Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-10-04
THAT PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT.

While not denying the necessity Of
providing for the welfare Of future
generations and therefore not oppos.
ing the proposed amendment to the
constitution Of the state Of Illinois,
The Eagle believes that the public
would be better pleased to see little
more attention paid to present needs.
OF course, the primary object Of the
proposed amendment Is the expansion
Of the charter Of the city Of Chicago
whereby the municipality may be en-
abled to obtain more funds, mainly Of
course through an increase of its bond.
ed Indebtedness. Upon this point II
has been pointed ont through the pub.
lie press and other channels that citi.
zens of Chicago and Of Illinois ut large
are declaring the urgent necessity for
new State constitution. 1t Is urged
that the present constitution has out
grown its usefulness and IL no longer
adequate for Illinois, and especially
for Chicago. 1t Is pointed out that the
document may have been a model at
the time 1t was framed. but 1t was 1T.
ted to conditions existing thirty years
ago, before even the most far.seeing
and progressive among its authors
comprehended the possibility Of the
great growth Of Illinois and this city
In the last two decades.
The conditions of Chicago have been
so changed by the expansion during
recent years that 1t Is held the cOnsti.
tuition now in force IL nothing less
than chain binding the city to past
decades and preventing progress.
This may be oil very well In Its way,
but the questions arise. How long shall
we have to wait before the relief prom.
ised by the proposed constitutional
amendment reaches us? VIII we have
to put up with the present intolerable
conditions until 1t does?
In answer to the first question, we
are afraid we shall be forced to use
the terse and fOrcible, II somewhat
parndoxical. language recently used by
the Hon. Michael McInerney In regard
to another matter of controversy:
"When We see 1t we will be all dead"
1t II known to all who have given
the subject thought that to bring about
constitutional amendment In the
State would require a process OF red
tape unraveling that would put to
blush the circumlocution office of his.
tOric fame.
But 1t would afford a pretty plausi-
BILE covering up ana species of stand
Ing excuse for our unpaved streets.
filthy alley ways, polluted water. I'M
finished intercepting sewers, and all
the other attendant blessings of an In.
competent administration through all
the weary years which would be Occu-
pied by the amendment procedure.
And then after 1t had been all accom-
plished, and the city had been given
the power to tax the people still fur
ther, would it really he of any benefit to
the public. Wouldn't the additional
funds be absorbed by increased pay
rolls?
This is serious question for the tax
payers.
At all events, 1t Is to be hoped that
the lntimatlon conveyed III the amend
ment to Alderman Alling's order adopt
ed by the City Council in regard to
the proposed constitutional amendment
will not be lost sight of.
Alderman Alling's order provided for
a special committee to represent the
city In the matter Of constitutional
convention, and the amendment pro-
vided the work should be intrusted to
the committee appointed by the old
Council committee, which consisted OF
the Mayor, Corporation Counsel Walk.
en- Comptroller McGann, and eight AL.
dermen, six of whom are members of
the present Council. These Aldermen
are: Alling, Finn, NOvak, Young.
Smulski, and WernO. Alderman Alling
was named as chairman.