;h'cago. ge of Mayor New Common council. of the City Debt—Our /gallons and Our Means. A Large Floating Debt to be Provided For. A Efptal of all Special Assessments and aa Abrogation of all Contracts Advised. Pioperty-Owners Recommended to Kake Their Own Street Improvements. Numerous Reforms Proposed—Discharge of Useless Office-Holders, Reduc tion of Salaries, &c. The Future Fire limits Coex tensive with the City. After the adjournment of tho old Common ■Council, ami the organization of the new Board ot Aldenuen, lust evening, Hon. Joseph Medill, the Mayor-elect, on assuming the duties of his cilice, delivered the following message; MESSAGE OF MAYOR iIEDILL. MR. rpEi-IDLNT AND GENTLEMAN OR THE COM MON Council The verv brief period that has intervened since receiving notification of my elec tion, renders it impossible to furnish your hon orable b.dy with specific information on some Mibjeets, or to make recommendations on other that require it. Rut as 1 become more familiar with the* duties and business of the office, addi tional information will be transmitted hum time to time, as tlie charter contemplates. I have been called to the head of the Citv Gov ernment under extraordinary circumdances. A ii w weeks ago our fair city, reposing in fancied -security, received a fearfully tragle visitation Horn lire, winch m a few brief but awful hours reduced a large portion thereof to ashes, cinders and smoke, euimuming one grand division, leav ing but a fragment of another, and inluctimr nix ugly wound on HlO third. In a sin gle night and day 1*25.000 of our pcoule were expelled from their homes and compelled to -lee'for their lives into thy streets, commons, or mke, to avoid perishing in the fiumes. Many lost their lives from heat, suffocation,or fulling walls, —buw many may never be known; and the mul titudes who escaped were fain to seek shelter and loud at ;he hand of charity. The greater part of •our citizens, not burned out of their homes, lost their stores, shops, offices, stocks of goods, imnle imms, books, accounts, papers, vouchers, busi ness, or siniatious, and it is difficult to find any •citizen who has not suffered directly by that fear ful conflagration. Of the total property in Chi cago created by labor and capital, existing on the bfh ol October.mure than half perished on the 9th. The money value of the property thus suddenly annihilated, U is impossible accurately to ascer tain, but it can hardly fall short of one hundred and fifty millions of dollars, a comparatively email part of which will bo re imbursed by the insurance companies. Such a tremendous loss cannot befall the peoule at h.ige without seriously affecting their mumei pal afluirs. The city, as a corporation, has lost in property and income precisely iu the same proportion as have individuals iu the aggregate. The municipal government lias no income ex cept what it derives from the citizens of Chicago, iu the form of taxes, licenses, and rents, or ob tains on their credit; and to tho extent that thcJri'ropcny and business are diminished by the tenable misfortune that has smitten them, so is the revenue of tho city diminished; and. as cur citizens are retrenching expenses to meet the exigencies and keep within”their means, so must ihe municipal government do likewise, FINANCIAL CONDITION OP THE CITY. Heavy a? the blow ha* been that has struck us, r ..iu not discouraged. Our municipal losses, like those of the citizens, will soon bo rexmired, ami by .iuufeioiis management of our city affairs, the pe«q»le wifi the sooner recover from their losses, ana thus be able, in a short time, to bear ..he burdens of taxation without oppression. I f-hall proceed to state, in brief form, the present fiscal condition ol the city, as I gather it from official souices llomlcd debt Dec. 1. 1 571..... *l4 103 009 i'rem fids may be- deducted bonds lieulin {he’ sinking fund Si" OM 'Outstanding bends .*15,5tC.0C0 Tills debt Is cvDiposeil or o Uo,viij g items: ’■?muled debt—old issues 212,009 Vended debt-new L-.-ucs, 2 t iv2.590 •School 1 Kinds 1,119,c09 School construction bonds 33,000 Nfwwngc bend.- a.<;30,y00 liircr improvement bonds 2,5'.*G,090 water bonds 4.320,00} In addition to the bonded debt, it is officially re liorted to me that there is a floating debt consist ing of Certificates of indebtedness..... 707 Vnscttlod claims lor Ccopcninsr the canal in ex-’ c< ss of the Sft.o9o.bro authorized I>v Jaw 2.V5.000 Current expenses lor November a'neit gvi.Oltf •Tunnel balance, and other items 4-V990 Total, about 7,17 The Comptroller estimates the general ex penses for the remainder of the fiscal vear at Sl.l4l.CiiO. There stands to the credit of various special funds the lolloping unexpended balances: tv'alt r fund, from sale of bunds &-97 2it2 vkb-c.l building, from sale of bonds liA;-* Special ;»>e.»rucnt, collected ■ii.' b.T Pride-well fund -Jo -151 lu foiiii achwl fund yO l o freia these funds the C’.ty (.I’ovcnmier.i lias' 5 temporarily drawn for payment of current e> pem-es, to be replaced when needed 51,14 j.iSG Balance on liand December 1. I>7l ill* 152 The CVnmmn Council. at a late meeting, apnro priated >140,«.0 of the Water fund for repairs of the WaP-rWoiks and extensions of main* which “when expended, will reduce the Water fund to By the former mode of doing business with the hank?, nothing was paid by them to the citv on it.