New-York tribune., 1902-06-08
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
A REFORM SURPRISE SPRUNG BY THE
CITY COUNCIL-THE MAYOR AND
THE RECENT RIOTS.

THE RECENT RIOTS.
Chicago. June 6.-The City Council Of Chi
cago. acting on its initiative has unani-
mously voted abolish two of the most
lucrative sources of graft" in Cook County
That this body should take the lead in the
movement for cutting down the fees of fat
political offices in the interest of reform and
good government is the most tangible proof OF
the supposed healthful condition of political af-
fairs in Chicago that has thus far been pro-
duced. The Council has passed an order for the
drafting of a bill to secure for the city and
Cook County the interest their funds. de-
posted in banks by their treasurers. The Cook
County Board of Commissioners will join with
the Council in asking the legislature to pass
the bill when it is drafted. While the order
passed the Council unanimously. there is sus-
picion that the vote may be traceable to the
fact that the question of the County Treasurers
remuneration is now live campaign issue.
The proposed bill, however, represents the senti-
ments of the better element in politics.
The offices involved have been and are so
rich in emoluments that they worth to the
incumbents all the way from $4,000 to 100000
annually. AT present the City Treasurer retains
90 per cent of the interest city revenues, and
out of this he has to pay his office expenses.
The County Treasurer turns portion of
the interest on public funds, but the funds
stay in his hands only short time difficulty
has been found in learning the exact amount of
the perquisites of the office. 1t is argued that
since the Treasurer of the United States gets
salary of only $4,000 year and no graft the
treasurer of Chicago or Of Cook County should
be satisfied with little less than 100000. AL
derman Blake who introduced the order, con-
tends that these officials should be placed
salaries and strictly limited to these amounts
He favors making these salaries generous, from
$4,000 to $4,000, and reducing the bonds Of
the two officials to a reasonable figure. Were
it not for the fact that there is a hard fight in
prospect over the County Treasurer's office, and
in which the Democrats hope of victory
unless they appeal to the voters with q more
economical programme for the conduct of the
office it is not likely that the politicians would
call attention to the lucrative salaries that the
two public treasurers have been receiving. There
is strong probability also that some of these
same grating politicians will rebel at losing
so fat a plum, and will be present in force at
Springfield to defeat the bill That Chicago
politicians should unite such measure OF
reform is almost past belief, and the public
will continue to be sceptical until the measure
shall actually have been passed.
Mavor Harrison characterZes the riot1ng
scenes incident to the teamsters strike as
disgrace 10 the city and to civilization Tne
inability Of the city authorities, aided by the
police, to disperse the mobs of strikers and per
sistent onlookers at the scene of the rlotng
much disheartened the Mayor, who evidently be-
lieves that the average Chicago citizen rather
enjoys seeing the city disgraced before the coun-
try and that Chicago has grown only a little
less lawless than it during the Haymarket
riots and the big railroad strike. The Mayor
was asked to take steps TO arbitrate the team
sters' strike, but he would not listen TO the sug-
gestion. He had attempted, he said, to settle
the building trades strike but his effort was Ill
timed He was too impatient, and consequently
did not accomplish anything. IF the Mayor
fails in his efforts at conciliation, he said,
then every one gives up. He is the court or
last resort and for this reason must not step
In too soon" AS full iedged board OF arbitra-
ton Mayor Harrison has not met with the great
est success and Tor this reason it is likely that
he will devote his time in the future to lecturns
upon the subject OF law and order. and In clear
ing the streets of the bowling mobs Of citizens
bent on destroying the peace of the city and its
good name.
Methodist ministers of Chicago have adopted
plan by which they expect TO clear all of their
churches of debt by October l. The total DEBT
! amounts to S260,000. The plan contemplates
that all churches with debts will secure money
! and pledges for large amounts as possible
z
supplementary fund for the remainder This
! will be collected by special committee ap-
pointed by the ministers, which will distribute
! it according to the needs of the churches. The
! ministers have themselves agreed to give per
cent of their salaries for the year and generous
! citizens and churches which have no debts are
! expected to contribute whatever is needed TO
make up the deficiency. The scheme will prob
! ably stop Methodist church building in the city
] hrrrph hiS is ol-ady
| disadvantage. The debt Of the Chica go Method
/ ist churches is equal to the amount given to
foreign missions, and equal to one-half Of the
amount given 10 all benevolences. The city has
| twice the Methodists that New-York City has.
| but only about one-fourth the church debts.
This debt the ministers confidently believe. will
be wiped out this year
The second legal battle over the 99-year char
tiers of the North and West Side traction lines