Chicago City (part 5 of 57)

Mayor Colvin announced to the Council January n, 1875, that he had received a dispatch from Lieutenant Commander VV. C. Whiting, U. S. N., announcing that his Majesty King Kalakua, of the Sandwich Islands, and party, would arrive in the city the ensuing day, and suggesting that the City Council should meet and welcome the guests of the city and conduct them to the Grand Pacific hotel, which the Council decided to do. Mayor Colvin and King Kalakua became great friends, and the episodes connected with the stay of the roval party in Chicago, furnished an unending fund of amusement to the newspapers, which expanded on the benefits Chicago was to derive from connection with the Sandwich Islands, and the alliterative toast "Kolvin and Kalakua" was frequently heard in saloons, and in the theatres and other places of public resort. In June, 1875, when it was feared the government would tear down the partially built Custom house, on account of the insecurity of its foundations, Mayor Colvin, in obedience to a resolution of the Council, appointed a commission of expert architects, composed of J. M. Van Osdel, Chairman, W. W. Boyington, A. Bauer, Edward Burling, J. J. Egan and O. L. Wheelock, to examine the foundations of the Custom house, consult with the government engineers, and report to the City Council. The architects subsequently reported that in their estimation the foundations were sufficiently secure to support the contemplated structure. They subsequently put in a claim for pay for their services, and as this contingency had not been provided for, a series of troublesome negotiations ensued before the matter was adjusted. It dragged through the Council for five years ; that body at one time adopting a resolution requesting the government to reimburse the architects for their services, inasmuch, as was alleged, Uncle Sam had profited by them. In July, 1880, the city Finance Committee recommended the payment of a portion of the claim, on the basis of $500 each to Van Osdel and Bauer, and $400 each to Boyington, Egan, Burling and Wheelock. A test suit had been brought by Egan against the city, and the city demurred to the declaration on the ground that the Council had no power to employ persons to perform services of this character. Justice Wilson, in the Appellate Court, decided that it was within the discretion of the Council to authorize their employment. Accompanying the report of the Finance Committee was an opinion of City Attorney Grinnell, recommending that the cases be compromised, and they were finally settled on the basis recommended.

June 25, 1875, tne Committee on Police, to whom had been referred a resolution relative to the abolishment of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, reported an ordinance creating the present police and fire departments, and the offices of City Marshal, Superintendent of Police and Fire Marshal, and on June 28, after a lively contest in the Council, the ordinance was passed by a vote of 28 in favor of it to 8 against. In March, 1876, the ordinance creating the fire department was amended so as to put the appointive power and full control and management in the hands of the Fire Marshal. The salary of the City Marshal was fixed at $4,000 a year, and Mayor Colvin on July 30, 1875, appointed George L. Dunlap the first City Marshal under the new law. August 13 Matthias Benner was appointed Fire Marshal upon the recommendation of the Mayor. October 4 Jacob Rehm resigned as Superintendent of Police, and Mayor Colvin appointed M. C. Hickey in his stead, and Joseph Dixon Deputy Superintendent, vice Hickey, promoted. November 22, 1875, George L. Dunlap resigned as City Marshal, and R. E. Goodell was named by the Mayor for the office.

February 28, 1876, the Council passed an ordinance redisricting the city into eighteen wards, thereby reducing the number by two wards, as required under the provisions of the general law. The general incorporation act having changed the date of the Mayoralty elections from November to April, Mayor Colvin thought he had the right, under the new charter, to hold over from fall till spring. The Council had passed an order for an election for city officers under the new general incorporation act, but had omitted all reference to the office of Mayor. At a special meeting of the Council held March 24, 1876, Aid. Woodman had moved that the City Clerk be instructed to call a "special election for Mayor, April 18, 1876, to fill the existing vacancy." The motion was lost by a vote of 21 nays to 16 ayes. March 27 the Judiciary Committee reported an ordinance for a special election in answer to the petition of a large number of citizens for a special election for Mayor, and the ordinance was defeated by a vote of 22 nays to 16 ayes. The newspapers for some months had been making violent attacks upon Mayor Colvin's administration, and excitement ran high. The Chicago Times, which

Mr. Colvin was denounced as a usurper of the office of Mayor. Meantime a public movement was started by Mr. Colvin's opponents and a great mass meeting, numbering upward of 40,000 people, was held in the Exposition building, and Thomas Hoyne was nominated for Mayor, notwithstanding the fact that the Council had failed to observe the requirements of the law in calling an election for Mayor. In the ensuing election, which was held April 18, 1876, there were two tickets in the field, except as to Mayor, Thomas Hoyne running at large. The Democrats nominated a full ticket, except a Mayor, and the opposing ticket was Republican, but by some variously called the "People's Ticket," the "Taxpayer's Ticket," the "Citizen's Ticket," and the "Municipal Reform" ticket. Thomas Hoyne received 33,064 votes, against 819 scattering. The vote for the respective candidates on the two tickets in the field was as follows :

Clerk Of Police Court

At the Council meeting of April 28, 1876, Aid. White offered a resolution, which was adopted, calling upon the Law Department for an opinion upon the following questions :

2. If not, can this Council or its successors declare a vacancy to exist in the office of Mayor, and elect to fill such vacancy one of its members ?

The Law Department, at the meeting of May 1, 1876, submitted an opinion by Egbert Jamieson, City Attorney, in which both questions were answered in the negative. Notwithstanding this opinion Aid. Cullerton, who was a member of the old Council, moved that the clerk be instructed to announce the number of votes cast for Thomas Hoyne, or any other person, for Mayor. Aid. Woodman called for the previous question, and the call was sustained. The question then being on the motion of Aid. Cullerton, it was lost by a tie. vote of 18 to 18. The new officials were duly sworn in, and the first act of the new Council was to canvass the vote cast for Thomas Hoyne and declare him duly elected Mayor. One of the most exciting and hazardous periods in the history of the city government ensued. Mr. Hoyne waited on Mayor Colvin at the old City Hall, known as the " Rookery," and demanded that he surrender the office of Mayor. Mr. Col- vin declined to yield possession, and a municipal war became imminent. Mayor Colvin's office and the City Council chamber were guarded by armed police, and collisions between the supporters of the rival authorities were barely averted each day. Mr. Hoyne was backed up by the Council, and he was recognized by all of the departments except the police, under Marshal Goodell, and the Comptroller's department. A reference of the dispute of authority was finally had to the courts. Mayor Colvin and Comptroller Hayes retained Egbert Jamieson as their counsel (his term as City Attorney having just expired), with authority to associate with him such counsel as he desired for the purpose of resisting the claim set up by Mr. Hoyne. Judge Beckwith and W. C. Goudy were retained with Mr. Jamieson, and proceedings were instituted in the Circuit Court. At one time Mayor Colvin, who desired harmony and held the interests of the city above personal consideration, and who was, besides, tired of the many vexatious complications, determined to resign, and although he never relinquished his claim of right to the office, he wrote out his resignation and placed it in the hands of his friends. His counsel convinced him, however, that the legal proceedings had progressed too far to be relinquished, and that further complications would be apt to arise, and his resignation was never presented to the City Council. The legal proceedings extended over a period of six weeks, and were finally determined by the full bench of the Circuit Court in favor of Mr. Colvin. At one time Messrs. Jamieson and Beckwith favored the arrest of Mr. Hoyne upon affidavit of Mr. Colvin, but Mr. Goudy dissented from this course. Mr. Colvin refused to sign the affidavit, and Judge Beckwith thereupon withdrew from the case. Shortly before the close of the proceedings a committee of Aldermen representing Mr. Hoyne called upon Mayor Colvin and proposed that both himself and Mr. Hoyne should resign, but this proposition, upon advice of his counsel, Mayor Colvin declined. Judge McAllister, in delivering the opinion of the court, held that Mayor Colvin or the Council should have issued a formal call for the election, as had been customary, and further, that the election of Mr. Hoyne was informal. Mayor Colvin's adherents have ever maintained that Mr. Hoyne never was Mayor de facto, while Mr. Hoyne's supporters have declared that he was Mayor in fact, inasmuch as he was recognized by the Council, and his acts were legalized. His first appointee was Elliott Anthony, since Judge of the Circuit Court, to be Corporation Counsel, and the appointment was confirmed by a unanil66 POLITICS AND POLITICIANS, mous vote of the Council, and Mr. Anthony duly served his term out. A brief resume of the proceedings of the Council during this exciting period will give from the official records a clear idea of the character of the contest as waged in that body. The first meeting of the new Council was held May 8, 1876, Mayor Colvin in the chair. When the Mayor's message was presented it was, on motion of Aid. McCrea, referred by a large majority to the "Finance Committee, when that committee shall have been appointed." On several ensuing motions the Council refused to sustain the rulings of the chair by votes of 24 to 12, and 26 to 10. By the latter vote on motion of Aid. Aldrich the Clerk was instructed to produce the returns of the last election, and upon the announcement of the result Aid. Aldrich moved that Thomas Hoyne be declared elected Mayor of the city for the term ending on the third Tuesday of April, 1877. Mayor Colvin ruled the motion out of order and refused to entertain an appeal. Aid. Thompson then called upon Aid. Aldrich to put the question on his motion, and the latter stepped to the Clerk's desk and put the question, and it prevailed by a vote of 25 ayes to 1 1 nays. On motion of Aid. Thompson to fix the bond of the Mayor in the penal sum of $10,000, Mayor Colvin again refused to entertain the motion, and Aid. Aldrich again put the question and the motion prevailed by a vote of 26 ayes to 10 nays. Pursuant to the provision of section 5, article 4, of the act of 1875 under which the city had been re-incorporated, the aldermen then proceeded to draw lots for the term to be held by each member of the Council. Those drawing lots for the first class, to continue in office for one year, were Aldermen Pearsons, Ballard, Aldrich, Gilbert, Sheridan, Lodding, Kerber, O'Brien, Beidler, Smith, Briggs, McCrea, Cleveland, Ryan, Niesen, Lengacher, Murphy and Boser. Those drawing lots of the second class to hold office for two years were Aldermen Mc- Auley, Rosenberg, Thompson, Stewart, Sommer, Cullerton, Hildreth, Lawler, Van Osdel, White, Throop, Rawleigh, Wheeler, Baumgarten, Waldo, Linsenbarth, Sweeney and Kirk. Thus the election of aldermen to alternate terms was established. At the meeting of May 9 the Clerk announced that Mayor Hoyne had taken the oath of office and filed his official bond. Aid. Thompson moved that the bond be approved and Mayor Colvin refused to entertain the motion. The question being put by Aid. Aldrich the bond was approved by a vote of 26 ayes to 10 nays. Aid. Aldrich presented a preamble and resolution directing all city officers to recognize Hon. Thomas Hoyne as