- deposits, while high rates of interest were XciKl by the my for temporary accommodations— jhe money loaned actually being the cilv’s own fluids Tne interest thus absurdly paid, amounted to a very large item in the annual expenditure of the city. a i!Ai> rnacriCE which snocu> r>c refouiied 3'rom time immemorial it has been the practice of the municipal government to anticipate its revenues from nine to twelve months before thev are received, a practice which I nnquaii/imlir condemn as imprudent and improper, and which i trust, will be reformed at an earlv date The city taxes are collected in the spring* hut as fast as they are paid In, they are needed for the liquidation 01 floating debt ami accumulated claims, and when these arc settled and receipted lor. the year stages are exhausted, and for the residue of the fiscal year the government is sum ported hybonowing from special funds, or the banks, by issuing certificates or indebtedness or resorting to other financial devices. This is’all wring. There should always ha in the Treasury a sufficiently large balance to meet current expenses. There vet re mains four months of tins fiscal year, and during that time very little revenue will be coming into the Treasury from taxation, rents, or licenses, and, consequently, the city must borrow from the banks, or others, to defray current ex penses, until it can repay from the annual taxes. But for 'ljn: TIMELY ASSISTANCE TUIXUEUKI) lIVTIIE STATE .lac City Treasury Would l.“j greatly embarrassed »o meet the demands licit would necessarily bo mai.e upon it during the ue?:t two years. The lts> of public properly by the lire was ouito cr*. lions: add to this the heavy reduction of revenue In in taxes and water nuts caused bvih<.««r and the prohibition in the Constitm ion to iuere- the eiiy debt, and the three things combined weald leave the city in a dilemma, had it nor Ijku lor the Slate stepping promptly forward mid restoring to the city tho money it bad ail vanccd to the State for the completion of th '.lichigan and Illinois Canal- The State had re served to itself the right to do this in the original contract with tho dry. The canal is now in tho complete possession -of the State, free of all incumbrances, .and sure to yield a handsome revenue hereafter; while the proceeds of the mortgage lien will ena 'We the city to rebuild its destroyed bridges, school houses, and other structures; to maintain its credit and support its government until the crisis is past. The timely relict thus rendered will materially quieten the restoration of our •city to its former tax-paying power, when it can reward the State for its favor by large contribu tions to its Treasury. Tho lively gratitude of Chicago will ever be due to the Governor and General Assembly, and their constituents, for their hind action in the premises. Thc sum the State has engaged to pay for tho relcaso of tho city’s mortgage on the canal is 52.0E5.0t0, of which has already been received §105,000. and I am assured wo can depend upon §C45,C00 more in time fur the payment of the Janu ary interest on the city debt, as follows StateCpercent bonds... Canal tods Illinois Central tax JTunits in Stale Treasury Total, interest comixg vn: The amount of interest to pay January 1, 1572. is C 46C CIO, less the Interest on the sinking fuud bonds, which the Council may, and, I think, should order cancelled. The remainder of the Jnorev! about $159,000, -will be needed to pay ’hrid-c-bulldere and lire and police force. fin I be Ist of J dly next we may look for $210,0:0 from the Illinois Central tax, to apply on the Jniy icierebt oftbe city debt: and from September to Dcrember isfJ, proceeds of Ibc one and one-half nontax which will yield *730.000; also, January 1 m-‘i »ilo COO from the Illinois Central tax, and, nerhiiS $“5,000 from the tolls of the canal, mak in.-a total during 3672 01«.2i5,0c0 This will still to be received in 1673, including interest, more than $1,000,000. By the end of ?hS timo'we can reasonably hope that tho city n-m have so far recovered Irma aU its immense h,tses ns to need no more exterior assistance, bat he able toincer, from taxauou, all dues and de mimdl that may be brought against it. funded'debt that ma- The only portmn of Uorana 7 per iSJ•Siw,«'£S®si: 18TC, all o per cents. Hence, so far as regards the redemption of bonded debt, there is nouilng con nected therewith to occasion more than a passing thought. r MUNICIPAL LOSSES BY THE FITIE. As near as I can ascertain, the loss of city prop erty by the fire, as estimated by the different beards, is as follows: T ~-bi Care of Board of Public Worts. City Hall. Including furniture 470.000 biinict1,.,,,,,,,. 