, 1879-02-16
SENATOR WHITE as a REF0RmER,

SENATOR WHITE as A REFoRMER.
The Legislature Of Illinois is in a fair
way toibe enlightened, and to receive this
enlightenment from Chicago. The rural
members, who have strange and horrld no.
lions Of Chicago, and are prejudiced accord
ingly against this city, may, perhaps, live to
bless Chicago for knowledge of political
economy as applied to the business of leg1s-
lation. When o rural member OF the New
York Legislature taunted the New York City
members with the character of the Repre-
sentat1ves chosen by that city, MIKE WALSH
retorted that it required more intelligence to
avoid being run over by an omnibus on
Broadway than was sufficient to make first
class rurd member Of the Legislature. We
do not claim for the Chicago Representatives
in the Legislature such general superiority
over other members, but We think that there
is one delegate from Chicago who, before
he concludes his term, may teach his asso-
ciates much that they never dreamed
Of before. It must be remembered
that this city has also q 1egis-
lature, vulgar1y called the Common
Council; that this body has the power, and
exercises it, Of 1eyyiDg four times as much
taxes (and Of expend1ng the money! as are
levied by the State Legislature. The Com
mon Council of this city generally contains
some of the ablest and most intellectual men
in the country, and many of them are gen
tlemen of infinite 1eisure,-t is, they have
no known business or occupation, or, if they
have any when elected, they abandon it to
devote their whole time to the public. There
is no pay or compensation attached to the
Office. yet the members whereof We speak
live, to use sporting phrase, like sighting
cocks" and are able after one: or two terms
to retire from all industrial pursuits for the
remainder of their days. To the man who
understands his business, going to the Coun-
ell is far mora profitable than going to the
Black Hills. The labor is easy, the refresh
ments continuous, varied, and invigorating,
and the honor unequaled-
It may be asked, How can man work for
nothing, find himself, and grow rich? The
Common Council of Chicago has often been
called on to distribute in the way Of appro-
priations five millions and more of dollars
annually. Assuming the police force to be
500 men, and the salary $1,000 each, it is
easy to resolve that the force be reduced to
400, and the salary Of each man to $500.
This is q movement in favor Of economy to
the extent Of $lS0,000 year OF course the
police force will take immediate notice of
this proposition, and they will promptly de-
eide whether it is not better to place $15, 900
or $4,000 in the hands Of friend, depend
cnt on the defeat of that measure, than ta6e
the risk Of being cut down collectively
$1S0,000. And, even when the police num-
bers only 400, proposition to increase the
force to 500 will be accepted as directnotice
to 500 outside persons to deposit from $50
to 500 each with a friend, dependent on
being one Of the 100 new appointees.
This city has three horse-railway CON-
panies, and two gas companies, and fifteen
or twenty steam-railway companies, and
various manufacturing companies, besides
some fifty or more shops for the receipt,
purchase, and storage of stolen goods, kept
by notorious thieves for the convenient dis
position of stolen property by burglars.
AL these are subject to the legisla-
tive restraint Of the Common Council. If
they want legislation Of the Council to facil-
itate their business, they know where to
make deposit; If q railway wants to get
into town, or to lay a side-track, it can make
a deposit; if, however, these corporations
are not in want of favors, then sense Of
public duty will always suggest the introduce
lion of unfriendly legislation" which
progresses meeting after meeting until
sufficient deposit is made. As the
receptacle Of stolen goods-tho schools
for the education and encouragement of
thieves--are never disturbed by Legislation,
they probably keep sum on deposit all the
time. II in what we have said we have sue
ceeded in throwing any light on the subject
Of scientific municipal legislation: then per-
haps the reader will understand how a person
who has served in the Common Council SO
long a1d SO successfully as to be able to re-
tire voluntarily full Of honors and with no
want unsatisfed can instruct the members
of the General Assembly in the art Of apply
ing the principles Of political economy to
Legislation.
There are those who can remember the old
practice, in the days of steamboat travelling,
of the colored gentleman ringing bell and
notifying passengers to Step up to the Cap
tain,s office" When measure is introduced
into the Common Council to correct abuses,
break up monopoies, and remove e1tortions,
and it is laid over to be published, it does
not require the ringing of bell to make
known its purpose. The invitation to visit
the Captains Office is fully under
stood. There are many abuses prac-
ticed in the State of Illinois Many mo-
nopoles, and extortions, and outragas are IN
full blast III all parts Of the State. There are
corporations owning 5000 miles Of railway
in Illinois; there are numerous horse-ral-
way companies; gas companies are robbing
the people right and left; and even PULLMAN
is running his pa1ace-cars all over Illinois