Chicago, Cook County, And Illinois. 1 67

Mayor and moved its adoption. Mayor Colvin ruled the resolution out of order and refused to entertain an appeal, but the question on the adoption of the resolution was put by Aid. Aidrich, who was called upon by Aid. Cullerton to do so, and the resolution was adopted by a vote of 26 for to 10 against. May 1 1 the Council met and from the absence of Mayor Colvin it appeared that he had given up the fight temporarily to appeal to the courts. Aid. Aldrich was made chairman of the Council pro tempore. At the next meeting of the Council, May 15, the Clerk presented the following communication from Mayor Hoyne :

Mayor's Office, May 15, 1876. To the Honorable, the Members of the City Council of Chicago : Gentlemen : - I have the pleasure of communicating to you the intelligence that in obedience to the request contained in your resolutions of the 9th inst., I have been recognized as the legally qualified and acting Mayor of Chicago by all the departments of the municipal government, except that of the City Comptroller, who, I doubt not, will speedily follow the .example of the other officials. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Thomas Hoyne, Mayor:

Mayor Hoyne also presented a complete list of standing committees of the Council, which was duly adopted by .a vote of 25 to 9. The clerk announced that he had in his possession a communication from the Hon. H. D. Colvin concerning the penal sum of the Mayor's bond. Aid. Cullerton moved that the communication be not received and the motion prevailed by the customary vote. It was at this meeting of the Council that the first official notice was received of the defalcation of George Von Hollen, City Collector. Aid. Cullerton moved, and it was carried, that a special committee of three be appointed by the chair, whose duty it should be to fully investigate the alleged losses of the late City Collector, George Von Hollen, in various gambling houses in the city, and to that end, and for the purpose of assisting said committee in the recovery of said money, they should have power to send for persons and papers. As members of this committee of investigation the chair appointed Aid. Cullerton, Thompson and Rawleigh. May 18 Mayor Hoyne assumed the chair as presiding officer of the Council, and delivered his inaugural address. The address was voluminous and replete with recommendations for reforms and the better government of the city, the following being extracts therefrom : proper that I should address to you such remarks as the occasion naturally suggests. The firmness and dignity with which you have asserted the rights of the people under circumstances of indignity in this chamber, the quiet, manly self-possession and courage with which you have conducted all your proceedings, and maintained the authority vested in you by the laws, have gained for you almost the unanimous commendations of the community. * * You have entered upon the performance of your very honorable and important duties at the most critical and interesting period of our municipal government. Both as to the circumstances attending your election, as well as to the momentous issues involved, there has been a feeling that no ordinary dangers menaced the prosperity of the city and the happiness of our people. * * * An immediate return to frugal expenditures and administrative purity is the first demand of this people. * * * It has rarely ever happened that in merely local contests the entire body or mass of people became so directly engaged upon the issues at stake as in the last municipal election in this city. * * The truth is, and the fact may be candidly stated, that during the last decade of years there has been growing up and increasing in our midst a class of social and political criminals, somewhat peculiar to the civilization of large American cities. * * * No despotism is more cruel or contemptible than that of this social barbarism. The ballot box in a free state is the arbiter of its destiny. The people make their own laws and choose their own rulers, but the choice is made through the expression of the ballot box as the vehicle through which their supreme will can be conveyed. * * * The people of Chicago have learned with amazement that at an election held in this city last year, the judges appointed to have custody of the boxes and count the ballots, themselves criminally outraged the ballot boxes of the voters by stuffing them with illegal votes, and that thus the legitimate will of the people, on a question so grave as the adoption of the present charter of municipal government, was defeated.

* The successful working of such schemes accounts for the number of men without other 'visible means of support' than the places which they obtain as partisans in the public offices.

* They constitute the moral pest which disseminates the poison* of official life, and debauches the tone of public morals. The justice of the courts has been debilitated in vigor. The atmosphere of the jury box and the witness stand is redolent of perjury and intrigue. If the decrees of courts are not openly exposed for sale, it is not because there are not official purchasers ready to pay the price of such wares. The situation as respects the city has been summed up by the late Grand Jury in language no less graphic than truthful in relation to the county, where they say : 'The system of management employed by the County Board is rotten. Officialism is degraded by its low intellectual character, its depreciated moral tone, its constant association with jobbery, extravagance, intermediates, perjury and incompetence.'

"A legitimate fruit of this is the recent Gage and Von Hollen defalcations - the loss of over half a million of dollars to the public. * * * Under such circumstances the late administration of city affairs, in which were many we must recognize as among the best of our citizens, and whom I entirely exonerate from suspicion, seemed utterly overpowered by the official influence in which they hopelessly struggled to overcome the constant repetition of outrage upon outrage inflicted by a corrupt and inexorable majority. * * * They neglected to retrench or economize in the matter of public expenditures. * * * They increased the amount of the tax levies and made new offices.

* * * They have actually jeopardized a municipal credit which was never before impeached by illegimate issues of time loan certificates, placed upon the markets of foreign cities, against law and every remonstrance which could be urged in depreciation of so fatal and ruinous a policy. * * __ * I think the people demand a discontinuance and the utter abandonment of the whole certificate system as soon as possible, and the anticipation of revenue in advance of its collection for any purpose. * * * I would deem it of the very first importance that as soon as possible there should be a committee appointed with power to investigate all city offices, and all sources of expenditure, with a view to retrenchment in all directions where it may safely be done. If a million and a half can be saved out of the appropriation as made by the late Council, it will go far toward liquidating the illegal certificates of indebtedness created, and placing in our hands funds to run the schools, pay the members of the police and fire departments, the laborers and other employes of the government to whom it is now in arrears. * * * It seems that, exclusive of the school service, the city employs a total number of persons in all departments of about 1,316 persons. The aggregate compensation of this number is $1,459,000. This is an average of about $1,100 per annum for each person. With- out any knowledge of the details, I venture the assertion that neither in any other civil service of any government, or any private business or enterprise whatever, where so large a number of persons are employed, even when skilled labor constitutes the mass of the employed, has there ever been so high an average compensation paid among so large a number of persons."

The message proceeded to show that an average of $600 per annum to each employe would be sufficient, and that a saving of $786,282 per annum would be effected by a reduction to this average ; that of the offices of two chiefs, a marshal and a superintendent of police, each at a salary of $4,000, at least one should be abolished ; that patrolmen should receive $600 instead of $1,000 per annum ; that instead of four Commissioners of Public Works at salaries of $4,000 each, one competent head could do the work ; that the total expense of the Public Works Department was $227,000, whereas the entire expense of running the municipal government of Milwaukee, a city one-fourth the size of Chicago, was but $202,000 ; that the Board of Health should be abolished and the duties transferred to one faithful and competent superintendent at a saving of $50,000 ; that the total expense of lighting the streets was $700,000, whereas it should be but $300,000, a saving of $400,000 ; that $75,000 could be saved in the fire department expenditures ; that an additional revenue of $10,000 per annum could be obtained from the police courts by requiring a strict account of fines to be rendered ; that four special policemen for the Mayor at an aggregate expense of $3,540 should be abolished; that the $1 1,000 appropriated annually for the support of the Tax Commissioners' office should be saved ; that functionary having ceased to perform any essential duties under the new law in force, and that the forces of fifteen street foremen, thirteen sidewalk inspectors, twenty-eight sanitary policemen should be reduced and the Department of the Inspection of Buildings at an expense of $13,880 per annum, should be abolished. The message closed as follows :

"In conclusion, gentlemen, two generations of men have not passed away since the site of this city was known as a military fortress in the Indian country - one of the frontier posts of the far West. Many of the earliest settlers are still among you, and although their hairs are whitening they are still vigorous and of active life. It is only thirty-eight years since the city was organized under its first charter of government, when it contained less than 3,000 souls. To day with 500,000 people and $600,- 000,000 of an annual trade, we have become the fourth city in rank and trade of the United States. The position of the city on the great lines of that water communication which connects the two gulfs, of Mexico and the St. Lawrence, is the natural seat of a great metropolis, while our railroad system connects us with every remote part of the American continent. The energy and intelligence of our people have overcome the effects of two of the greatest conflagrations, one of which, as a great calamity, has never been surpassed in any history of a people. The rise, progress and prosperity of Chicago are without any parallel in growth among cities of ancient or modern times. And now the question comes to every anxious and loving heart, proud of her glory, her unrivaled history and marvelous achievements, What of the future ? Is this magnificent progress to continue, or is it to be now arrested? The answer rests with you, the representatives of the people. The question is one of government - Shall it be good or bad ? We combine in this city all the material elements of production, wealth, capital, machinery, energy, a young, thrifty and enterprising mixture of races - all we need is the protection of life and property, a good and economical municipal government, with wise and honest rulers to manage our affairs, and there is nothing which has ever been predicted by the most sagacious or sanguine as to the future of Chicago which will not be exceeded in the glory, prosperity and greatness of that genius of her destiny which has attended her progress from the beginning."

