Year: 1879

4


be accepted as probable that the Mayor will


tomorrow evening, nominate to the Council
/ certain persons to fill the offices of Comp
troller and Superintendent OF Public Works.
] The candidates for these offices hnve been
! numerous, and in addition to the advice re.
ceived from outside persons the Mayor has
the advantage Of a personal acquaintance
with all Of them. The two offices are Of im-
portance to the well government Of the city.
Upon the integrity and capacity Of these Off


GERS the Mayor must depend largely for the
substantial success Of his administration.
The Comptroller is not now called upon, as
he WAS some years ago, to perform the duties


of city tinanc1er. He is no longer the bor-


rover Of money for the city. The legal


power to borrow money on the credit or for


the use OF the city no longer exists. : He has


nothing of TINT kind to do. He is, however,


the auditor aud bookkeeper Of the city, He


must keep the record of whatever is due


to the city, and of all its receipts,


must guard the expenditures both Is to


amount and purpose, and be able at all


times to produce from his books q complete


exhibit Of the condition Of the city finances.


Though not the Collector, he must control


the Collector; though not the Treasurer.


be must control the Treasury. He must be


the representative OF the city in all the finan-


cial management Of tho City Government


and at the same time must himself be subor-


dinate to and controlled by tho Mayor. While


the public generally would be gratihed at the
retention OF Mr. FARwE1L in Office. the
same general public concede that Mayor
HARn1soN is entitled to have in that Office q
person Of his own choice and in his own
confidence, and upon whom he must of ne
cessity depend ut all times. For the Office.
then, assuming that the Mayor will appoint |
a political, as well as personal, friend, he
must have person who is a thorough nc
countant, man Of integrity, end nun |
who, being brought into contact with SO |
many people, especially creditors seeking
their dues, will be both firm and PLEASANT
one capable Of refusing urgent requests, yet
making that refusal in terms that
8ill not be offensive. The Comptroller
'ught also, if practicable, to be man familiar
With the History Of municipal government in


his city, familiar with all its tax legislation,


evenue difficulties, and perhaps with the


lse and fall Of the values of real property
within the city, and with the wonderful and
system of assessments which
las involved Chicago IN SO much distress
nd confusion. In e1tricating the city from
is embarrassments the Comptroller will be
realty aided by knowledge Of how those
were created. As the Mayor
1ust have Comptroller upon whose fidelity


g can always depend, the better informed
nd more experienced in city affairs that +:
orson may be the better will the Mayor be
Die to act efficiently and understandingly, /
n inexperienced man in that office will be |
Little aid to the Mayor: =:


The Superintendent of Public Works |,
1ght to be man of integrity and capacity. 1T
he qualifications and experience which will 6
man as builder or as contractor are c
IT sufficient for this Office. What is needed S


man, Of business tastes aud business | c
'bits,-a man who, before he approves '
Il or sanctions an expenditure, cnn detect il
9 integrity Of the transaction, and point b
It promptly any thing that is crooked: He K
ed not be a builder, nor need be have the n
perience of q contractor; he need never II
va been engaged in any public work. His Il
sineas will be to protect the city, to see 4
1t contracts are honestly made and let, Il
that the city is not swindled or defrauded ri
their execution; that no man shall get q
lollar through his department unless legal O,


and for full consideration; he must take Il
arge Of the public property, and see that p
cry subordinate is not only needed for the b
ollc service, but that he performs the duty "
h1s place. His business: must be to scru~ CT
lze every expenditure, and to account fori Y,
~ penny Of appropriation. He must be bt
'ord'nate to the Mayor, aud ought to be in
accountant and man of, education. II til