The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-12-06
ISAYS THE RICH ARE THE REAL ANARCHISTS
Chicagos Commissioner of Public Works Finds That
Millions of Dollars Worth of City Property
Is illegally Occupied by Wealthy Men

Certain capitalists Of Chicago are
anarchists. I say they are, and with
emphasis. 1 believe men are anar-
chists, no matter how big their bank
accounts, who take the attitude that
law does not exist for them and that
they are exempt from obeying it.
millions of dollars worth of prop
erty is illegally occupied at the present
moment in Chicago by rich individuals
and corporations who have not a yes
tige of right to it, and many Of whom
give arrogant defiance to the law. If
that is not anarchy, what is?'
This was the reply of Commissioner
Of Public Works Joseph Medill Patter-
son of Chicago when questioned con-
corning a speech made by him the
other day in the University Of Chi
cage, when be put the real anar-
chists" in the ranks of the wealthy,
says a Chicago dispatch. Mr.. Patter
son ampHfed his views then expressed
and said some very strong things
about his experiences since assuming
Office with wealthy anarchists" and
their representatives. "Since | have
been trying to make people obey the
laws" said the commissioner, "and
trying to get them to do the legal, the
right and the fair thing, 1 have been
brought in contact with a brazen de-
fiance of the law in this city which is
amazing.
"Why, it is an absolute fact that
many--I do not say all, by any means,
but many-of the wealthy men and
firms of the city actually believe they
are above the law. The law may ex-
list, but it certainly does not exist for
them That is their position. They
defy the law, ignore the law, laugh at
the law, all with an arrogance that
makes my blood boil.
wealthy firms occupy city land both
on sidewalks and underneath side
walks without paying a cent of com
pensation and without an atom of title.
They do not pay taxes on the land thus
illegally occupied. Again, land belong
ing to the city in the shape Of stub
ends of streets abutting on the river is
occupied by business men without
compensation, title or right Yet, again,
made land is grabbed by private per-
sons who have no title to it. They give
no consideration to laws.
Still again wealthy firms in this city
are in the habit of stealing water-it Is
stealing and nothing else. The water
costs the city pumping and labor, and
that these firms take outright. Some
times they steal the water by means
of their own pipes and sometimes by
changing the meters.
II am now trying to insist that such |
firms as we have found acting in this |
way shall pay the city what is due. / |
have told some of these firms that ex-
posture will certainly follow their fur |
ther refusal to settle. At present will |
not mention names. Two of the COM
panies, however, who have been steal |
ing water are large brewing companies. |
still, again, may mention the rail- =.
roads which refuse to install gates at !
grade crossings. The law says they |
shall install such gates, bat they do not |
care what the law says
what is the value Of all the prop |
erty which is illegally grabbed in one |
way or another?" Mr.. Patterson was
asked.
1T is very difficult to make close
estimate" he answered, "but the sum |
will certainly run well up in the mil
lions. In the loop alone, for instance. |
], 100000 square feet of property is IL !
legally occupied by bay windows and |
other sidewalk encroachments and in |
other ways. Two hundred thousand |
dollars should come to the city in the
way of compensation each year.
''These men, who are acting Illegally, !
are preventing the people from having
the amount in their public treasury /
that should be there. Proper compen-
sation paid to the city for it's property /
which is being illegally used means to
the city and it's people more police, bet
ter fire protection and generally more !
money for crying civic needs"