"Resolved, That the Comptroller be and is hereby authorized and directed to make such arrangements as may be practicable and legal to pay punctually at maturity all the certificates of indebtedness of the City of Chicago issued for actual loans of money to the city, or for other liabilities for which an appropriation and tax levy have been made." At the ensuing meeting of the Council, May 22, a communication was received from Mayor Hoyne removing from office forty-five employes of the Board of Health, and recommending that all duties pertaining to the Board of Health be referred to and placed under the superintendence of Dr. Brockholst McVickar, the President of the Board. In another communication Mayor Hoyne stated that he had removed from office all the persons, thirteen in number, employed in the Department of Buildings, and recommended that until further orders, the duties of the department be referred to and performed under, the direction of the Board of Public Works.

I 72 Politics And Politicians

Mayor Hoyne also announced that he had removed S. S. Hayes, the City Comptroller, from office, for the reason that over his own signature in a morning paper Mr. Hayes deliberately declared his adherence to the financial policy which had already been condemned and had compromised and jeopardized the credit of the city. "He insists," said Mayor Hoyne, "as the financial officer of the city, upon continuing the issue of certificates drawn against the tax levy of the year 1876 - not to pay the sums appropriated toward the expenses of this year, for which the levy was made, but to pay and take up certificates unlawfully issued in former years, and now about maturing. I am satisfied that if the levy of 1876 is drawn against for this purpose to the extent contemplated, of 75 per cent, to pay outstanding certificates, the present Council will find itself without funds to pay its current expenses, such as policemen, firemen, laborers, etc., before the end of the fiscal year." Mayor Hoyne nominated to succeed Mr. Hayes, incase his removal was confirmed, the Hon. R. P. Derickson. The Council confirmed the appointment of Mr. Derickson by a vote of 20 in the affirmative to 1 1 in the negative. Mayor Hoyne further recommended the removal of R. E. Goodell, City Marshal, and the abolishment of the office, and that the Superintendent of Police, M. C. Hickey, be required to perform the duties theretofore appertaining to the office. The Committee on Police also reported in favor of abolishing the office of Marshal, the reduction of salaries, and a general reorganization of the police force as recommended by the Mayor in his message. At this memorable meeting of the Council the bond of Clinton Briggs as City Treasurer, in the penal sum of $5,000,000, was approved, the sureties being Clinton Briggs, William F. Coolbaugh, Calvin T. Wheeler, Asa Dow, David Kreigh, Matthew Laflin, Joseph O. Rutter, M. C. Stearns and Daniel O'Hara. At the Council meeting of May 31, the penal sum of the Comptroller's bond was fixed at $100,000 ; the office of City Marshal was abolished, and the Fire Department was directed and authorized to establish a department of repairs. Beginning with the session of June 5, 1876, each succeeding meeting grew more lively and exciting for the ensuing month. The decision of Judge McAllister on the Mayoralty contest induced Mr. Hoyne to desist from any active antagonism of Mr. Colvin, who assumed the functions of acting Mayor and presided over the Council, but the anti-Colvin majority of the Council made his position anything but a pleasant one to maintain. June 5 Mayor Colvin sent a message to the Council approving the ordinance abolishing the office of City Marshal and notifying the Council that he had removed R. E. Goodell, already removed by Mayor Hoyne, from the office of Marshal. On motion of Aid. McCrea this communication was accepted and placed on file. Another communication from Mayor Colvin announcing that he had removed Messrs. Redmond Prindiville, J. K. Thompson and Louis Wahl from the office of Commissioners of Public Works and had apppointed E. S. Chesbrough to discharge the duties of the officials removed, was received, and Aid. Cullerton moved that the action of the Mayor be not concurred in. Mayor Colvin ruled that the motion under a standing rule of the Council must be referred to the Committee on Judiciary. Aid. Cullerton appealed from the decision of the chair and his appeal was sustained, and on a subsequent ballot his motion prevailed by yeas 28, nays 6. Mayor Colvin's next move in his contest with the Council was to return without his approval the resolution passed May 31, fixing the bond of Comptroller Derickson at $100,000. To effect this the Council passed the resolution over the Mayor's veto by a vote of 24 to 11. This approval of the bond was in turn vetoed by the Mayor and the Council again affirmed their action by approving the bond over the Mayor's veto. A call for a special meeting of the Council to consider the advisability of calling a special election for Mayor pursuant to the recommendation of the Finance Committee, was issued and signed by Aldermen J. W. Stewart, James H. Gilbert, William Aldrich and Mark Sheridan, and pursuant to this call the Council met on June 7, 1876. In the ordinance as reported by the committee the 27th day of June was fixed upon as the date for holding the special election. At the next meeting, June 12, the ordinance was amended by making the date of the election July 12, and it was then passed, after several obstructive votes had been overcome, by a vote of 25 ayes to 10 nays. At the meeting of June 19 communications were received from Mr. Colvin announcing that he had removed Redmond Prindiville from the office of Commissioner of the Board of Public Works, and appointed J ohnO'Neill to fill the vacancy created, and had removed Thomas Hamilton as inspector of steam boilers, and appointed John D. Murphy in his stead. The Council refused by a vote of 32 to 2 to concur in the removal of Redmond Prindiville and referred to the committee on fire and water the appointment of John D. Murphy. At this meeting the action of Mr. Hoyne in removing the employes in the Department of Buildings was approved, and the Council by a vote of 25 to 5 passed an ordinance abolishing the office of City Comptroller and transferring the duties of the office to the City Clerk. At the next ensuing meeting of the Council, June 21, Aid. McCrea presented the following communication :

"Hon. S. H. McCrea, Chairman Finance Committee : Dear Sir, - Inasmuch as I one week ago proposed to the Hon. S. S. Hayes that we should both relinquish our claims to the office of Comptroller in order that the city affairs might not be embarrassed, and that Mr. J. A. Farwell, Chief Clerk in the Comptroller's office, be appointed to fill the place ; and it has come to my knowledge that Mr. Hayes has consented to resign his claims to that office, and that the acting Mayor has consented to appoint Mr. Farwell to the position, I therefore, through you, present to the Mayor and City Council my resignation of the office of Comptroller, to take effect on the appointment and confirmation of J. A. Farwell to the same office. R. P. Derickson."

A communication from Mr.Colvin followed, wherein he named Mr. Farwell for Comptroller, and this appointment was confirmed by a vote of ayes 26, nays none. During July the city's revenue reached so low a stage that a number of moves in the direction of closer economy and increase of revenue were essayed. The Comptroller was directed by the Council to prepare and submit a list of the names of property owners who had been 'successful in defrauding the city out of its just revenues for the years 1873 and 1874; a select committee composed of Aid. Cullerton, McCrea, Kirk, McAuley and Cleveland was appointed to confer with the city officials and employes in reference to a voluntary reduction of salaries. July 3 a preamble and resolution were presented requesting the Governor to call a special session of the Legislature for the purpose of enacting laws that would facilitate the collection of taxes. At the same meeting Aid. Kirk presented a preamble and resolutions directing the Committee on Judiciary to prepare ordinances for disbanding the Police Fire Departments, abolishing the Department of Public Works and annulling contracts with the gas companies. The Committee on Finance submitted a report setting forth that while the books of the Comptroller showed the liabilities of the City exclusive of the bonded indebtedness to be only about $5,000 in excess of the apparent assets, that in reality these assets were in a measure worthless and doubtful. The report went on to state, - "Of the items included among the assets it is the opinion of your Committee that the sums of $108,007.59 and $180,323.62, uncollected taxes for the years 1869 and 1870, are entirely worthless. The fire of 1871, which destroyed the Assessor's and Collector's books, with the County Records, also destroyed a large part of the property upon which said sums were levied, and consequently the collection of said sums is entirely impracticable. It is also the opinion of your committee that, of the amount of uncollected taxes for 1S71, not more than 25 per cent, can reasonably be counted on as available ; of the taxes for 1872 not more than 50 per cent. ; of the taxes for 1873, not more than 75 per cent. ; of those for 1874 not more than 80 per cent. ; of those for 1875, not more than 90 per cent. We think that these estimates of the percentage that can be collected of the amounts uncollected for the respective years are fully as large as can reasonably be expected, judging from past experience. Some of the taxes are long past due ; much levied on personal property, which, with its owners, has disappeared ; and some of the real estate taxes will be lost through mis-description and otherwise. The balance sheet, thus corrected, will more nearly exhibit the financial condition of the city at the present time, and, omitting the amount of the appropriation of 1876 on both sides of the account, will show assets of $5,122,120.02, and liabilities of $6,697,090.83." After charging that the city had been left with an inheritance of debt amounting to $j, 574, 910.81, for the present Council to provide for in some manner other than from any resources transmitted by the former administration, the report proceeded further to show that in addition to this it was reasonably certain that the city would not be able to realize the full amount of $587,597.18 appearing on the Comptroller's books as charged to David A. Gage, Duncan, Sherman & Co., and Treasurer Daniel O'Hara ; that there would be a shrinkage in that item of at least $250,000, and probably an additional amount besides of about $100,000 on account of the Von Hollen defalcation, making an aggregate total deficiency of $1,924,970.81. The appropriations for the current fiscal year were made, with the exception of $500,000, for specific objects, and could not legally be diverted to other purposes.

In the opinion of the Committee there was but one way in which this inherited deficit could be made good, and that was by making provision for it by proper appropriations in the future, to be met partly by applying to this object the unexpended appropriations for such improvements as might be dispensed with, and by postponing the payment of indebtedness to certain specific funds.

