The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-06-01

these unreasonable statements. In the first
place, it has been the opinion Of men well
versed in municipal law, who have made
the matter study of years, among them
Col. John Wood, that the city charter gave
the city council the very power the Argus
says Mr.. Linegar's bills give to that body
Col. Wood has claimed all along, and does
claim now, that under the city charter the
city council may to-day declare every low
lot in the city nuisance and COMPEL the
owners thereof to ill them up TO the estab.
lished grade. If the council has this pow
er by virtue of the city charter, how can
Mr.. Linegar's bills convey such power. Or
will the Argus claim that a mortal man
can accomplish physical impossibility by
a legislative act; give to another man or
body of men that which such man or body
of men already has or havci But Mr..
Linegar has always differed with Col.
Wood on this point and does so now. He
claims that neither under the charter nor
under his bills can the city council compel
the owner of any low lot to fill it up to any
level because It is nuisance, PROVIDED
SUCH LOW lot IS A NUISANCE BY REASON OF
THE IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY.
But he is of opinion that if such low lot is
a nuisance in it's natural condition, than it
may be so declared by the council the own.
err may be compelled to abate il IN any ef-
fectual way, or the council may do so IT,
self aud contiscate the property if neccs-
ssry;--and it doesn't have to avail itself Of
the provisions of Mr.. Linegar's bills either
In order to exercise this authority, but can
remain strictly within the bounds of tic
provisions of the city charter.
Thus another of the enormous powers"
which the Argus claims are conferred upon
the city council by Mr.. Linegar's bills, is
found to have its seat, in very much
weaker form than the Argus claims
really in the city charter, and
could have been exercised by
that body at any time. We repeat, that
Mr.. Linegar's bills, so tar as they relate to
street and lot filling, convey not one ota Of
power upon the city council that is not in
tended, and does not operate, to Tighten the
burdens that might result from any action in
this direction taken by the council under
of laws existing before said bills
were even thought of.
But it is evident that the Argus is deter
mined to find mud where there is no mud
aud is badly mashed on sipe waters. 1t
doesn't want the city filled above high wa
ter mark AID it pictures in graphic terms
the evil results of filing up the low places
now to the present grade. The natural
conclusion is, that it wants the city to re-
main just exactly as it is now, with its
yearly ponds OF green scum
and its early alarm on &C.
count Of foods (Which latter it has an
ugly habit of helping to create). 1t cannot
conceal the fact that it has been deeply
interested listener to the sipe.water discus.
sion held at late meeting of the Ideal
League, and the arguments of the sffirma-
tive side seem to have been
too much for its better judgement.
But in spite of the Argus efforts to preju-
dice the public mind against raising the
ctys grade, little by little as the property
holders may desire, up to safe, convenient
level above the levees, there is strong and
growing sentiment in favor of it. And
this sentiment exists,not among the floating
population Of the city, but among the prop
erty holders, the substantial men, those
who would have TO bear the expense of the
improvement contemplated. And if those
upon whom the burdens resulting from any
improvement will rest are in favor Of such
Improvement, what business have others
are not affected to the extent of one
penny except 10 that they would derive
large incidental benefit from the general
activity among the laboring classes created
by such improvement what business have
they to whine and croak and boot as
though they were to be led to the block for
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