, 1876-04-02
OAK PARK.
r0wW vrN4N~N


Gems Of the Park was held last evening in Tenn
porance Hall to discusa the present financial
condition of tho Town Of Cicero, and to bring
before the minds Of the people the necessity for
urgent stfort in the election Of proper officers to
represent the town in the interest Of economy
and general reform Mr. II. 9. Niles. Treas-
urer Of tbs Town Of Cicero, presented his re-
porh showing the aggregate balance Of cash.
from the appropriations from the general fund,
to be s4,0s5.21 warrants outstanding against
funds for which there arc no balances to meet,
So, 3,08s.17; leaving balance OF 9947.04, from
the tAx levy Of 1874. The Treasurer also report
ad the aggregate balance duo to special asseas-
ment funds to be $4,446.19, which he considered
as belonging to privata interests, and shoald be
either expended for the purposes for which they
were levied or returned to the persons from
whom they we're collected He also reported
that thers we're bills receivable made up OF Va
rious amounts from parties who had IN years
previous compromised with the town IN tho set
Element of the special assessment taxes and OF
which but small per cent Was collectable to the
amount OF S12,s02.9s.
This showing from official scurces contradicts
certain newspaper statements, which were in
tended to mislead the public into 6upposing
there was a balance OF cash and earviceabIe as
sets to the amount Of $27, 900 but the Mc-
Gallery ring count in tha e12, 902.98 OF bills re-
ceivable as part Of the available assets. These
bitls receivable are individual notes, which this
ring, took Of their friends f0r taxes. though the
rest OF the community paid cash for taxes, and
they would not bripg 10 centa on the dollar.
Mr. Scoviile being called for presented to tho
citlzeuB from the records aud from the records
only an array Of -as2alities On the part Of the
ring worthy the gsnius of tho tax-eat'ng pat1l~
OTIS Of Chicago Town Boards Ono Of the choice
specimens Of ring business which Nr. ScoV,lle
evolved from the records, was the expenditure
OF soma $1,000 under the direction Of McCafery
On hinkede and Boardman Streets, where No
Canerys residence ID situated, i'll Brigh-
ton, a larger amount Of money than
has ever been expended on the whole
north Of the town, including Oak Park,
ItidgelRud, aud Austin, since the town MAS organ
lied under the present charter. This money WAS
paid for gravehug these streets, and McCadery
Furnished the gravel, the Board allowing MIN 25
per cent more than Was offered 1t the time from
other partieH. But this was not the woxst fea-
ture OF the case. The only show of authority
for this swindie was an appropriation for twen-
ty-fve cars Of gravel to ba delivered at Austin
and tn nenty-hve cars at hawthorn. But the rec
ords ahow an laserGaeatluo characteristic OF the
brazsn ta1-graobers Of Cicero, referring to the
appropriation OF dfty cars OF gravel This SEN
tence is interlned sand mora, il necessary" It
WAS found necessary to have more, to decorate
the McCafeey esta.a. The Board, disfegardin9
the wishes Of the minority, ordered some eighty
CARS IN 61C6E0 OF hu8 RppIQFEldluu. a1l- 4ACO.
WAS particularly interested in this little matter,
saving thereby nice item Of freight on the
gravel delivered in Brighton, for the benens Of
his private property
Tie minority wers unable to do much against
such bare-faced rascality. July IL Mr.. Hanzer
introduced the following resolution:
WHEREAS, 1t Ia evident that many Of tho appropr1a-
tons heretofore made for spaca purposes have been
deficient and the tnads raised for other purposes
drawn on 10 make up the deficiency; therefore,
iesolred. Tint in future the Board will incur no in
debtedness for any object for which appropriation is
made in excess Of the appropriation therefor.
July 26 they recousidered this resolution. and
passed resolution to pay bills presented by
Dobese l. Co., otherwise a1cCafery d Co., in
excess Of appropriation. Mr. ScoviIle made an
indignant protest against this outrage but was
payment Of the bills. 0Ir. Scoviile thereupon,
at his own expense, had an injunction served
upon the Board, restraining them from paying
the same, the matter still pending in the courts
In reference to Wilcox ono Of the candidates
for reelection. and member Of the McCaffery
Ring, an idea Of his htne~ for office might be
found also ID the records. This Wilcox,
during tho sickness Of the Superintendent,
constructed soms culYsrts at tho car-shops.
He presented his bill for 912556, though it WAS
in excess Of q largo sum, which even the Ring
acknowledged to be large price, lumber having
been charged At almost So cents more than it's
cost. Another Trustee, Graiger Shark, although
the Board we're Paying Superintendent Sloo
:,er month, brought in bill TOR $3.50 for servl-
-, tho items running principally ~ follows:
.sFor seeing gravel on Madison street. 93:
for seeing gravel on Doardman street, 93; in
fact, mostly for seeing gravel S3." This bill
WAS paid but upon hla presenting another for
$li0, so much objection Was made that, after re-
tiring with his three compat1!ots to corner Of
the room and consulting, he withdrew the bill
entirely and has never stnce presented it.
Mr, Scoyilio read the report OF McCafory when
Treasurer to illustrate the way this crew had Of
Keeping their accounts, is follows:
herewith present An account Of n:nueya expended
by the Treasurer Of tbs Town Of Cicero account OF
various improvements in Rad town during ths year
Total smnuut received. f13s 479
Total amount N3l2l
This WAS all. Not single vouc44 II is ofered TO
show where that money went, which imposed
debt On the town which required 50 pert OF
the whole amount Of the assessment to pay tina |
interest. Mr.. Scoville had been charged With |
selfish purpose in buying the bonds, but he took |
some $40, 600 Of the bonds st par and interest |
which this Ring had captured during tho term
sale OF bonds and moneys the negotiation coating
the town some Per cent.
A vote Of thanks vas offered Messrs- Niles md !
Ecogilla for their reports and services.
SOCIAL EVENTS.
The Union Club gave the last aud finest party |
Of the ger1ed Thursday evening, In Temperance
Hail. AL tho lovers OF dancing we're present.
and the merry music furnished by Popdfa
orchestra was fully appreciated and enjoyed
until lato hour. Tho ladies appeared IN full
dress and were charming In their beautiful
toilets Conspicuous among the assembly for
beauty of costume was Hiss Wood. Nbo wore /
.tt1 l. 49, n& 49,