I 76 Politics And Politicians

Council questioning' the official acts of Mayor de facto Thomas Hoyne, and the action of the Finance Committee which was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, that committee made a report declaring that Mr. Hoyne was not only Mayor de facto but also Mayor de jure. The report went on to say that "the Council must, however, recognize the condition of matters as they actually exist. By the withdrawal of Mr. Hoyne from the contest Mr. Colvin became and is acting Mayor, and his acts as such are perfectly valid. There can be no question, also, that the City Attorney was right in holding that Mr. Hayes, who was held in the position of Comptroller by the power of the Mayor, was Comptroller de facto, and that his acts as such were perfectly valid so long as he remained in the occupancy of the chair."

The closing features of the Colvin administration were a report of the special committee in favor of abolishing the Board of Public Works and the Board of Health, and re-organizing the same - the Board of Public Works under a Commissioner at a salary of $3,000 per year, and the Board of Health under a Health Officer at $1,500 a year salary - and a report of the Finance Committee adverse to the resolution to disband the Police and Fire Departments.

Hon. Harvey D. Colvin, who was elected Mayor in 1873 by a majority of 10,251 votes, was born in Herkimer County, New York, in 1814. His father was a soldier in the war of 18 12- 1814. He engaged in various occupations in New York state until the year 1854, when he came to Chicago as the general agent of the United States Express Company, which position he has since retained. Politically Mr. Colvin was identified with the Democratic party until 1864, when, like so many others of his persuasion, he deemed that the interest of his country demanded the re-election of Abraham Lincoln, and cast his ballot for him, working ever since in the cause of the Republican party. As a business man Mr. Colvin is characterized by promptness and decision. He was married July 3, 1836, to Miss Nancy Churchill, and has a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. One of the sons, John H. Colvin, was a prominent member of the City Council from 1879 to 1887.

Thomas Hoyne was urged to again become a candidate for Mayor, but he refused, saying he considered that he had already performed his duty to the public.

West is due, is full of interest to every citizen. The remarkable success met with by him in his profession as a lawyer was no less notable than his achievements as an honorable politician, and public-spirited and patriotic citizen. He was a man of striking individuality - able, original, genial and companionable. These characteristics made him immensely popular, and his name familiar to all. In politics he was a Democrat, but his personal following included a host of men of different political faith. He was born in New York City February 1 1, 181 7, his parents having emigrated from Ireland two years previous. His father died in 1829, and his mother the year following, leaving Thomas the eldest of seven orphan children. He had attended St. Peter's school, and in 1830 he was apprenticed to a manufacturer of fancy goods, and was thus engaged for five years, during which time he joined a literary association, his natural bent being toward mental accomplishments rather than mercantile pursuits, and in this literary association was thrown into contact with such able minds as George Manierre (afterward a judge), Horace Greeley, Charles P. Daly (who became a judge), W. B. Maclay, and Moses B. Maclay. Young Hoyne early decided to enter the legal profession ; and, after concluding his self-appointed studies in Latin, Greek and the English branches, he entered, in 1836, the office of Judge Brinkerhoff. A year later he came to Chicago, and found his old companion, George Manierre, who was a deputy under Col. Hamilton, Clerk of the Circuit Court. Hoyne found employment in this office, his salary being $10 per week. In 1838 he taught one of the first public schools organized in Chicago, and in the same year he entered the law office of J. Young Scammon, and in 1839, when twenty-two years of age, he was admitted to the bar. His success was prompt and pronounced. He was elected City Clerk by the Democrats in 1840, and proved himself an able and conscientious official. From 1847 to I§49 ne hdd the office of Probate Justice of the Peace. Mr. Hoyne was appointed United States District Attorney for Illinois by President Pierce, in 1853, and in 1859 was made United States Marshal for the Northern district of the state. While holding this office he superintended the taking of the United States census for his district. Mr. Hoyne's ability as a lawyer had in the meantime been recognized by the entire country, and as an orator he had taken a place in the front rank. He was an earnest advocate of the Mexican War, but upon the passage of the Wilmot Proviso, prohibiting the extension of slavery into any territory acquired from Mexico, he became a Free Soiler. He had supported Van Buren and Adams on the Buffalo platform of 1848. At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion he was in accord with Stephen A. Douglas, and no one was more active than Thomas Hoyne in arousing public sentiment in the patriotic struggle for the preservation of the Union. He was a member of the Union Defense Committee, and also of the committee selected to urge upon President Lincoln the necessity of making a campaign down the Mississippi in 1862. In tl\e controversy between Congress and Andrew Johnson after the close of the war and the assassination of Lincoln, Mr. Hoyne's sympathies were with the President. In 1866 Mr. Hoyne was a delegate to the Conservative Convention held at Philadelphia. He supported Horace Greeley for President in 1872, and cast the vote of the First Illinois district in the Electoral college. In 1874 he acted with the opposition, so-called, and aided in drawing up the call of the Democratic State Committee, embodying a specie plank, free commerce, civil rights, and other popular issues of that time. He was nominated for Congress by acclamation by the Democrats of the First Illinois district in 1870, but declined the honor, and the Hon. John Wentworth was nominated instead. It was through the efforts of Mr. Hoyne that the Municipal Reform Club was organized in 1876. Of the Mayoralty contest his biographer says : " The Circuit Court decided by a vote of three to two that the election was illegal, on the ground that the Common Council had not issued the call as provided by law. It was claimed by the friends of the popular candidate that the Court had no jurisdiction in the premises, but Mr. Hoyne refused to appeal to the Supreme Court, declaring that inasmuch as a reform had been accomplished he was satisfied." In 1881 Mr. Hoyne was nominated for Congress, but declined to make the race, preferring to devote his attention to professional work. Mr. Hoyne was an active member of the Mechanics' Institute, Academy of Science, and Chicago Historical Society. He was President in 1850 of the Young Men's Association, the leading library organization of the city. He succeeded William B. Ogden as President of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago, an institution in which he had long taken an active and beneficial interest. He contributed $5,000 to the fund for the law department of the university, and the trustees established a chair in the faculty called "The Hoyne Professorship of International and Constitutional Law." He was instrumental in establishing the observatory, and bought for it the great Landlade telescope.

Chicago, Cook County, And Illinois. I 79

After the great fire of 1S71, when liberal contributions were coming in for the new public library, he was among the first to respond, and was elected President of the first Board of Directors.

Thursday, July 26, 1883, Mr- Hoyne left Chicago for his annual vacation, intending to visit Saratoga and the White Mountains. Friday evening the sad intelligence was received in Chicago that he had lost his life at Carleton Station, N. Y., in a collision on the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad. The body arrived in Chicago the following Monday. Seldom does the death of a well-known citizen call forth such unanimous expressions of sorrow and esteem as were exhibited over the untimely ending of Mr. Hoyne's blameless career. The remains were received by a committee of the Iroquois Club, of which Mr. Hoyne had been one of the leading spirits, and the funeral was held the following day from St. Mary's church. All public offices were closed, and city and county officials attended the funeral in a body, the melancholy cortege including the leading lawyers and citizens, and delegations of organizations innumerable. The remains now lie in Rose Hill Cemetery. Special memorial meetings were held and resolutions passed by the Chicago College of Law, Chicago University, Bar Association, Historical Society, Public Library Board, Iroquois Club, and other representative bodies, while resolutions eulogistic of the ability, attainments, patriotism and worth of the dead citizen were spread upon the records of the various courts. Action relative to his death was taken by the Common Council July 30, 1883, when Mayor Harrison read the following communication :

"Gentlemen : It is eminently fit and proper that your honorable body should take some appropriate action upon the death of Thomas Hoyne. Mr. Hoyne has for over forty years been identified with the history of Chicago. He has held here the positions of City Clerk, Judge, United States District Attorney, United States Marshal, and, for a short time in 1876, that of Mayor.

"Mr. Hoyne was of marked characteristics, energetic and positive. He was an honest man, whose uprightness of character earned for him the respect of all. In his public and professional life he was noted for his eloquence, his energy, his ability, and the integrity of all his acts and deeds. He took great interest in all public improvements and his earnestness and positiveness rendered his influence in whatever he entered upon of very great weight, He was a public spirited citizen whose energetic character has been of the greatest service to the city of Chicago. It is the lot of all men of decided force of character to make enemies of some. He was not an exception to the rule ; yet even those who differed with him in opinion always conceded the purity of purpose, and honesty of aim by which Mr. Hoyne was ever actuated. In private life he was a man of sterling integrity and moral uprightness ; one who made strong friends and stood by them.

"The tragic suddenness of his death has shocked the community. While he was upward of sixty years of age, his vigorous constitution and his healthful habits gave promise of many years yet of life, and the terrible tragedy of his taking off seems too sudden a close to a life so useful to the community, so dear to his friends and family. As a man closely connected with our public interests so long, identified with the city and its affairs, it is becoming that you should pass suitable resolutions of tribute and respect upon his death. I have prepared the accompanying resolutions, which I herewith submit for your approval and action. Carter H. Harrison, Mayor."

On motion of Aid. Sanders the Council adopted the resolutions unanimously and resolved to attend the funeral in a body. The following are the resolutions :

"Whereas, There was killed in the late railroad disaster in New York state, a citizen of Chicago whose close connection with the interests of the city and faithful services in behalf of the people, render his death a public misfortune ;

"Resolved, That in the death of Thomas Hoyne the city of Chicago has lost one of its most patriotic, public-spirited and honorable citizens ; a man whose efforts in behalf of all that he believed to be best for the interests of this community, entitled him to the respect and admiration of all good citizens.

"Resolved, That these resolutions be duly published in the proceedings of this body, and copies hereof be furnished the press for publication, and sent to the family of the deceased."

