute employees of the
ity. Mr.. HA1Es literally stands between
hese persons and their daily bread; he
annot be recognized himself as Comptroller,
nd will not let any one else be. He can do
o business for the city, and will let no one
[se do any. His conduct is wholly unworthy
gentleman of his hitherto high character,
I'D is q surprise to men who know him, and
matter of indignant censure by everybody.
The public have more complete contempt ,
II man who resorts to petty bubbles to =.
tain public Office against the popular :
Ill than for any other class. Such person :.
as no sympathy from his fellow-citizens. =
is considered petty even in the case of :.
IKE BAILEY, or Ed Phillips, or the man !.
LEAsos, md hence the unusual regret that !,
r. HAYES should even ,:semingly put him. =,
If in such company. - be persists in this ;,
licy there Is but one remedy, and that isto =
sort to the meanu au::.zized by law. The - -
nance Committee, in their report On the y
uation, say: -
four Committee are under the impression that :"
City Council is the body upon whom devolves Il
der our present charter the management and II,
'trol Of the finances Of the city, and that no in
adual. whether he be Comptroller, bookkeepe., ~
other subordinate, has any right or power to y
ume and exercise such control in dedance OF the
: Council. Such your Committee believes to be "
Law, and such certainly Is the view taken by 1e
italiets, business men, and unbiased and non 81,
risau lawyers Of standing. In conclusion, your -
nmttee state that in their opinion, II 30 author
by resolution or otherwise by the City Council th
II Committee on Finance. in conjunction with a
City Treasurer and City Clerk, can make eatis- m
ory arrangements for paying or carrying for the -.
being the bonds Of the city which mature July q.
1913, which amount to s95, 600. as, also, the OF
rest due On city bonds July ], 1876, which ! er