, 1877-05-18
TIE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BILL.
WHAT HAS BECOME or ITt

NO challenge tho citation OF moro ha-
grant Legislative effort 10 defeat the will OF
tho people than tho treatmens which tho
pooplo Of Cook County havo received at tho
handa of tho Illinois Legislature In the matter
Of the County Commissioners Nearly six
months ago, Immediately nftsr the general
election in October, tho Cook County dcle-
CATION to tho Legislature met to discuss tho
Hubiocta for legislation Of peculiar interest
to this section. Among tho first aud most
Important measures agreed upon waa tho
necessity for a bill reosyanizng tho present
corrupt Board ot County Commissioners,
and providing now system Of elocting thom
which Rhou1l enahlo tho people not morely
to rid themselves Of tho existing Ring, but
to protect themselves in tho future against
tho formation Of now Ringa. There was no
mistaking public opinion on tho subject. It
was 30 clear and enphatio that tho entiro
delegation were constrained to acquiesoc
In the propagation Without regard to
party distinctions. a bill leeialatiug tho
present Bonrd out Of existence and
providing for the election Of tho en-
tiro Doard Of fifteen Commissioner when-
ovor any wore choaon, was among tho
first bills introduced into tho Senate. seu-
ator Ron1NsoS, Of Cook, introduced 1t, and
1t was understood to havo the concurronce Of
all tho Senators and members from this
county. but from the very moment II was
proposed II encountered mysterious hostil-
lty, suggested, evidently, by the Ring and
ita dependents, a. theso waro tho only people
who had any interest In opposing It; for
u tiino 1t WAS permitted to slcep In Commit
tee, aud then, when finally rescued from this
burylng-placo, It was beset with all sorts OF
amendments and discussion to dolay its
passage.
Tho Inst that was heard Of this effort to
rescue Cook County from tho gang Of plum
derera was that sort Of compromise measure
had passed the gonate and had been sent
over to tho House. The bill which passed
did not legistate anybody out Of Office, but
provided for Tho election OF dyo Commits
sioners noxt fail for one year, ton tho
next year, and fifteen the year following aud
oyozy year thereafter. This enabled all tle
present Commissioners to servo out their uu-
expired terms, and 1t was looked upon ~ a
compromise, both On this account md be-
cause GooDx11, the lobbyist Of the County
Board, returned home and declared himself
satisfied with 1t. The people Of Cook Coun-
~ accepted It because they could got notl-
ing batter, and expected that IT would paas
the House promptly and bccome law with
tho Governors siguaturo In time 10 be in
force at next falls election. but It haa
scarcely been hoard Of aince II went over to
tho House. Some action vaa taken purpose
ly which lost the bill its place On the ca1en.
dar, and to all lntents and purposes It aeoma
to have beon ktaothersd. The simple fact
Is that CatakIn KrArNxx haa sat down upon
til more than this, Ao has been permitted to
sit down upon It. Tho House appears to be
controlled by spirit willing to cater to q
local Ring eonfessedly and notorious!y cor
rupt, and to refuse even molicum Of relief
to people who hare no otler means of
obtaining It. The country members Of tho
Legislature very much mistake the sentiment
OF their constituents II thoy imagine the
people Of Illinois outside Of Cook County
desire the taxpayers Of Chicago 70 be rob-
bod. We demand, then, by what right they
permit Catskin Kr4nxxx to stiae bill for
ultimate relief from gang Of plundorers,
even whau Il does not legislats any OF the
existing Ring out OF Officer