Chapter Viii Patrons Of Husbandry Grangerism State Campaign

In the fall and winter of 1874 charges were made in Chicago, St. Louis and Washington newspapers that a gigantic " ring," connected with the United States Internal Revenue Bureau, was engaged in swindling the Government out of its revenue on whisky. The headquarters of this ring were thought to be in the West, with probable headquarters at Chicago or St. Louis. Special Agents Somerville, Tutton and Matthews were sent by the Internal Revenue Department to Chicago to make an investigation, and their efforts led to a wholesale seizure of distilleries, and arrest of many manufacturers and Government revenue agents in the spring of 1875. The tax on whisky was at this time $2 per gallon, and the regulations governing its collection were not rigidly enforced. The frauds unearthed involved hundreds of thousands of dollars, and were of national notoriety. The distilleries seized, and proprietors arrested early in 1875, were known as the " first batch.". All of the officials implicated held prominent positions, among others being Jasper D. Ward, United States District Attorney; H. B. Miller, who was elected County Treasurer on the " People's party" ticket ; A. C. Hesing, a prominent " People's party" leader ; and Jacob Rehm, Chief of Police under Mayor Colvin; O. B. Dickinson, Dr. Brush, George Burroughs and "Old Man" Powell. These named were indicted and lodged in the county jail. Among other indicted ones were Internal Revenue Collector Philip Wadsworth, Deputy Collector Chester L. Root, and a number of supervisors, gaugers and minor officials. The distilleries seized in the first batch were those of R. C. Merserau, the Union Copper Distilling company, the Lake Shore Distilling companv, Gholson G. Russell & Co., William Cooper & Co., B. M. Ford & Co., rectifiers. Among the prominent people implicated were Roswell C. Merserau, William S. Golson, Francis A. Eastman, Parker R. Mason, Gholson G. Russell, B. M. Ford, William Oliver and George Miller. The " first batch" engaged Leonard Swett for counsel and proposed to fight the Government, but finding that the great conspiracy was in a fair way of being completely broken up, they proposed, if the Government would grant them immunity, they would "squeal," or turn state's evidence on their co-conspirators, known subsequently as the "second batch." At this time Jasper D. Ward was District Attorney, he having succeeded Judge J. O. Glover in the spring of 1875. Ward was removed in December following, and as stated, was one of the officials indicted. Judge Mark Bangs was appointed District Attorney December 15, 1875, and the first matter he had to consider was whether the Government would be justified in granting immunity to the " first batch" in return for their evidence. Their proposition was finally accepted, and the prosecutions then commenced. Aside from the " first batch" of distilleries which were confiscated, there were the Black Hawk distillery, the Chicago Alcohol Works, the South Branch Distilling company, Dickinson, Leach & Co., Singer & Co., and in fact every distillery in the city except Shufeldt's, besides a great many rectifying houses. All of the whisky in the country produced by these distilleries was also seized and confiscated. Some of the indicted went to Canada, and after the trials were closed returned and compromised with the Government by paying light fines. Stamp Clerk Minty was the only person implicated who escaped entirely. He went to Scotland, where he is supposed to be yet. Collector S. A. Irwin died of paralysis, brought on in a great measure, his friends claim, by his troubles. The distillers had been on each other's bonds, and the Government brought suit against them to recover damages. A. C. Hesing did not settle the judgment then obtained against him until 1883, when he finally effected a compromise. Lawyers and others conversant with the history of the great " Whisky ring" maintain that the Government won an unexpected victory in the trials of those implicated, for the reason that the " ring" was one of the best devised and most compact ever in existence ; but, as Lord Mansfield has said, "A lack of confidence among wrongdoers destroys cohesion;" and the squealers of the "first batch" settled the fate of the ring. Judge Blodgett, of the United States District Court, who heard the cases, said that for some time he could not understand how Shufeldt's distillery, which was not in the ring, could make more money than any of the others, but he finally discovered that it was an illustration of the old adage that "honesty is the best policy ;" for the ringsters had to put up all of their gains for protection and for political funds, while Shufeldt refused to be assessed.

The Greeley Movement

After twelve years of uninterrupted victories the Republican party was menaced in 1872 by the Greeley or " Liberal Republican" movement. Early in 1870 Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, through his paper advocated with great persistence and effect a more liberal and lenient policy toward the states lately in rebellion. The Republican party in Missouri, which was in control of the state, divided on the question of removing from the constitution of that state the clause which disfranchised rebels, and the issue became well defined. Mr. Greeley had paved the way for a liberal movement, and various leading journals, including the Chicago Tribune, had followed his lead. In Missouri Carl Schurz and B. Gratz Brown led the faction favoring the abrogation of the disfranchising clause. Dissatisfied Republicans, and leaders of factions in many sections, joined in the Liberal movement. Among those more prominent in the defection under the leadership of tke Tribune in Chicago were Joseph Medill, William Bross, John Wentworth, Leonard Swett and Lyman Trumbull, and throughout the state such men as John M. Palmer, Francis A. Hoffman, Gustavus Koerner, David Davis, and all the Republican state officers who made up Governor Richard Yates' cabinet. There was also at this time a large unsettled labor element in the country, having a decided political leaning. A Labor Reform convention was held at Columbus, O., and Judge David Davis of Illinois was nominated by this convention for the Presidency. His preferment made him an object of jealousy to the Liberal leaders, and while his friends desired him to have the Liberal nomination the opposition was strong enough to defeat him, and subsequently he declined the Columbus nomination. The Liberals held their National convention May 1, 1872, at Cincinnati, and nominated Horace Greeley for President, and B. Gratz Brown for Vice- President. The Republican party met in Philadelphia June 5, and renominated General Grant for President, and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts, for Vice-President. The Democratic party met in National convention at Baltimore July 9, and indorsed the nominations of Greeley and Brown, thus creating a Liberal, Republican and Democratic fusion. A Democratic defection was caused, however, by this action. Mr. Greeley's nomination was not satisfactory to the rock-rooted or straight-out Democrats, he having been an early Abolitionist and one of the chief founders of the Republican party. The straight-out Democrats accordingly called a convention and met at Louisville, Kentucky, September 3, and nominated Charles O'Connor, of New York, for President, and John L. Adams of Massachusetts, for Vice- President. In Chicago and Illinois, spurred on by the Trilmne, the Liberals waged an active and vigorous contest, and from constant claims of great gains put forth by them, and the uncertainty attending the triangular fight, it was believed by many that the Republican party was destined to be defeated. Among the electors on the Greeley ticket were William Bross, John D. Caton, Thomas Hoyne, C. C. P. Holden and Amo Voss ; on the Grant ticket Henry Greenebaum, Chauncey T. Bowen, Lester L. Bond and Mahlon D. Ogden ; on the O'Connor ticket Isaac R. Diller, David Runion, Abram Braisted and James M. Duncan. The persistent dust-throwing on the part of the Liberal organs did not blind the voters to the real issue at stake. Besides the bulk of the Republican party strength, Gen. Grant received a large independent vote, including many old-line Democrats throughout the country ; and when the returns of the election in Illinois were made known it was found that both the Liberals and the Democrats had been literally snowed under. Grant and Wilson received 241,944 votes in the state ; Greeley and Brown, 184,938 ; O'Connor and Adams, 3,058 ; Black, Temperance, 5,608; Gen. Grant's majority over all being 53,948. Horace Greeley having died prior to the assembly of the Electoral college, the electoral vote of the Liberal party was divided among favorites, Thomas A. Hendricks receiving 42, or a majority over all for President, and B. Gratz Brown 47, or a majority over all for Vice-President. The result on the more important state offices was as follows : For Governor, Richard J. Oglesby, Republican, 237,774 votes ; Gustavus Koerner, Liberal Republican, 197,084; Lieutenant-Governor, John L. Beveridge, Republican, 235,101 ; John C. Black, Democrat, 199,767; Auditor, C. E. Lippincott, Republican, 241,498; Daniel O'Hara, Democrat, 192,708 : Attorney-General, J. K. Edsall, Republican, 240,731 : John V. Eustace, Democrat, 191,897. Members of Congress, Chicago districts; First district, John B. Rice, Democrat, 12,- 870; Lucien B. Otis, Republican, 7,235. Second district, Jasper D. Ward, Republican, 12,182 ; Carter H. Harrison, Democrat, 8,873. Third district, Chas. B. Farwell, Republican, 9,202 ; John V. LeMoyne, Democrat, 4,962.

Chicago, Cook County, And Illinois. I 85

In 1873 the Patrons of Husbandry became strongly organized in Illinois, and exerted great influence in politics. The organization was founded in Washington, D. C, in 1867, and its object was to do away with "middle men," that is, brokers and commission agents, and bring about barter and trade at first hand, besides compelling the railroads to do away with car-load discrimination in freight rates. General "granges," as their clubs were called, were organized in Cook county. The movement resulted in the election of certain state officers and a legislature favorable to the demands of the "grangers," and laws were passed relating to the management and business traffic of railroads which were decidedly onerous and impractical. James K. Edsall, Attorney General of the state, was instrumental in enforcing much of this legislation. After a fruitless effort to gain possession of the state judiciary, the demagogues who had allied themselves with the movement, ceased to take active interest in the organization ; the obnoxious laws were subsequently modified, amended and repealed, and eventually the "granger" element was eliminated as a potent factor from our politics.

In the Assembly of 1873 Daniel Shepard, of Cook, was elected Clerk of the House over Joshua L. Marsh, of Cook, by a vote of 86 to 61. John L. Beveridge, who had. been elected Lieutenant-Governor in the fall of 1872, became Governor through the elevation of Governor Oglesby to the United States Senate. Lyman Trumbull was Governor Oglesby's opponent for the Senate, but was defeated, receiving 62 votes in joint session to 84 for Oglesby.

