, 1879-02-23
THE CITY APPROPRIATIONS

Of the Common Council during the past thr
> or four days-the Appropriation bill bcir
under considoration-must have remarked
decided inclination on the part Of a numb
Of Aldermen to increase salaries and 9th,
expenditures. It is feared that the numbt
SO inclined forms majority Of the Counci
| The bill is not discussed in Committee of IL
Whole this year, but each item is considere
and finally disposed Of as it comes up; IL
action in every case is final, unless reconsi6
cred before the passage Of the bill as
whole. If tho tax grabbing element in th
Council, by means Of promises, trades, an
log-rolling, shall succeed in swelling the ae
gregate amount beyond all reason, it will b
the duty first of the economists in the COM
Gil to oppose the passage Of the bill as
whole, and next Of tho Mayor to veto it i
case it shall pass in spite Of oil opposition
The passage Of the bill may be deferred til
april l without putting the appropriations i,
jeopardy, and every possible effort should b
made in the meantime to compel the extrayn
CANT Aldermen to acquiesce in the proper aut
necessary reductions.
Every member Of the Couacil should have
started out this year on the principle thai
there should be no increase Of salary, for tn,
coss Of living has probably shrunk 10 Pc,
| cent during the past year, and there are, still
thousands of competent persons who would
eagerly accept the official places ct the rul.
ing wages. Instead bf this, however, there
has been movement in au branches ii the
service to. secure an increase, and large
number of tho Aldermen are found to favor
such increase in every instance. In the
Police and Fire Departments it is proposed
to increase the salaries of the assistants, the
firemen, and tho police. There is positively
no merit in the proposition, any more tlan
there is in increasing the salaries Of bridge
tenders, street and sidewalk inspectors,
clerks, ETC., for tho renson that there is an
adequate supply Of competent mon for oil
such places, and there is no increase of labor
or increase of. living expenses tnnt warrants
the change.
It is the opinion of the Aldermen who are
inclined to an economical administration,
and whose experience renders their judr-
mont a valuable guide, that tie total ex-
penses for the year ought not to exceed
So, ,o00,o 600. The estimates Of the Dopnrt-
ments were over So, 100000 the Comp
troier reduced these to $3,27 600, and the
Finance Committee increased them again to
1885,, nearly 100000 in excess Of
the Comptrolers estimates. It is on the
basis of the Finance Committees report that
the Council is now acting, aud the proceed
lngs thus far threaten further increase. If
the Council give favorable consideration to
the demand for Increased salaries, for new
englne-houses and police-stations, and for
half-dozen or more riaducts (every one of
which ought to be built ut the expeuso Of
the railroads which render them necessarily,
then it is not unlikely that the total appro-
priatlons will be run up to $4,000, 900 or
53. .G00, 900, which will be half q million in
excess Of legitimate requirements. We warn
all the Aldermen who favor improper in |
crease in salaries, and appropriations for
not needed, that their action !
Will be specifically noted as the considera- /
lion of the Appropriation bill progresses,
md that they will bo held answerable BY
he taxpayers.
We judge from the leadership of this ex-
movement in the Council that
;ome of the Aldermen who represent wards
Inhabited by people Of small means Imagine
hat an increase of city expenses will not be
esented by their constituents. They are
cry much mistaken in this. As q matter of
oct, the bulk of the city taxes is paid
y men who have comparatively little
property as Individuals. These are the peo-
'le who own their homes, who do small
BUSINESS, or depend on limited salaries, but
rho pay real-estate and personal taxes in
nu proportion to the richest men of Chica-
o. An increase in the burden of taxation
this time will be felt by this class Of citi-
ems even more than by the rich, for the
rotits in their business have boen declining
or years, and the opportunity of employ
lent and rate Of wages have both fallen off
'r the salaried and wages class. Ii is not
lerely an increase in official salaries or n,u-
icipai expenditures, therefore, that is in
uestlon, but rather an increase of burdens
d the mass Of the people who are now strup-
ling to support their families and save their
roperty.
There is another important consideration
/ this matter: The good credit of Chicago ,
just beginning to be re-established; an =.
'rnest effort is being made to arrange the =
unicipal finances so that tho city can pay
it goes; a revenue measure is under dis
lssion which, if matured, will require tax
ayers to pny two years' taxes in one as q
cans to getting q new start. If the Coun- :
this year shall authorize an increase of | :
penditures, there will be rovulsion in
lblic sentiment about the financial condi-
N of Chicago Capitalists will not be
]1ing to carry the warrants even in the
amer adopted this last year, and there =
Il be n universal protest among taxpayers !.
ainst paying two years' taxes in one on IN =
.rensed ratio. Every consideration of =
stice and of policy requires that the Coun- y
shall confine the appropriations within =
. narrowest limit Of necessity this year; :.
d any departure from this rule will react :.
on the Aldermen responsible for it. =
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