, 1877-02-25

! ~ @4SPS tAAE pAcSEub AOtulQOu COuuCl
which has been regarded thus far as fai
representative body, ard inclined to protec
the taxpayers against the extortion of office
holders and contractors, will not disappoin
sorely~ pressed constituency that hav.
rested their faith in its economical DISPOSE
ton. The consideration Of the appropria.
tons III the Committee of the Whole, though
not final, is generally an indication Of whit
Will be done at the last, and it is the critical
time Of the year III Adermanic deliberations.
The progress in the estimates up to the time
they were reported by the Comptroller was
IN the right direction, that is, backwards
and the signs in the Council Of changing
front will excite considerable disrsv
among taxpayers. The increase agreed
upon to furnish couple of mora
eng1ne-houses, sud involving IN out
lay Of $4,000, at time when the
records Of the Fire Department show Chica-
go to be about the best-protected city in the
Union, and when property-ownens can
scarcely raise money to pay taxes IS thew
are, was bad enough in itself, but it is posi-
t'Vely serious if it forecasts any general dis
position to enlarge the remaining items for
current expenditure.
Ihe sewers are the most threatening
vehicle OF Aldermanic- extravaganza. A
sewer, besides serving as conduit for refuse
stuf OF all kinds, is an underground avenue
to local popularity III the wards which are
particularly favored It offers a constant
temptation, therefore. to Aldermanic liberal
lty with the peoples money. The appropri-
alton for sewers resembles closely the River
and Harbor billin the national appropriations,
1nasmuch as it opens up opportunities for
lllimitable trading. Alderman 4 will agree to
vote IN appropriation large enough to cover !
the sewerage demands Of Alderman BIS ]
ward, If Alderman B will do as much for !
Alderman AS ward, and so on to the end Of t
the chapter. This is the danger, and it is
imminent when :ho Aldermen begin to
hesitate, and not past till the appropriations
arc definitely made
The estimate Of $2OO,0OO to expend on
sewers during the present year is fully as
1ish as the financial status Of the municipal
II and the capacity Of the taxpayers war
ant 1t Is mere pretense to maintain that
was not intended to include the S79.o
OF the construction of sewers already under
ontEact' Ut course, it was intended to cover
u sewers to be constructed during the year,
'hether now under contract or not, and the
retense that it was not so is merely de-.
t6ned to enable certain Aldermen to lobby
'r work to the amount of $3.50, 100. instead i.
only 100000. The city is already well
ros1ded with sewers, and can get along
omtortahly these hard times with only such :
EDITIONS as the public health demands the 4
I'm OF 100000 is ample to cover all the ! u
seesslt'es Of the case. To e1pend any ad- =
uonal amount, whether to crafty the local =
'mands Of some OF the wards in which AL u
rmen are looking for reelection, or to fur a.
sh contracts for the friends Of some of thu II
dermen, will be properly resented By the II
ople who have to pay the bills. The fact
1st be constantly kept in mind that the city II
only just entered upon the duty Of clear u
up the floating debt, and that in times IN
. these the struggle of taxpayers to SUD VI
It their families and meet their private nj
legations is so great that they cannot en- Gu
re any extra or needless demands for nnh1;c al
9enditure. pc