New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-15
Court 10 Decide
If City Can Sue
Paper fo1, Libel
Comnlaint Flied Against
Chicago Tribune for It's
Attacks ON Thompson Re-
gime 70 Be Heard Seps.22
Credits Injury Alleged
$4,000. COO Damages Is
Asked for Charges as to
Finan ial Conditions

CHICAGO, Sept. l4.-N neither city
er other municipal corporation may sue
newspaper for libel, alleging damages
apnroximating the value OF the entire
establishment IF tae latter, and
through possible verdict for the full
sum. virtually put the newspaper out
nj business, VIII be one OF the chief
;ssces in the case Of the City of Chi
nro against The Chicago Tribune"
which is to be called for hearing Sep
tenlber %.
The suit. fled in the Circuit Court in
December. 1920, after the bitter Illinois
Republican primary campaign of that
year, asks damages of $4,000, 0oo, al
jegine that published charges against
the financial part of Mayor William
Hale Thompson's administration had
impaired the city's credit and ham pered
che conduct of municipal business. A
SIMILAR suit has been fled against THE
Chicago Daily News" In each instance
the city sued in its corporate capacity
Thrty-six Articles Cited
Thirty-six news items. or editorials.
published by THE Tribune" between
june Is and September Is. 1920, are
cited by the city's attorneys as the
basis for the suit. Many of them de-
clared fatty that the city was "broke. +"
Others referred to the use OF scrip for
paving city employees. In several in
stances, it was said that the CITY
treasury faced huge deficit, and one
item quoted Lieutenant Governor
0gesby, a andidate for the Guberna-
torial nomination, as fixing this figure
at $4,000 900
To show the basis of the alleged
damage, the declaration sets forth that
in its activities on behalf of popula-
ton 5000 900 the city operates prop
erty worth $3.50 100000. The docu-
msnt's list of this property includes
the Chicago City Hall, 20 police sta
tons, 40 fire engine houses, more than
$50 motor vehicles. 146 Fairgrounds
and small parks, about rs bridges, ZIP
miles of streets, with much apparatus
used in maintaining them; water
works system with six cribs in Lake
Michigan ard ten pumping stations on
shore, a municipal tuberculosis SAM
tarium and many other properties Of
great value"
Charge Attacks Kept OF Bidders
I. is averred that the materials and
labor nece ssary to operate these prop
critics cost s50,000,00o a year and that
the city also has to purchase about
100000 worth of new property every
year, exclusive of school property.
which additions are made largely
through the medium of competitive
bids Good financial credit" is named
IS a necessity for conducting the
municipal business, and it is alleged
that whatever injuriously affects the
citys credit results in its having to
pay higher prices for its materials and
restricts the number of competitive.
bids. The declaration charges that
THE Tribune" attacks on the city's
finances caused some persons, firms or
corporations who otherwise would have
bid. to refrain from doing so.
The declaration emphasizes that tha
city has various funds, including the
torporate fund, proceeds from special
assessments and water fund. 1t ac-
knowiedges that 'at some times there
may not be enough actual cash on
hand in the corporate fund to meet all
the current obligations of the city," but
It AYERS that the other funds have been
at all times sufficient to meet obliga-
tons charged against them. 1t alleges
that "The Tribune" however, attackes
the general financial standing of the
city, making no distinction between the
corporate fund and other sections Of
the city treasury.