The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-11
BY RAY BLACK
United Press STAFF Correspondent

CHICAGO, Jan. II. - Chicago,
metropolis of mid-America, is a
$4,000, 900 pauper.
The city can not scrape together
enough money to pay the teachers
in its schools, the policemen who
patrol the streets and the fremen
who protect the property that is
assessed at $40, 1000, 100000
Breakdown of all agencies for pro-
lection of life and property is an
imminent threat. Troops may have
to be called out to avert chaos.
Citizens can not sleep at night for
worry over what tomorrow may
bring. Men and women, school
children, babies are hungry and
cold because their city has gone
broke.
Chicagoans are bewildered. They
can not realize that Chicago, the
city of f1amboyant progress, lusty
individualism, big salaries and easy
money and Capone- directed era of
gang crime, at last has mired in
the slough of financial distress.
The 100000 folk who brag about
Chicago's lofty flake 'front.'" and
its new $2000O,000 civic opera build
ing are heirs, it seems to a beggar's
fortune.
Plight Unparalleled
Although the Republican and
Democratic national conventions
are coming here next June, although
inc biggest and most expensive
worlds fair in history will be held
here in 1888, Chicago is poor man
among cities.
No city ever has faced such
dismal prospect since the western
hemisphere was Sketched into the
worlds maps. Whether a special
session of the Illinois legislature at
Springfield will legislate a new tax
remains to be seen.
Unless something is done at
once we are lost" Mayor Anton j.
Cermak told the legislature. He
added plea to that Endorsed by
almost 100000 signatures on
petition.
1--WE are face to face with vir-
tual anarchy" Cermak said. Gun
less relief is had, We may have to
call out the militia"
Two Bills Offered
The mayor referred to previous
predictions that the unpaid police
and f1re-fighting forces might have
to be dispensed with, leaving the city
prey to flame, crimes and disaster.
Two bills attempting to hoist
Chicago out of its financial hole are
being advanced by the legislature.
One would abolish the present board
of tax review and substitute new
board of three members. The other
would consolidate the two boards
now existent and ultimately reduce
their membership to five.
Fear that legislative action may
be blocked by a deadlock of oppos-
ing factions increased today. It
was reported that downstate leaders
would demand passage Of a state in
come tax law as their price for
passing Chicago relief measure.
Chicago legislators bitterly oppose
the income tax idea. Whether a
bargain can be reached remains to
be seen.
City Employees Loyal
In brief, Chicago is a spendthrift
city, caught without enough money
to pay the check for its past orgies.
Through the boom years following
the World war, governmental de-
partments loosed the purse strings.
Money was spent as if it never would
give out. Taxes were collected on
the basis of old assessments. Every
body had money, nobody objected.
Then came the depression, a new
regime at the city hall, a reassess-
ment of real property. Tax collec-
ton was deferred while the reaSsess-
ment was made. Golfers ran empty.
Then, the 1923 and 1929 tax levies
were declared void. Chicago's rev.
enue was cut off.
Through this era of stress, the
brightest picture is the loyalty of
the school teachers and civil serv-
ice employees who have kept on
working although they received no
pay except for six weeks since April
Is. The city now owes its school
employees $2O,00O,00O.