, 1877-04-01

TO THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO.
We earnestly appeal to the citizens of Chi
| cago of all parties and OF all occupations,
trades, and professions to give some thought
to the election for Mayor and Aldermen
which takes place next Tuesday. We all
know the peculiar circumstances under which
the government, the revenue, and the taxa
ton of this city exist. There are over two
millions of taxes Of former years uncollccted,
and 8 corresponding amount of city indebt-
edness, bearing interest, which cannot be
paid until these back taxes are collected
We all know that since 1873 the effects of
the panic have rested heavily upon the bust
ness, the property, and the labor of the city.
The value of the real estate of the city has
deprecated, and most of it is unstable.
Rents and incomes have fallen off. The
means Of living have declined, everything has
slrunk and diminished except taxes. From
November, 1873, to April, 1876, the City Gov
ernment was ariotous assembly. It put public
interests at defiance. It recognized no con-
stituency other than the vast mob who lived
upon the City Treasury, and tho crowd Of
jobbers, contractors, and dependents who
howled for increased appropriations aud in
creased taxation, with increased issues of
city scrip. In vnin did the public appeal and
protest. Economy and retrenchment were
laughed at; reduction of taxes was bur-
lesqued; and day after day the appropriations
wero enlarged, increased taxes were levied,
and public credit was weakened. Atlastth there
was an awakening of public interest. Public
indignation wns excited. In addition to oper~
ating the City Government in the interest of
the mob, the mob by force seized the ballot
boxes. In the struggle with this miscreant
class there was q union of men and Of
patties- At the April election $4,000 voters,
discarding all political designations, united
and elected to the City Council class of
men hitherto almost strangers in that body
At the same time they elected as temporary
Mayor Mr.. THOMAS HOME Subsequently,
after struggle with CoLv1S, they completed
the new City Government by the election in
July last of A1r. HEATH as Mayor.
The new Mayor and City Council found
themselves confronted with vast system of
expenditure, which had been the growth of
years, but rendered especially costly by the
three preceding years of bummerism. The
police had become band Of dead-beats and
drnnkards; the Fne Department was demor-
allied; the Treasury was without money or
credit; the pay-rolls wero long and heavy
the appropriations we're all on the old SCALE
Though late in the fiscal year, the Mayor
and Council grappled with the difficulty.
They begun tho work Of reform by abolish
ing Offices; BY reducing salaries and allow
ances; by reforming the character of the
police force. They added greatly to the
of that force by directing the
wedding out Of all the drunken,
idle 1oafers who had been pensioned on the
city by the hummer Government which had
Just gone out. They suspended or abolished
for expensive works. They
brought the city expenditures down to the
basis OF an honest, effective, economical
Government. They reduced the annual f.
f'e7'dstures tt'o millions Of dol1ars,t and have
done much to e1tnguish the foatine debt.
Hare the people of Chicago, who, one
5ear ago, 50 earnestly united to establish
such a Government, got tired of it already? |
Have they "earied Of the 40 per cent re-
tuct1on Of taxes? Have the y got 90 inaiffer-
mt to the personal and official character of
ne men who compose the City Government
hat they care nothing whether the Council
controlled BY such men as ALpR1cH. PEAn-
oss, and 11cCnEA, or By the notorious HUI
'hE1K and his associates? Has not thar Gov
rnm9nt been worth all the time and labor
required to elect it? Is it not worth an
Hort to prevent its overthrow?
The candidates for Mayor at this time are
ohtical, that is, they have been nominated
> party conventions. But the Government
ur1ng the last year has not been partisan,
II. HEATH has been Republican all his
fe. Perhaps majority of the Council has
cen Republican, but it has not been parti-
N Government. It did not go out into the
|ghways to find Republican BURNERS and | :
hce-seekers to be put in place OF Demo- :
ATTIC oface-seekers and bumrlers. The :
|dermen did not pack the police With their c
'rsonal followers. The Mayor ard Conn- $
|, instead Of creating new places to reward {
cir party dependents, turned their atten- c
N to abolishing Offices and reducing sal '
les, and with other like measures i,sve re- =
ced the current annual expenses tWo mill Fl