Chicago eagle., 1901-12-21

t,on with the Colleran case. That Of
fetal took his orders from the Civil |
Service Commission. which has no jur-
isdiction over him In law. by taking
such steps as the Commission evidently
considered ample to prevent its action
IN regard to Colleran from being re-
viewed Ivy the courts of Justice organ
lied under the laws of the State of IL
linois.
why did O'Neill. over whom the civ
II Service Board has no authority what
ever. take his instructions from the
Commission in this case. IL Mayor llar-
rison had not already abdicatcd his
right of jurisdiction over the head OF
the Police Department. IN favor of this
board?
| Will MAYOR Harrison dare to deny |
| that IL was from the Civil Service Com
mission and not from the Mayor that
the general superintendent took his or
,lcrs In this particular instanccr
This we believe Is u strong case IN
point as illustrating the omnipotcnt
power exercised by the commission
over the heads of departments in vio-
lation of law.
But the Civil Service Commission is
not the only instance of Harrison's fad
for shelving upon bureaus. boards and
commissions the duties of Chicago's
chief executive and the work of the
he;Dls of departments created by the
charter of the city.
Since his election Harrison and u few
of his back door advisors managed to
lobby through the Legislature an act
creating what Is known as "thc Board
of Local improvements" If ever there
was u fifth wheel to u wagon this bu-
rcau IL one to the chariot of city gov
ernment.
1t has worked nothing hut confusion
In the administration of the affairs Of
the Public Works Department: 1t has
tied up the hands of the Commissioner
of Public Works with miles of rcd
tape: II has worked injustice and hard
ship untold upon the taxpayers: and II
has in the past been charged with being
10 ready vehicle for favOritism and ever
jobbery. as against the interests of til,
public.
As at present constituted. nothing
can he said against the personnel of thu
present Board of Local improvements
beyond the fact that the members are
In the opinion of the public, In the mali
utterly untitled for the discharge %
duties such as are usually impose,
upon this body, and that the Insult,
tion ms u whole is entirely unnecessary
and In fact nuisance.
The Street Railway Commission wa,
another Of Harrison's fads. and nj
though he was forced nOminally Il
abolish II the bureau is still practical,
In existence and maintains Its "opefa
tons" In the shape Of voluminOus ''re
ports" all apparently aimed at ~ very
speedy termination of the strect-cal
franchise. with the remarkable pro
pOsal of twcnty-yenr extension mp
parently In view as the main object.
The Track Elevation Bureau. Con,
mission or Committee II another crca
ture OF the brain Of the present Mayor
and to this instead Of to the regularl.
| constituted Council Committee on Raj
roads has been delegated the duty d
dealing with the important subject Il
track elevation.
Then there Ii the Board Of EXamii
ing Engineers. the Small Parks Con
mission, and heaven knows how man
others.
On top Of all this the Mayor now pr
poses to create Water Department I
Bureau independent Of the Departmei
OF Public Works. and another board ,
commission consisting of three mel
hers with salaries Of $4,000. $1,000 an
$2.4OO annually. which. It is proposes
shall be vested with the duties Of bOil'
inspection and smoke inspection.
The two new boards nre provided II
In an ordinance sent to the Council
- Mayor Harrison last Monday nigh
aud these. It IL understood, will be (,
lowed up by others creating stlll 9th
bureaus.
II will now he In order for the May,
no to abolish the office OF Commission
NY OF Public Works. who has been le
's' without anything to 10: the office
'd- Chief of Police, whose powers are arr
gated by the Civil Service COmmissiO
Fly which promotes, reduces, Furnishes. T.
ter wards and cOmmends the members I
mt the department. not to speak of passlI
di- upon candidates for the force. at vii
he the Commissioner Of Health, whose d
led partment IL run over his head by Il
Is" same Commission. He should then vii
W. out the city charter, and finally May'
,on Harrison should abolish himself. II !