Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-11-27

which can only be considered proper |
payments by forced construction and
of the contract. In def
ance Of the opinion cf the Supreme
Court In a similar case.
The cOnstitutlonality Of the civil |
service law having been challenged by |
the proceedings consequent upon the
removal of the first board Of commits /
from Office, we deemed II our |
duty to interfere for its vindication. a
suit has been Instituted,
and we look for its decision before this |
report shall have been mailed to you.
Too much Importance cannot I've at
tached to this opinion and its possible
consequences. The civil service law is
Justly considered the very foundation. |
bulwark and buttress of municipal re-
form, as ut present possible. Properly
administered, II Is capable Of prOduc.
ing the most favorable results. Weak
ened or impaired by false or speclous
Interpretation, It will Inc useless or
worse than that. The most responsible
positions in the public service should
he subjected to its operation as well as
the most inferior.
In conjunction with the Commercial
Club and the Real Estate Board we
used every means available to bring
before the electorate throughout the
state. at the general election In No
vember last. the project for an amend
ment to the Constitution permitting
amendments to three articles Of that
instrument instead Of 20 one only.
which IL the present restriction. This
involved a vast amount Of labor and
considerable expense; but our efforts
were fruitless. Either owing to oh.
security from the method Of placing the
proposition on the official ballot. or to
the apathy Of the voters on the subject.
or perhaps from combination Of these
adverse circumstances, II did not re-
ccive the requisite majority Of the
greatest number Of votes cast for any
purpose or candidate throughout the
state. The total vote was l.W,O, sAnD.
The vote Oh the amendment was 1G3.-
O57 for. and G8.510 against the PROPOSE.
ton. In Cook County the total vote
was 80 OS. Of which ~. 100 were "for''
and 24,O26 against" In all the other
counties there were 711.28l votes cast.
" which 17.SO1 were "fOr" ana ~, 400
against" These figures show that
- per cent. Of the voters In Cook COun.
~ regarded the proposition In one way
or the other. while outside its limits but
II per cent. paid any attention to IT,.
OF those who voted on the subject In
this county 70 per cent. were for II,
and outside our limits Us per cent.
Arguments on either side Of the ques.
ton Us to whether its defeat was Ow.
ing to apathy Of the electors or oh.
security ON the ballot has supporters.
The size Of the adverse vote seems to
favor the latter idea, as the opponents
Of the proposition would probably be
more anxious to search It out than
those who would have voted favOMbly
had Its position on the ballot been
prominent. The difficulty in making
voters comprehend the nature Of the
proposition submitted may he imug.
ined when we relate that our agents
were constantly met with the inquiry,
what IL the nature Of the three
amendments you wantY" or. "Why do
You not publish the three amendments
nOw!"
The pronounced feature Of the polIt
ical season ending In early summer
was State legislation. The events arc
NO recent that the turmoil Of the last
session OF the Legislature has scarcely
ceased its vibrations ut this time. The
echo Of the charges Of corruption Of al
kinds, but especially with regard Il
franchises, Inns not yet died away
Who can forget, so soon, the mas,
meetings with their threats and de
nunclations; the fitting to and from
Springfield; the determinations ana re
tOrts which accompanied the career OF
the Humphrey" bills. renewed will
scarcely less vigor In the case OF theil
substitute, the ALLEN bill? 1t appear
very questionable whether the passag,
Of the latter instead Of the former wa,
an escape from the danger nppre
hendeti.
Notwithstanding all the confusion
l
sion Of the Legislature, there were sew
eral beneficial laws enacted, anon,
which were three In which we had ~
especial interest. That establishing I
jury commission was an amendmen
ana application Of the net passed II
1887, which failed, at that time, TO &C
the approval OF the required pOpula
vote. The act concerning local i'm
prOvements Is usually known as tn
special assessment law, which has beef
40 long desired. The law with regar,
to registration Of titles II the TOrren
law Of the 1905 session Invested Of II
Objectionable features. We cooper
ated with the Bar Association with re
gard to the first, and with the Real III
tate Board In respect Of the two las
mentioned.
Among other favorable Legislation
were IN amendment to the HOMESTEAD
and Loan Associations law, including
that with regard to surety bushes
ana the administration of trusts; til
consolidation Of the supreme Court
which has been so long agltated, an,
the creation Of Il Board of PardOns
Desirable amendments We're made I
the military code; ana the ObnOxiOu
libel law was repealed.
The amendment TO the garnishmen
law, reducing the exemption from -
to 81 per week In the case of wages O
the head of II family, cannot he classe