Year: 1877

As if Cook County election were moi


ordinarily beset with enough cmbarrass-


ments, it now seems likely that new CON-


Ilication will be presented this fall. It is


said that the County Board intend to submit
to the people at the election next month q
| proposition to issue half a million new bonds
! The law requires the approval OF such IN


issue by popular vote, and the Commission


ers contend that the issue will be necessary
in order to proceed with the work on the
Courthouse. They have kept their 1nten-
ton very quiet; and, if they shall conclude
to make the attempt, they will probably


withhold the necessary resolution till within


very few days of election (giving just time


enough to have the ballots printed). and then


spring it upon the people, The law is defect


i've in that it fails to require that Il certain


time shall intervene between the order for


vote on the issue Of bonds and the election


at which such vote shall be taken. The


Board may pass a resolution ordering the


vote at any time previous to the election


1t is proper to warn the people that such an


order may be expected, SO that, if it be


made, they will be prepared to resist it.


There are several reasons why the people


ought not (and will not if they properly un-


derstaul the cnse) to vote for the issue Of half


million or any other amount Of new bonds


at this time. The first reason [and that


alone should be cnough) is that not m nd


dltional dollar beyond what the county can


levy in taxes should be intrusted to that


Board before it shall be absolutely certain


that the old Ring has been smashed. and


be implicitly trusted by the people. All
other reason is that, if the affairs Of
the county we're honestly administered,
it is possible that the ordinary expenditures
would be reduced SO much us to leave srfi-
cient margin in the constitutional tax-leyy
to provide funds for the construction Of the
Courthouse rs rapidly Us Is desirable. The
people cannot be certain that the County
Board will be purified by the election of five
new members this fall; it will be madness to
vote an issue of bonds under this uncertain
t.. At the best, it will be necessary that
every one OF the five new members shall be
possessed Of sufficient honesty, and ability,
and pluck to fight the old Ring, and the risk
OF failing on one or more Of the Commits
sioners to be elected is too great to hazard |
placing half million Of extra funds under ]
the control of the Board. If the Ring shall |
be able to retain its power, the acquisition
of an extra half million of dollars would in |
duce it to spend every dollar OF the constitu-
tional tax-levy OIL the support of the county
1t11f1n
$500, 900 within the year in fraudulent con-
tracts, extras" and steals


1t is thought that proposition to vote
these bonds will receive the support Of the
laborlng classes generally, under the impress
sion that the new supply OF mouey will
yield more work. But it will not yield more
work, and the latoring men will scarcely be
betrayed By SO transparent sham. There
are only couple Of hundred meu. more
or less, employed about the Courthouse
and these men are and will con-
sinue to be the favorites of the Com
and contractors, The gener- |
Il community of workingmen will not
% ahected one way or the other
~ the result But the work of building the
Courthouse will so on all the same. II an
honest Board be secured at the approaching
'lection, enough money will be saved out Of
he general fund to go on with the work.
+ the Ring shall still prevail, then the extra
lalt million they would ask would be swal-
owed up in jobs aud steals, SO that the
would not get the slightest ben
ut theretrom. It is certain that, with
roper notice and an intelligent comprehen-
ION Of the situation, every taxpayer and
|onest citizen will vote against the bond