Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-01-04

rate of = per cent interest there must
have been an average of $4.OOO.OOO on
hand continuously in the city treasury.
during those particular two years.
The figures last quoted show further
that the official who drew that amount
had an increase of more than % per
cent In the funds on hand. over the
amount handled by his predecessor.
With u corresponding increase this
year the city should draw in interest
on its bonds during Gum Drops admin
istration not less than S2JO,OOO. and
seventy-five per cent of this sum. or
about s1S7.OOO. would represent his
share
Allowing for losses of one kind or
another. for possible delays in the pay
ment of city money to the treasurer by
the county collector. for the expenses
of the running of the office. etc. and
for any possible unintentiOnnl exag
gera,ion. II is still not going above the
mark to say that during his two years
of office. If present arrangements are
maintained by the City Council. Gum
Drops Gundier will draw the extraordi.
nary sum of $15O.OOO as remuneration
for his services MS City Treasurer.
Here are facts and figures that must
stagger the taxpayers of Chicago.
Just think of the conditions surround
ing us in this city in connection with
the remarkable fact that one official of
the city of Chicago is being paid over
$4,000 II year for his services.
The public service of the city Is going
to rot and ruin for want of funds to
Drops Gunther must get his $4,000 u
year.
our bridges are in decay. and our
viaducts are ruins.
our electric light system. notwith.
standing the excellent and intelligent
management Of our present able City
Electrician. Is entirely insufficient and
inadequate because there Is not n sufii-
clent fund to- maintain 1t. our police
men and tiremen are the poorest paid In
the world. the streets are filthy because
there Is no money to pay for cleaning
is no money to pave them With the al.
ley ways are recking with disease
breeding dirt because Of lack Of funds:
the water supply of the city IL polluted
because there Is no money with which
to complete the interceptlng sewers:
the whole system Of municipal govern.
mcnt is In fact In state of suspension
because forsooth there IL no money to
pay expenses.
But notwithstanding all this we have
the extraordinary spectacle of the City
Treasurer being paid $4,000 per annum
for his services.
If MI signs do not fail, however. this
anomaly will he terminated before
many moons go round.
The City Council Is the body mainly
responsible for IL. and the people are
looking to the City Council to put an
end to It.
Records in the City Hall show that
the arrangement under which Gum
Drops Gunthcr is permitted to draw
$4,000 u year was arrived mt during
the consideration of the annual apprO-
priatlOn bill.
This document contains provision to
the effect that the remuneration OF the
City Treasurer shall be ~ per cent Of
the interest of all moneys In his posses.
sion during the term of his office. anu
this. II IL stated. includes THE TWEEN
TY PER CENT ALLOWED ny THE
STATUTE.
Just how the appropriation bill shows
only 90 instead Of ~ per cent does not
appear, but the Comptroller says the
amount allowed IL the larger sum. ana
lie knows what he Il talking about.
BUT THE AMOUNT ALLOWED
BY THE STATUTE. IT APPEARS.
IL ONLY TWENTY. FIVE PER
CENT.
Anything over and above that. II
would therefore appear, Is IN excess
allowed only by kind permission and
agreement of the City Council and his
honor, the Mayor.
This IL where the public kick comes
In, ana this is the point upon which
public clamOr will be dlnncd into the
ears OF the Aldermen until Gum Drops
shall be shOrn Of his excessive emOlu-
ments.
In existing conditions II Is prepOster-
Gus, ana the public Is up In arms
against II.
The Idea that u political bOlter like
Gunther, man who never kept faith
with his party, and one, too. who Joined
the ranks of the rebellion to bear arms
against his own State, should be per-
mitted to draw such tremendous sum
of money annually IL not only repug.
nant and OdiOus to the Democrats OF
Chicago, but 1t has incensed the tax.
payers Of all political parties beyond
the point of further endurance.
II 1t We're even during Il period when
normal conditions prevailed In the city
government. 1t would not be so bad,
but ut this time this extraordinary "ar-
rangement" with the City Treasurer IL
simply intOlerable.
Here Is II statement from County
Clerk Knopf that throws one sldelight,
but that of the calcium character, up.
on the matter. II IL statement In re-.
ply to n demand of the Board of Educa.
ton for n Sl,JOONO increase in Its
share of the taxes.
when Il comes to asking, getting ana
spending money, the Board of Educa-