New-York tribune., 1902-07-13
A NEW CHICAGO CHARTER.
PLANS To JOIN FORCES FOR UP-TO-
DATE GOVERNMENT.

|
| Chicago July 12-Chicago is at last 10 make
| a concerted effort to secure new charter. The
/ imperative and urgent need for a new city char
J ter has long been recognized, but hitherto all
efforts in that direction have been sporadic, and
have met with failure at Springfield. where little
sympathy exists. apparently, in the movement 10
! better the conditions which hinder the prog
of municipal reform in Chicago. The alb
surdity Of attempting to govern city OF more
| than 100000 inhabitants under charter intend
ed thirty years ago for city of a quarter OF
million people is now well understood that the
| much needed reform cannot be longer delayed In
order TO the matter squarely before the people
| the Civic Federation will call together IN caucus
all the forces that are working to get new char
ter The caucus will be Of the iToncIad variety anu
every organization whose delegates attend Il Will
be bound in advance TO support the bill sanctioned
by its majority for passage through the next
legislature. The following organizations are likely
20 invited send delegates 20 the caucus wnlch
viii be held some time in the fall: Civic Fedora
ton Real Estate Board Board OF Trade, Citizens
Association. Chicago Federation OF Labor. Ctty
Council. Iroquois Club. Union League Club and
Joint delegation from the Hamilton, Marquette and
Lincoln clubs. \ conclusion Will be reached before
the fall elections so that the Legislative Voters
League may ask legislative candidates 10 plecse
themselves to support the bill agreed upon. The
caucus will not assemble with the purpose of dis
cussing Chicagos uIs-these are already well un-
derstood The various reformers in the past have
fought anOther's propositions Offering soleiy
as 70 the means correct the old charter On the
ends to be attained in the new charter they have
always been substantially in accord. II is agreed
that the most crying defect at present IS the lack
OF home rule. Chicago is governed too much from
Springfield Granger legislators pass on the width
OF tires allowed ChiCagos streets and enact
liquor laws which not enforced in Chicago.
thereby bringing the law into contempt Other re-
forms which are be sought by means OF the new
charter are the consolidation of the fifteen or
twenty taxing bodies in the city. the coordination
* and o.
consolidation OF the many duplicated county and
city Offices as they exist at present should the
present movement Tor new charter fail the out
look for good government in Chicago will be In
deed discouragins-
Chicago's public school teachers are determined
set OF women. This was shown by the hard night
which they put up in the courts and before the
state Board of Equalization in order 10 secure the
assessing OF corporations in this State NO" comes
the Teachers Federation armed with injunction
with which 70 enforce its rights The injunction,
which was issued by Judge Tuley At the request
% the teachers restrains the Board Of Education
from spending $26i0oo recently secured in back taxes
for purposes other than the restoration OF the losses
suffered by the teachers in 1900 by cuts IN salary
schedule II was understood that the Board Of
Education was about 10 spend this money for GER
tain improvements and not 70 pay the back salaries
Of The teachers Tor which purpose, the teachers
claim It should applied. A plan has been out
lined whereby the 2296 teachers who are made CO.
defendants in the Injunction suit will file cross
bill asking FOR the distribution OF the money among
them reimburse them for their losses OF salaries
II the teachers win in the final hearing Of the
bill Of injunction the Board Of Education will be
seriously handicapped in carrying out its programme
for the coming school year. Five thousand children
clamored FOR seats in the six vacation schools
which were opened for the summer season recently.
There were accommodations for only three thousand
pupils and the philanthropic persons who opened
their purses 10 pay the expenses Of the movement
were gratifed by the immediate results obtained.
corps OF ninety six teachers for the young
sters. who taught without textbooks, and in
addition 20 their school work receive vacations in
the country The children OF the poorer districts
eager :or enrolment IN the vacation
schools The vacation schools. which modelled
after the New-Hork plan, are supported by con-
tributons. Women's clubs throughout the city
have aided the financially and have lent their
moral support to the movement. The school chill
dren themselves contributed $50 in pennies TO aid
in the work. which the Board Of Education was not
able undertake. On the basis OF the attendance
in the New-YOrk vacation schools, Chicago should
instead Of three thousand With which the move
ment starts of 1t is hoped that another year viii
who receive access TO the vacation school
President Harper of the University of Chicago
four hundred miles away from the university
campus 70 tell his corps OF instructors that they
should not seek notoriety through sensational
terances. AT least. this is the construction which
Chicago places upon the speech OF President Har-
per before the National Educational Association,
Minneapolis In shat speech President Harper told
the educators that q professor abuses his prvi-
lege who takes advantage OF a classroom exercise
to propagate partisan views OF another Of
the political parties. and that "a professor abuses
his privilege who in any way seeks influence
his pupils the public by sensational methods"
II these remarks had been addressed TO the profess
sors of the University OF Chicago any time
since the founding OF the institution up to the
present time they would have met with the hearty
appreciation OF every person in Chicago interested
In the university. Now that President Harper has
finally expressed himself upon the subject Of SEN
sationaI classroom methods. IL Is profoundly and
generally hoped that his utterances will find lodge
ment in the minds OF those Chicago University
professors who have embarrassed the institution by
their outrageous expression OF personal opinion.
Sad relate. these sefsame professors do not take
President Harpers speech seriously. but believe
that his remarks indicated a general point OF view
II criticism of silly professors has appilca-
ton the University OF Chicago Il is hard to
In Ia Nest ~