New-York tribune., 1901-07-08
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST BETWEEN
MASON AND DAWES-THE MAYOR
ALARMED AT NEW TAX
VALUATIONS

Controller Dawes ard his de; ermnation enter
the Illinois Senatorial race put new face on
the situation. II means fight TO the death
between Senator Mason and Dawes, with Sen
ator Cullom and his friends divided III their
leanings. Until Dawes's latest move Mason had
insisted that he must either give up his Wash
ington position get out of the Senatorial fight
More than this. Mason went far to say
that in the end Dawes would be with him heart
and soul. But what? The controller took
possession Of the State convention at Peoria last
year for Cullom. and this is taken to mean an
obligation. But Mason claims the Cullom sup
port in Chicago and in the country, and these
men won the fight finally for Cuom. Such Gull
lom men as United States Marshal Ames, Hitch
Bethea and Kerr in Chicago are out for Mason
And yet there are those the inside who say
that the Junior Senator is buying good many
gold bricks. The open candidacy of Dawes from
the moment Of his resignation will affect the
situation. 1t may serve 10 swing some of the
Mason stalwarts TO Dawes and to change
the lines of support immedateiy-possibly dis
astrously for Mason
Governor Yates and Frank o. Lowden are pos
sible candidates and in the former Billy Lori
mer is particularly interested. If Yates could
get the senatorship. Lieutenant Governor
Northcott would become Governor. and Lorimer
would become the ruler of the Republican party
in the State. Lowden has money and is wanted
He will not run. it is thought, unless he can be
assured that he will be assailed He is
Pullman's son-in-law. his wife has property In
so-called trusts, and while Lowden made his
own money originally he does not want these
things cast up. Politically he is ambitious. but
the question remains whether he will face the
campaign.
Intense interest is centred in the outcome of
astounding charges made against member or
members Of the City Council At the last meet
ing for the summer Alderman Rector. in wordy
battle with the notorious McInerny, declared
that one member Of the committee on local
TRANSPORTATION was on the pay roll of the Union
Traction Company at this very time, when the
city and the council negotiating for advan-
tageous terms in the renewal of street railway
franchises. Rector was called by the chair
man of the committee and challenged TO name
the man Chairman Bennett said: You have
cast suspicion upon every member Of that COM
mittee and L demand that you clear the limo
cent" Rector declined go further with his
charges at that meeting Since then President
Roach has offered $40 600 to any who can
prove that member of the committee 10 on the
companys pay roll. Mayor Harrison is watching
the affair with undisguised concern. Some Of
the most prominent and reputable aldermen
make up the committee
Mayor Harrison and others who specially
interested in the taxes to be collected for 1901
are alarmed at the new valuations just returned
by the Board of Assessors for Cook County By
the figures they now stand the city proper
would receive according 10 the Mayor, $1,000
600 less revenue this year than formerly. Put
in other terms the city tax would be reduced
one-fourth as would also the educational reve-
nue.. the Drainage District tax and the funds for
the South and West Park systems. In conse-
quence these different bodies up in arms
The Board of Assessors, under Cook County S
new revenue act is the body charged with the
first placing of valuations upon real and per-
sonaI property. The Board of Review is the
next higher organization. and is empowered to
make individual increases or reductions. Then
comes the State Board of Equalization to add
the capital stock OF corporations and railroad
property and also sanction the levy made by the
county boards The assessors. however. fix the
basis for all this. and for this reason their fig
ures are deemed highly Important by taxpayers
and tax consumers alike. Their figures for 1911
- comparison with the reviewers final valua-
taons for two preceding years, are as follows:
Real sses sss 5es sses ss2 ss.e 1s3
Personal property. 7S617.Gd2 54cas.1o$ 7sos3 ese
Grand totals s37e5124o4 SOS. .555, 80 $sc72l1 au
Gain IN 1901 ; over 1899 1899 Ss % s9 55S as sas
These figures constitute the assessed valua-
Mayor Harrison is indignant over the returns,
and declares that the assessors have not done
their duty and have not fulfilled the law. He
insists that there is 100000 900 worth of per-
Sonal property in the city alone, which would
0ean $4,000 900 in assessed value in place OF
the s74 1879 101 which they have returned. The
Economist" estimates the real estate in Chicago
at $500 600 600 which would give $500 900 000
assessed valuation instead of the S222 G66 43l
returned this year. The Mayor says that the
city viii be seriously crippled If the Board OF
Review does not increase the total TO S420,oO0,-
COO
The theories of E. Benjamin Andrews or
which he came TO Chicago and lost In his effort
10 secure lone power" for the superin-
tendency have finally succeeded Superintendent
Cooley has received vast powers and is left
largely alone in the management Of the teach
ing in the schools. The assistant superintendent
in charge of high schools, o. F. Nightingale. foi
years OF the pillars or the Schooi system
was removed at the last meeting of the Board OF
Education He charged with carelessness
of public duty.
Chicago has borne up surprisingly well under
one OF the longest hot periods experienced in
this city for years Beginning eight days be-
fore July 1, the heat has been sitting in the
congested parts of the city where the labor
and poor are housed. Along the strip OF
ground fronting the lake breezes have afforded
some relief. but there business has been
affected and in some lines practically paralyzed
On June 30 the temperature broke the record for
fventy-eight years for that month. In half an
hour the thermometer jumped ii degrees and
struck the high mark OF 81 degrees. In lSi2, in
June il reached 9S. but intervening there are
no figures 10 compare with these. Thunder
showers and electric storms have been frequent
but they have lowered the temperature only
while they lasted The weather forecaster has
predicted another hot wave even while the pres
eat one is al its height. Meanwhile, excursion
boats suburban attractions and nearby summer
resorts are doing record breaking business for
so early in the summer. Sunday pilgrims tc
l.1f,1 ma do hkr r2 . N q