The state and congressional campaign of 1874 did not awaken much interest or enthusiasm in Chicago. The Liberal Republican, or Greeley party had ceased to be a political factor. Joseph Medill, Governor Bross and John Wentworth retreated back to the Republican fold ; Trumbull, Palmer and Koerner became Democrats and David Davis remained an Independent in politics, while the disturbed rank and file resumed old party affiliations. Out of the scattered remnant of the Liberal movement was formed the Anti-Monopoly party. The vote for the respective candidates in the Chicago Congressional districts was as follows: - First district, Bernard G. Caulfield, Dem., 10,211 ; Sidney Smith, Rep., 9,803 ; Second district, Carter H. Harrison, Dem., 9,189; Joseph D. Ward, Rep., 9,181; Third district, Charles B. Farwell, Rep., 8,177; Jonn V- LeMoyne, Dem., 7,991 ; Francis A. Hoffman, Jr., 139. In the ensuing General Assembly of 1875 tne Democrats by a fusion with the Indepen- dents gained a majority of both Houses. Jere J. Crowley, of Cook, was elected Clerk of the House over Daniel Shepard by a vote of 8 1 to 68. This Legislature passed the act for the reorganization of cities, under which Chicago subsequently became reorganized as a municipality.

The Greenbackers had become sufficiently organized throughout the state in 1873 to ta^e an active part in the campaign. They favored action on the part of the government which would make and keep the paper, or "greenback" money our standard of national currency, and were opposed to the resumption of specie payments. The party was made up of original fiat, or paper money men and the scattered followers of the Liberal and Anti -Monopoly movements. They nominated a state ticket and the party also had a national ticket in the field, nominated May 17 at Indianapolis, with Peter Cooper, of New York, for President, and Samuel F. Cary, of Ohio, for Vice- President.

The Republican state convention nominated Shelby M. Cullom for Governor, Andrew Shuman, of the Chicago Evening Journal, for Lieutenant-Governor, and James K. Edsall for Attorney General. There were no Chicago men on the Democratic state ticket.

The Republican national ticket, nominated at Cincinnati, June 14, 1876, contained the names of R. B. Hayes, of Ohio, for President, and William A. Wheeler, of New York for Vice- President, and the Democratic national ticket, nominated at St. Louis, June 17, the names of Samuel J. Tilden, of New York, for President, and Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana, for Vice- President. At the outset the campaign on the Republican side was spiritless and tame, while the Democrats generally were well pleased with their ticket and entered at once into a vigorous and sustained canvass. The usual Republican majority in the state was greatly reduced. The vote in the state on Lieutenant- Governor was, Andrew Shuman, Rep., 278,167; Archibald A. Glenn, Dem., 255,970 ; James H. Pickrell, Greenback, 18,053. On the Hayes ticket for electors were the names of Peter Schuttler, George Armour and Louis Schaffner, of Chicago ; on the Tilden ticket, William F. Coolbaugh, Thomas Hoyne, S. S. Hayes, and Amo Voss ; on the Cooper ticket, A. J. Grover, A. C. Cameron, John M. Thompson and A. J. Streeter. The highest vote in the state for the Hayes electors was 278,232 ; for Tilden, 258,601 ; Cooper, 18,241. In the Chicago congressional districts the vote was as follows : - First district, William Aid- rich, Rep., 16,578 ; John R. Hoxie, Dem., 14,101 ; George S. Bowen, Greenback, 486 ; Second district, Carter H. Harrison, Dem., 14,732 ; George R. Davis, Rep., 14,090; S. F. Norton, Greenback, 118; Third district, Lorenz Brentano, Rep., 11,722; John V. LeMoyne, Dem., 11,435. The Republicans and Independents united and organized the Thirtieth General Assembly of 1877. Lieutenant-Governor Shuman entered upan his duties as presiding officer of the Senate January 9. An exciting contest resulted when the two Houses met in joint session January 18 to ballot for a United States Senator. John M. Palmer was the Democratic caucus nominee and John A. Logan the Republican. On the first ballot the vote stood : Logan, 99 ; Palmer, 88 ; William B. Anderson 7 Senators; David Davis 6 Representatives. On the twenty-second ballot Gov. Palmer's name was withdrawn and on the taking of the ballot the result was, Logan, 99 ; W. B. Anderson, 85 ; John C. Haines, 7 ; William C. Goudy, 7 ; scattering, 4. On the twenty-fourth ballot the name of Gen. Logan was withdrawn, and on the ensuing ballot the result was, David Davis, 97 ; C. B. Lawrence, 86 ; John C. Haines, 7 ; scattering, 8. January 25 a total of 200 votes was cast and on the fortieth ballot the result was, David Davis, 101 ; C. B. Lawrence 94 ; John C. Haines, 3 ; John A. Logan, 1 ; William, H. Parish, 1.

David Davis not only witnessed the growth of Illinois from a struggling frontier state to its present condition, but he took an active part in public affairs during the most remarkable portion of its political history. He was perhaps Lincoln's closest friend, and it was in part owing to his efforts that Illinois furnished the Republican candidate for the Presidency in i860. Judge Davis, though not a delegate, was one of the leading men at the Decatur State convention in May, i860, that elected delegates to the Chicago National convention. He was there selected as one of the Senatorial delegates to the latter body. More than a week prior to the nomination he had, in connection with other friends of Mr. Lincoln, opened the Lincoln headquarters at the Tremont house, Chicago, where, and throughout the city, whenever delegates were to be found, he labored day and night, almost sleeplessly, throughout that long contest, working with a zeal, assiduity, and skill never surpassed if ever equaled. And when those labors culminated in the choice of his trusted friend his feelings so overpowered him that not only then, but for hours after, in grasping the hands of congratulating friends, he wept like a child. Among Lincoln's hosts he was emphatically the great central figure. In 1862 Judge Davis was appointed by President Lincoln one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. This appointment was not made by any personal solicitation of Judge Davis, but simply on account of Mr. Lincoln's knowledge of the man. At the time of his appointment he was well known in Illinois as a man of great judicial learning and the best of judgment, but his reputation had not gone beyond his state, as he had never filled a position where his decisions would be published. But when he came to the Supreme Bench of the United States his reputation as a jurist went beyond the most sanguine expectations of his friends. His opinion in the Milligan case has attracted more attention from the people at large than any decision since that of Judge Taney in the Dred Scott case. Many of the leaders identified with the Liberal movement of 1872 consider the defeat of Judge Davis in the Cincinnati convention to have been a great mistake. David Davis was born in Cecil county, Maryland, March 9, 181 5. He was educated at Newark, Del., Academy, and at Kenyon College, Gambier, O., where he graduated September 4,1832. In October of the same year he entered the law office of Judge Henry W. Bishop, at Lenox, Mass., and completed his law studies in the New Haven, Conn., law school. In 1835 he went west, locating in Pekin, 111., and in the fall of 1836 in Bloomington, 111., which place he made his home until his death. In 1840 he was the Whig candidate for state Senator, and was defeated by Gov. Moore. In 1844 he was elected to the Legislature and his services in behalf of internal improvements were of great public benefit. In 1847 he was elected a member of the Constitutional convention, and in 1848 elected Judge of the Eighth Judicial district without opposition. The circuit contained an array of talent rarely equaled among the same number of lawyers. Judge Logan was the leader of the bar, but following him closely were Lincoln, Stuart, O. L. Davis, Judge Thornton, the Hon. O. B. Ficklin, Judge Emerson, C. H. Moore, Judge Benedict, Judge Parks, Judge Edwards, and others, some of whom have since become immortal in history. Lincoln was the constant companion of Judge Davis in their travels around the extensive circuit, and at the close of their journey each day Lincoln related those humorous stories that made him so famous. Judge Davis traveled in a two-horse buggy and Mr. Lincoln rode in his own conveyance drawn by his celebrated horse Buck. The independence and impartiality displayed by Mr. Davis during his term in the United States Senate led to his election as President of the Senate, and through the death of President Garfield and the election of Chester A. Arthur to the Presidency, David Davis became Vice-President of the United States. Of his own political life he said this : "I have never been against anybody ; I have always been for some one. If the latter meant that I must oppose a man it was from the fact that I was in favor of his opponent, and when the campaign was over my opposition to him was over." In the closing period of his public service Mr. Davis' course was calculated to provoke alternately the ill-will of each of the political parties, and no higher tribute can be paid to him than to cite the fact that in all the criticisms thus called forth no man ever questioned the integrity, sincerity, or patriotism of David Davis. He died at Bloomington, Saturday, June 26, 1886, after six weeks' illness from diabetes, erysipelas and a malignant carbuncle. The Bar Association of Illinois and Indiana and other states adopted resolutions of respect, and eulogistic of his public services, and the records of many courts soon bore transcripts of memorials. The funeral obsequies were conducted at Bloomington Tuesday, June 29, and although his relatives desired to avoid all appearance of pomp or display the city was draped in black, and the cortege was the most imposing ever witnessed in Illinois aside from those of Douglas, Lincoln, Garfield and Grant. Upward of five hundred of the most eminent statesmen, jurists and lawyers in the country were in attendance. After lying in state from 9 a. m. to 2 p. m. of Tuesday, the remains, accompanied by a vast procession, were reverentially transferred to the cemetery and deposited with their native dust.

In the state campaign of 1878 the Greenback party again placed a ticket in the field, and the contest in Chicago and Cook county as elsewhere was a triangular one but devoid of great interest. The candidates and the votes polled by each in the Chicago Congressional districts were as follows : - First district, William Aldrich, Rep., 12,165 ; James R. Doolittle, Dem., 7,136; William V. Barr, Greenback, 1,844; John McAuliff, Socialist, 2,322. Second district, George R. Davis, Rep., 10,347; Miles Kehoe, Ind. Dem., 6,111; James Felch, Greenback, 1,600, George A. Schilling, Socialist, 2,473; J- H. Condon, Ind., 250; John Sebolski, Ind. Socialist, 74. Third district, Hiram Barber, Rep., 9,574; Lambert Tree, Dem., 5,280; A. B. Cornell, Greenback, 884 ; Benjamin Sibley, Socialist, 2,306. January 21 the Thirty-first General Assembly of 1879 met m ]oint session and elected John A. Logan United States Senator over Gen. John C.

