Year: 1876

THE MAY0RALTY QUESTION.


The Common Council will meet tomorrow
night, and at once proceed to the execution
Of the duties, general and special, devolVed
upon them by the people.


There is no longer any serious doubt as to
the fact that the Office Of Mayor is vacant ;
and that Co1vE merely holds it by the
tenure 'suntl his successor shall be elected
and qualified" The only question upon
which there has been any difference Of opin-
ion is as to tho legal mode of filing that
vacancy. Nearly 10000 citizens, believing
that they had the right to fill the notorious
vacancy in the Office Of Mayor, voted at
the late regular election to SO fill it. There
would have been perhaps $1,000 others who
would have voted for Mr. HOME had they
not thought that perhaps the Council would
have the right to elect such Mayor. The
protest against CoLy1S, and the demand that
he be elected by the election of his successor,
WAS practically unanimous. The majority of
the new Council were elected under direct
md imperative instructions from their con-
stituents to see that there is Mayor pro-
vided for the city, thereby terminating COL
WINS temporary and conditional incumbency
and on Monday night the Council will
meet to carry out this instruction in
a legal and proper manner. The late Com
mon Council, in disregard Of the popular
wish, refused to canvass the vote pol1ed at
the late election for Mayor. That duty,
therefore, is one Of the first to be performed
By the new Council. h1r. CoIv1H, holding
the Office until his successor is "quali6ed," :"
must be recognized as Mayor until the vote
for his successor is canyassed, the result de-
clared, and the Mayor-elect takes the oath Of
Office. Then, and thereafter, hr. Co1vM
will cease to be Mayor, and will no longer be
recognized as such by the Common Council.


The Council will meet tomorrow night
with full sense of the important and re-
sponsible duties before them. They will
meet With policy determined upon, and for
tilted and sustained by the best legal opinion.
As to the future government Of the city, there
need be no trouble as between the Council
and Mr. HOME. If need be, the latter gentle
man, to promote harmony, concert Of action,
and unaninity among the friends Of order,
WILL D0 AOAAA ~ AAAAR zA4j fEAaNAAA
sacrifice or concession to accomplish the end
sought Of recovering the City Government
from the usurpation under which it has fallen
into such sad repute. The Council will
therefore proceed deliberately and canvass
the vote, and declare HoYSE elected the va
cancy having thus been flied, Mr. CoLvM
must pass out of official recognition. The
City Council is the legislature Of the
city. It has control over all the
departments of the City Government. The
concurrence of the Finance Committee is
essential to the issue Of any loans, bonds, or
certificates. No Committee of the Council
will recognize my paper issued or signed by
Co1y1x as Mayor. The chiefs or heads Of
the various departments will obey CoIy1s at
their peril


The fact that the Acting Mayor does not
feel inclined to surrender the perquisites and
emoluments Of the Offices held by him and
his dependents, and that he will make fight
to retain the places, even against the uuani-
NOUS wish Of the people, renders it necessary
that the Council shall be prepared to act
with 6rmness and decision Once begun,
they must carry out their plan Of action to
the end, with no uncertain tone, hesitation,
or fa1tering.


The people of the city have had quite re-
Gently hand-to-hand contest with the whole
hummer and criminal class. There was nota
dishonest oaicin1, or expectant official, not
thief, gambler, pimp, brothel-keeper, conf
dence man, loafer, or ballot-box stuffer in! all
Chicago who did not labor for Co1ym and to