171009 Damage to street pavements 27o’oOl) Damage to tddewalks and crotMucs, payable out of general luml rn ma Damage to Water Works as S3 Damage to hunp-posta jr’SJ; Damage Jo fire hydrants, reservoirs, sowers. 1 water service, etc co _ To a l SkOS^OM To this must be added 121 y-i miles of sidewalk* destroyed (the refclaccment of which should bo by special assessment) valued at $941,a50 7 tic ft re Department Loss. Buddings worth multure “W* Damage to engines Damage to hose Damage to Fire A hum Telegraph .V,’’.”** 45)000 Total 31njliliii"s I" Immune,fixtures, etc v y*3oo Total Jjuituiiigj-, fr.mitnio, etc., worth c•»•;» rvvi Loaidof Health lost property worth”)”"*) v "l5)fl00 Total losses ti 'tr- Add sidewalks... v 941)359 Grand total $-Vjootio All these burnt structures, machines,'bridges, fiiac walks, fixtures, anti furnituremust bo rebuilt and replaced at the earliest practicable moment, as they arc indiepensiblc to the city and citizens. OTHER MUNICIPAL LOSSES 15V THE PIRE. Rut tlie destruction of this propern* Is not the only 10.-s suffered by the corporation. The burn ing of records, vouchers, books, papers, tax war rants. etc., will necessarilv oc casion much loss, contusion and embarrassment to the City Government. Rut it is believed that a large part of the apparent loss of official knowledge and data can be supplied from other fcmccs. still the pecuniary loss to the citv will be considerable in the destruction of the evi dence of delinquent taxes and special assess The hoots and rajicrs destroyed, or saved are reported to me as follows: J ,l cu> nre Slayer'* njliee— Everything in the Warm'd ofilro wi* t Ily w«iv_.Ml the records, hoots m I era, and hits of the Comptroller's office, from Its com na m euKtit down to the ,uile or the tire, iTdestrove L JMlimately lor the city, the chat lor has ehi<”iss haired the Comptroller to ptihlisii an aa’ nmd statnaom of receipts ami c “nen(i luies and liabilities of the city, ami. siiu-F isn t«> publish a monthly statement of receipts ami exneu* ffiturt*. From the published proceedings of the &n m.-n Ctmncil, all of -which are obtainable, theTeueiai financial tondmon ol the city up to September j jirj can he ascertained. Xho September statement which "•“V 1 l “>>!!i« a ?3- /or PnhlicaUou washaraV. (.fi; t/erA ;f OJnce— Only thelxmks, proceedings, and documents destroyed afur Hie Jsth m September in ilocunumts pravious to that time in the vault are pre served in good condition which is vcrvAinim-ito tlu v arc ol more value to the city than ull the boiks and that were 10.-.r. WUOKJ it,, pra*vrcT-* ottirc-AU hacks and vouchers in his h..i MI tllu b »o dockets .lo- JJihtil or EduaiUm— All links, mconls mill iloni S£ toSS. y 1 l xc Cl t w;orau ol EXPLANATION. Tins list of destroyed records and papers nm coin-cyan exaggerated idea of tho acnwl £nS~i done. 1 lie system of keeping tho city accounts vassm-li that but little loss will be sustained by ie reason of tbe destruction of (be Compfcolier’s records. To illustrate: The an propnaiiuu for the board of Public Works is nearly one-third of the total annual appropria tion, and. including special assessments, is more than half of all the money expended on city ac count. The board make out a voucher for an ex penditure and send it to the Comptroller’s ottlcc keeping a duplicate in their own oJlice The beard also Iceep boots of account, showing the expenditures of appropriations for and vouchers issued by the board. The board of Public Works saved their books, records, vouchers, etc and to this extent the records of the Comptroller’s olllce can be replaced. So that it will be impossible for claimants to defraud the city by false claim The appropriations for the Police and Fire Da partmeuts, amounting to abouts9oo.ooo, are large ly made up of tho pay rolls of pjlieemcn and Bre men,and they were paid on Saturday precedin'* tbenrecxccpiafew who were on special duev T2:c usual course of business in the ComntrJller's the personal recollections of theCoinpmdlerandhisclerks.willcnablethatolHco to prevent double payments, or fraudulent pay ments, ami the danger of such will be over with when the payments for tho mouth of November arc completed. It is in the destruction of the records, rolls ami warrants of the City Collector's cilice that I ap prcheiid the city will sutler tho greatest loss. The t-tty Collector, when an, assessment is made, or a tax lev ied, receives a warrant for its collection, gives the notices required, bv law, and reports once ia each rear, fa-neruUy in March, to tho court, the delinquents upon all real property and special assessment accounts which come into* his hands, the latter prior to the 3iSf S>i October, and of the real proper tv war i ants prior to the preceding second Sunday of December. .