, 1876-08-27

So far as the County Board is concerned,
County Ring stone steal has been definitely
perpetated. Ws have little hope that it will
be reconsidered. The men who voted for it
in the face Of full exposure and great public
indignation will scarcely hesitate to vote
against reconsideration. The man TABOR
is mainly responsible for the final award of
tbs contract to MoNEu+ The vote Wac as
follows:
Yeas-Carroll, Cleary, Comfy, Holden, McCaf-
frey, Mulloy, Tabor, Johnson-s-
Nuys-Ayars, Burdick, Bussc, Gucnthes, Her
ting, Lonergan, schu,idt-7.
There was majority, it will be seen, of
just one. Mr.. LoNERoAS, who, on several pre-
vious occasions, much to the surprise OF his
friends and the public, had enabled the Ring
to secure majority by lending it his vote,
has evidently had his eyes opened, and in
this stone job has persistently voted against
the Ring. The Ring would have failed Of
majority, then, if it had not secured TABoR's
vote. He Was elected as an anti-Ring men,
Der of the Board last year, and has disap-
pointed, if not betrayed, his constituents.
Such punishment as can be visited upon him
through the contempt Of former friends
ought not to be stinted.
The case stands thus !: First there was an
effort to award the contract to WALKER under
his Owl name at bid which was $155, 900
in excess of the present contract price. IN
deed, the Ring in caucus and committee
had resolved to put it through, but at last
got scared at the enormity of their steal and
backed out from fear that they would over
reach themselves, Then WA1AER came for
ward under McNE11's bid, and offered his
stone and mortgage Of his quarry for
$540,00o This was $4,000 in excess OF
another bid for limestone, but it was taken
up. Worse than this, it was from $4,000
sandstone, which is much more desirable.
The anti-Ring Commissioners insisted upon
this; the Aldermen appointed to consult on
behalf Of the city insisted upon it; the public
insisted upon it; yet the Ringwould concede
nothing further, but, by securing TABOR,
rushed through their job. Now, as WALKER
originally wanted <s155,000 more for the
same stone and work which he now under
takes to furnish for $4,000, there is no
doubt that, in addition to the margin over
sandstone of from $4,000 to 500, 1000, it is
fully understood by the Ring that the extras
shall bring the contract up to the original
6gure. Besides. it will compel the city to
take WALKERS stone at his own price to build
the other half Of the building.
The question now is, how to defeat the
Ring, and render their thieving contract in
operative. It can only be done by prohibit
ing the issue of bonds for the pay
ment of the steal. The law under which
the Ring claim the right to issue
the bonds for building the Courthouse
was approved Feb. %, 1872. It was special
in its nature, inasmuch as it was suggested
by the Chicago fire, and limited to counties
containing over 100000 inhabitants. Even
under this law it requires vote of taco-thirds
of the Board to authorize the issue of bonds
for building the Court-House SO the anti
Ring members, if steadfast to their princi-
pies, can prevent the consummation Of the
steal BY refusing to authorize the issue of
bonds, since the bare Ring majority Of one
vote is not enough for that purpose.
But the fact is that this special law was
repealed BY general law for the government
of counties, and defining the duties Of Conn
ty Boards, which VAS approved March 81,