Iqo Politics And Politicians

Black, the Democratic caucus nominee, by a vote of 80 to 60. Ten votes were cast for Alexander Campbell, Greenback, and three for John McAuliff, Socialist. The Chicago Socialists elected to this Assembly one Senator, Sylvester Artley and two Representatives, Leo Meilbeck and Christian Meyer. The Socialists succeeded in getting- a bill passed for the creation of a Bureau of Labor Statistics, and other labor legislation adopted. John Mc- Auliff was an engineer by trade ; an intelligent, well-read man, and a popular and powerful leader among his followers. He died in 1882. Leo Meilbeck published a paper printed in the Bohemian language which was extensively circulated in the Sixth and Seventh wards. He had a hobby, which was the publication of a polyglot paper, to be printed in the Bohemian, Polish, German and English laneuaees, Dut never succeeded in carrying out his idea. He became insane and committed suicide by cutting his throat at the Alexian Brothers' Hospital in 1883.

Mayor Heath'S Administration

The result of the special election of July 12, 1876, was the election of Mayor Monroe Heath to his first, or, as it is known, the "short term" of the Mayoralty. July 17 the City Council met in regular session and canvassed the vote with the following result : Monroe Heath, Republican, 19,248 votes ; Mark Kimball, Democrat, 7,509; J. J. McGrath, Independent, 3,363. Heath's plurality, 11,739; majority, 8,376.

Mr. Heath was declared duly elected Mayor for the. term ending on the third Tuesday in April, 1877, and his official bond, signed by Monroe Heath, William F. Milligan, Peter Schuttler and Christoph Hotz, was approved. Charles Tarnow was declared elected Alderman of the Seventh ward to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James H. Hildreth.

The tax collection bill under which the Tax Commissioner and City Assessor had been operating having been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, the Council adopted a resolution calling on the Mayor to discharge the assistants and employes of both of these offices, and to remove the chief officials themselves. An order was also passed directing the Board of Education to withhold the construction of proposed school buildings and the Committee on Schools to report a list of all leases of school property, with the date of expiration of the same, with a view of selling a portion of the property in order to help the city out of its financial strait. The special committee appointed to consult with architects and the County Board in reference to the construction of the City hall and Courthouse was discharged, and their duties transferred to the Committee on Public Buildings, and the Council refused to instruct the City Attorney to take steps to enjoin the county from proceeding with its portion of the building. The ordinance abolishing the Board of Health and re-organizing it under a commissioner of health was adopted, and the office of city physician was done away with. July 24 Mayor Heath sent his first message to the Council, of which the following is a synopsis : " To the Honorable Common Council of the City of Chicago: " The financial condition of the city of Chicago, in all its details and aspects, has been so thoroughly investigated and discussed, both by this Council, the public, and the press of the city, that I consider it unnecessary to again enter into these details with you ; but in assuming the position of Mayor of the city, it may not be improper that I should address to you in a general way a few words in relation to the matter which so deeply concerns our welfare. * * I am convinced that you have not studied our constitution in vain, and that you are entering the road which will lead us in time out of our difficulties - the road of retrenchment and economy. * * * We must in any event, and under all circumstances, supply the necessary wants of this community ; our people must be protected ; and the personal safety and peaceful calling of every citizen secured. I see no good ground, even after looking at the situation from its darkest standpoint, for the despondent feeling which has become fashionable of late with some of our people. We have rebuilt in five years a marvelous city out of the ashes and broken fortunes of the old ; for years we have been carrying on the most gigantic system of public improvements, and have rivaled in a short time the works of our oldest cities. Our unbroken march of material prosperity in the past has naturally produced a degree of recklessness and of extravagance which, with several large defalcations and the loss or delay in the collection of our public revenues, by the failure on the part of our citizens to pay their taxes, and the seeming inability of our Legislature to make wise or legal enactments - all have contributed to our present condition. With our past experience, and with a people alive to the great necessity of watching and protecting the property and rights of citizens ; with a better knowledge of our condition, and the absolute necessity to extend to our Government a proper and enlightened support, I do not think we need look forward to a repetition of the chief causes of our present troubles. Can we not, then, overcome all our difficulties ?"

I92 Politics And Politicians

The first appointment made by Mayor Heath was that of Dr. Brockholst McVickar as Commissioner of Health, who was promptly confirmed by the Council. Mayor Heath, on the advice of the corporation counsel, also vetoed the ordinance passed by the Council cutting off one-half of the street lamps from being lighted at night. At the meeting of the Council, July 26, an ordinance was passed reducing the pay-roll of the Fire Department twenty-five per cent. ; the pay-roll of the Police Department the same; the pay-roll of the Board of Public Works fifty per cent. ; public library thirty per cent. ; the salaries of the Comptroller and his clerks; of the Gas Inspector; and of the Police Justices and clerks wrere reduced; and the offices of City Tax Assessor and City Tax Commissioner were abolished. In July, 1876, charges were made against the School Board of corruption and malfeasance, and that a " ring" existed among the members of the Board. The Committee on the Judiciary of the Council was directed to investigate these charges, and in their report made, August 21, the committee stated that the charges were so vague and indefinite as to leave no foundation for an investigation. Charges similar in character were made against Dr. McVickar, Commissioner of Health, and at the request of Mayor Heath were investigated by the Committee on Health and County Relations, which committee in its report characterized the reports as not only untrue but malicious. September 18 the Council formally, by ordinance, abolished the old Board of Public Works and vested their rights and duties in the Mayor and the Commissioner of Public Works. During Mayor Heath's first term was carried on what was known as the "sign war." Complaints having been made that the ordinance regarding street obstructions was violated in hundreds of instances by the hanging of signs, Mayor Heath ordered all such obstructions removed, and the police and fire departments were instructed to carry out the order. The Council finally decided to amend the ordinance, and the Mayor was requested to withhold the removal of the signs, but prior to this action many signs had been removed by posses of police, and several street encounters and much excitement was the result. November 13 the Council adopted a majority report of the Committee on Police recommending to the Mayor the removal of M. C. Hickey as Superintendent of Police. This report and recommendation was ignored by Mayor Heath, who had suspended Superintendent Hickey during investigation of charges made against him in the Chicago Post of October 23, and had reinstated him again. The charges in question were involved in what were known as the Pape's case, the Tierney case, the " Hoosier" Brown case, the Lizzie Moore case, the " horse and buggy" case, and the Dan Webster matter, in all of which except two it was charged that Superintendent Hickey had carried on unlawful dealings for gain with criminals. In the "horse and buggy" case it was charged that certain gamblers made up a purse to buy the Superintendent a horse and buggy, and in the Dan Webster matter that Superintendent Hickey leased a house to Webster, a celebrated colored character, and divided unlawful gains with him. In a communication to the Council November 27, Mayor Heath said he had attended the investigation and sifted all of the charges and was surprised at the report made by the committee. He had no doubt of Superintendent Hickey's honesty and efficiency, and believed it would be a great wrong and a false step to change the head of the police force at that time. Notwithstanding Mayor Heath's explanation and indorsement of Superintendent Hickey the Council concurred in the report of the Committee on Police recommending his removal, by a vote of 22 ayes to 8 nays. A special meeting of the Council was held December 14, to take action on the death of Aid. David Murphy, at which suitable resolutions were adopted and addresses were made by Aids. Sweeney, Ryan, Stewart, McCrea, Lawler and Throop. January 9, 1877, the Council was again called upon to take action on the death of a deceased member - Aid. Mark Sheridan. Resolutions were adopted and addresses made by Aids. Sommer, Ryan, Lawler, Sweeney, Cullerton and Gilbert. March 27, 1877, Mayor Heath vetoed an ordinance allowing the North, West and South Town Collectors to retain one per cent, of their collections as compensation for collecting the city taxes, giving as his reason that the compensation of the town collectors was fixed by statute, and that by virtue of the general revenue law of the state the city taxes were extended on the books of the Collector the same as state and county taxes. Under the provisions of the acts of the Legislature changing the time of holding city and town elections, approved March 9, 1877, the Council, on March 12, passed an ordinance re-districting the city into new election precincts. March 22, 1877, the Council passed an ordinance ordering a tax levy of $4,012,002.29, to cover the appropriations made for corporate purposes for the current fiscal year. Under the new city charter, foreign insurance companies were obliged to pay into the city treasury a tax of two per cent, on their premiums. A bill was presented to the General Assembly providing that the funds from this source should be expended in maintaining a fire insurance patrol, and April 8 the Council adopted a resolution protesting against the adoption of the bill as inimical to the best interests of the city, and requesting the Mayor to urge Senators and Representatives to exert themselves to defeat it. April 9 the Council, by a unanimous vote, adopted the following resolutions of thanks to the Hon. Thomas Hoyne:

Resolved, That to Thomas Hoyne, our excellent Mayor, de facto, for the month of May last, belongs the credit of starting our municipal reform.

Resolved, That we tender to the Hon. Thomas Hoyne our thanks for the bold and statesman-like inaugural address delivered before us, and believe that the sentiments therein contained have tended to guide this Council in measures of reform, and while we are not able legally to return to him a compensation in money for his good advice, we do tender to him our sincere thanks as members of this Common Council.

Among other important appointments made by Mayor Heath during the "short term" were L. D. Cleveland, Superintendent of Buildings ; H. P. Wright, Health Commissioner, vice Dr. Brockholst McVickar resigned, and Oscar C. DeWolf, vice H. P. Wright, resigned ; Adam Graham, City Weigher ; W. H. Heafford, City Collector; H. J. Jones, Examiner of Subdivisions, and J. F. Stafford, Oil Inspector.

Tuesday, April 3, 1877, the first election for Mayor under the new law changing the time of election from fall to spring was held, and Monroe Heath was re-elected Mayor for the ensuing two years. The following are the totals of the official vote as canvassed by the Council : - Mayor Monroe Heath, (Rep.), 30,881. Perry H. Smith (Dem.), 19,449. City Treasurer, Charles R. Larrabee (Rep.), 26,509. Clinton Briggs {Dem.), 23,929. City Attorney, Richard S. Tuthill (Rep.), 28,- 186. William J. Hynes (Dem.), 22,219. City Clerk, Caspar Butz, 28,496 ; Rudolph Ruhbaum, 21,538.

At the- meeting of the Council April 30, 1877, Aid. Aldrich was called to the chair and Aid. Throop presented the following resolutions, which were adopted by a unanimous vote : hereby tendered to Aid. William Aldrich for the able and impartial manner in which he so often presided over the deliberations of this body ; and be it further

Resolved, That while we are sorry to lose his valuable services as a member of this Council in the future, we are glad to know that he has been transferred to a higher sphere of usefulness in the halls of the national Congress, where he will doubtless also distinguish himself as a champion of true reform, and our best wishes for his success go with him.

In his second inaugural message Mayor Heath counseled a continuance of the programme of retrenchment and economy inaugurated by the preceding Council. In reference to the City's finances he stated that the uncollected taxes April 1, 1876, amounted to $7,344,294.75, to which should be added the full amount of the appropriation for 1876, which was $4,045,529.27. Of the amounts outstanding April 1, 1876, $290,591.1 1 embraced taxes for the years 1869 and 1870. The tax warrants for these years having been destroyed in the great fire of 1871, these balances were partially uncollectable, and had been, during the year, charged off. The uncollected taxes April 1, 1877, amounted to $6,903,716.35. The message proceeded:

In addition to this amount there is to be added the appropriation of March 1, 1877, amounting to $4,012,002.29, the warrants of which will not be delivered to the collectors till December next. * * * A great portion of the appropriation for 1876 covered a period of only nine months, while that of 1877, which is $33,523.98 less than 1876, covers a full year, and includes the large amount of $301,087.50 for sewerage, as compared with $16,000 in 1876. * * The saving in 1877 over 1875 is $1,1 1 1,403, or over 21 per cent. On the 1st of April, 1876, there were outstanding certificates of indebtedness amounting to $3,484,856.81. This amount has been reduced to $956,114.89. To this amount should be added $150,000 of the new form of revenue warrants issued May 4, 1876, by the previous administration, to retire the same amount of old certificates. Revenue time warrants, based on the several tax levies, and in accordance with the decision of the Circuit Court of Cook county, as announced by Judge McAllister, have been issued and delivered during the year as follows :

Six per cent, bonds $1,200,000 ; seven per cent, bonds, $12- 254,000; total April 1, 1877, $13A54->°°°- Of this amount $272- 000 in six per cent, water loan bonds mature July 1, 1877. The total amount of old certificates and new warrants outstanding April 1, 1877, nas Deen reduced $270,000 since that time, and further reductions are being made from receipts from taxes as opportunity offers. The remarkable growth of confidence in Chicago securities during the past year is shown in the fact that past due seven percent, paper issued by a previous administration has lately sold at a premium in New York, while our own bankers and business men have offered us several hundred thousand dollars at seven percent., which has been declined for the present. Only nine months ago the Finance Committee, Comptroller and Mayor were compelled to beg for funds while offering interest at eight per cent, per annum. The reason for this change is principally due to the fact that the revenues of the city have been collected thoroughly, and the expenses reduced inside our income. The message showed that at the end of the preceding fiscal year the enrollment of school children was 40- 805, and that during the year it grew to 43,512, showing an increase nearly equivalent to the capacity of four twelve room buildings. There had been appropriated for sites and buildings $420,500, but nothing had been done, owing to the failure of the city to collect taxes, especially the levies of 1873 and 1874. The amount of reductions and savings in salaries in the Department of Public Works had been $92,500 and corresponding reductions in the expenses of the Police, Fire, Health and Buildings Departments, and in the matter of payments for gas consumed by the city the savings were over $300,000.

The Council approved the official bond of Charles R. Larrabee, City Treasurer, in the penal sum of $5,500,000, the sureties being Charles R. Larrabee, William F. Coolbaugh, Heman G. Powers, Calvin T. Wheeler, John V. Farwell, Asa Dow, James W. Odell, Berthold Loewenthal, Augustus Bauer, Thos.

Lynch, Henry A. Kohn, Michael Brand, Charles H. Schwab, William N. Brainard, Orson Smith, Augustus S. Burt, Benjamin P. Hutchinson and Charles L. Hutchinson.

Among the earlier; appointments made by Mayor Heath during his second term were Joseph F. Bonfield as Corporation Counsel ; A. L. Linscott, Prosecuting Attorney ; Emory Cole, Oil Inspector; A. L. Morrison, Police Justice; Messrs. J. L. Dennis, Philip A. Hoyne, E. G. Keith, C. H. Reed, M. E. Stone and William Vocke, as members of the Board of Education, and Messrs. George Mason, Sidney Smith and J. B. Walker as Directors of the Public Library, May 14, 1877, Aid. Ballard presented to the Council a resolution relative to the death of Artemas Carter, formerly a member of the Council, and it was unanimously adopted, as follows :

Whereas, In the wisdom of Almighty God He has seen best to remove from among the living one of our most excellent and worthy citizens, Artemas Carter, who was an honorable member of the Common Council of the city of Chicago during the years 1857, 1858, 1859 an<^ i860, his record stands before us for an example, therefore be it

Resolved, That the sympathies of this Council be extended to his bereaved family who have so unexpectedly and so suddenly lost a father, a husband and counselor, and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family.

During the month of July the Council was called upon to take action in reference to the lawless action of street mobs, which were created by the great labor strikes, and they did so by the adoption of a resolution deprecating lawlessness, and authorizing the Mayor to employ all means necessary to maintain the law. These riots were the outgrowth of the labor troubles that disturbed the country throughout at that time. So bold did the turbulent element become that they attempted to march a mob upon the city from the lumber district. The mob was charged by the militia and police at Halsted street viaduct and a pitched battle was fought, resulting in the killing and wounding of many of the rioters. A detachment of regular troops was sent to the city from the West, with a Gatling gun ; the armories were under guard, and for a time the city wore a decidedly warlike appearance. The Council subsequently passed a resolution of thanks to the police force for valorous conduct during the riots. A contest of authority regarding the disposition of the militia during the riots having arisen between the Mayor and Gen. Ducat, the Council by resolution authorized the appoint- ment of a committee to investigate the matter and determine in whom the authority was vested in time of emergency. In response to the public demand efforts were made to increase the police force at an additional expense of $110,500 per annum, an ordinance finally being passed authorizing the Mayor and Finance Committee to borrow the money and increase the force by the addition of one hundred mounted patrolmen. The cost of the riots to the city for pay of special police, purchase of arms, etc., was about $20,000.

August 13 by resolution of the Council the chairman appointed a committee'composed of Aids. Stewart, Waldo, Linsenbarth, Beidler and Thompson to investigate the charge made in a city paper that Aid. Rosenberg, a member of the Finance Committee, and the City Treasurer were in a "ring" which was speculating in city certificates. This committee subsequently exonerated Aid. Rosenberg, the Finance Committee, and the Treasurer.

The election to the Council of James H. Hildreth as Alderman from the Seventh ward was contested by John Riordan, and a notable contest case ensued. The returns gave Hildreth 1,159 votes; Riordan, 1,134; Gardner, 736. The Committee on Elections added certain votes from the town boxes to these totals, and threw out certain alleged illegal votes and declared Riordan elected by 44 majority, and entitled to the seat. The contest continued during 1877 and 1878. Hildreth brought mandamus proceedings against the Council and failed to secure his seat thereby, Judge Rogers dismissing the appeal. He then carried his case to the Supreme Court where the appeal was again dismissed, and he met with similar disappointment in the Appellate Court, whence the case was taken on a writ of error. Notwithstanding the fact that the Committee on Elections of the Council had declared John Riordan entitled to the seat, the report was placed on file by vote of the Council, and Riordan did not succeed in getting a seat in the body until April 22, 1878, when he was admitted, together with John McNally, a special election having been called for one alderman to fill the vacancy, besides the regular election of an alderman to fill an expired term.

The City Council held a special meeting October 15, to take action on the death of Daniel O'Hara, Ex-City Treasurer. The following resolutions were adopted :

Chicago, Cook County, And Illinois. I99

Resolved, That the City Council tender to the bereaved family its heartfelt sympathy in its distress and affliction, and direct that these resolutions of respect and condolence be promulgated to the various departments of the city government, and that all city offices be closed for this day.

Resolved, That the City Clerk is hereby directed to spread upon the journal of the Council the foregoing resolutions, and that copies thereof be furnished the press for publication, and also that a copy be sent to the family of the deceased.

"The sad duty we have to perform to-day of paying our last compliments to an honest and efficient officer of the city government is the object of this special meeting. The resolution does but lightly touch on the virtues of the man and the characteristics that entitle him to the highest honors we can now pay him. Having been acquainted with him since my boyhood, and knowing a thousand instances of his kindness of heart, honesty of purpose, and purity of motives, his love for the truth, and all the qualities that the best teachers of morals and religion wish to have inculcated in the hearts of men, I wish to -mingle my regrets at his loss, with the hope that his exemplary qualities will have the effect to elevate and encourage those who live to respect his memory. I am personally aware that it was his pride and pleasure to assist the afflicted, to encourage the depressed, to visit the poor, to impress upon the minds of men the importance of industry and the sterling value of integrity; and of him can be said as truthfully as if Goldsmith's lines had been purposely directed toward him :