$14,103,003 aW.OOO I pen this report the Conn renders judgment jirci issues a precept to the Collector‘to collect from the property against which a judgment is rendered in lavor of the city, the amount of the tax or assessment, ft fortunately so happened that the sales under these precepts had been made prior to the lire. The property appealed and upon which the appeal was perfected can be ascertained by referring to the transcript in the fctiprciue Court of the State, some of the appeals prayed for were not perfected. In these cases it maybe difhcult to establish the proof of the facts, as the court records were all destroyed seme injunctions were also pending, the records of wluch were destroyed. All the personal property tax warrants were destroyed; upon these warrants no judirment of the court is obtained. The amount of uncollected personal taxes for isto I have not learned, hut the sum was doubtless considerable. The Comptroller’s last report Murtt s that there wore delinquencies on wnich judgment had been obtained, amountin'' as fol lows: General lax Trarrani fnv 1507 s*»; General tax warrant fur bi-s ’joi General tax warrant for isuu Um-Ollcctcd A juil 1, 1571 <120,532 The i>ro?pect of hereafter collecting much of these taxes is not very flattering, to say the least. Much of the properly itself has been destroyed by the lire. All special assessment warrants issued since October si, 2870, were destroyed; and, what is worse, but very little had been collected on these warrants. I suggest to your honorable body that it would be advisable to repeal those assessments, refund the moneys collected, if any, and make a new assessment, if, indeed, it bo possible hereafter to make any assessments which can bo collected, under the recent de cisions of the reconstructed Supreme Court, to which I refer elsewhere. At all events the first step, iu my opinion, that should be taken by the Common Council is to repeal all these assess ments. for no further collection is possible as the matter now stands. uoard or mitre works expenditures. The expenditures of the Hoard of Public Works from April l, 1670, to April 1,1871, wercaa follows: From direct tares $1333 017 Special assessments .21225*373 Fitun the sale of bonds for— Water fund ft; 123 103 Sewerage Tumi VjI.GW City Bridewell fund >yj (T'j City Mall fund joJ’g.j. La.>allb street luimd fuml 321*226 Canal deepening Kind j 2y”V;3 Total Irom sale of bonds 3,064,297 Total cspcmliture $7 323,157 From April I.ISTI, to December 1, 1871, hem" eight mouths of the present fiscal year: 0 Frcm direct taxes $1,127 430 FlOlll spccinl asses.-nients ‘l’l’wi’ois From proceeds ot bonds for canal. sphci;»"v water, tunnel, etc 1,713,719 Total since A jail had HW3j^7 As before stated, the Comptroller estimates the amount of money required lor the remainder of the fiscal year tit 62,141,000, to bo supplied by tax atieu. This does not include expenses on account of ater Works, special assessments, or any lands in credit from the sale ot bonds. .fiof.ro; 2-vi.ao 4V>A) 70 j $597.2G2 mi?:: ■iv-.i1•13.451 •13.451 3-wj TAXES COMING DUE, c Comptroller also estimates the amount of f!l' n,l l eaue «nd«r the present asscss m ev. <2'rS 1 reb; 2 c loss of property by tioiU f 1 rol !r 1 considerable dedne once oi iV 0 A or and resist havca. nKidt lh.A S la f? Property-holdora courts tm. pMyju?-iVt Sf Viw of cuuto tiu S ia tho thccltv with a U taxes, and harassing gons devi S/'f-fif 5 n Nn U:l U >D aU(l otllcr Htfc assessment or lud.nn luf V rm Utie3 in fl anded out of htrlS ImnV nr tJ^e olt i* id de ll is no longer *Tre?k. T?P'* lx lly.duoit amount ot revenue from n “iv k un C3t nuU:a property and per coni of taxation n of must be devised to r remedy •which is nurtured and spread -1,7 roWl ?g evil, pleading, technical attorney*, safd tohr? f Bpeclal sated by contingent tecs, ami markable favor in the courts/e'kecKH?nf7 l r e llieril? Uf Bal >mS and u niu;: XO MOKE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS In this survey of the present condition of m.r municipal government 1 have m,t include f, very importanl matter. I icfcr to the system v* making improvements by special assessment* on the property benefited. This system is as old -is the e;ty itself, and under it the money has been pictured for opening and widening of streets and alleys, and Improving streets, and building sidewalks, to the extent of many hundred miles. How many millions of dollars have been raised by* special assessment and expended under the direo ol the Heard of Public Works for these objects I am not prepared to stale, but it must exceed twenty millions. .$250.00} gi.ooj 210,00) 125 OUO *$J 10,00) fe.2.'ul the Supreme Court of the State, since its rc-organization under tho New Constitution, bus made decisions overruling all its former decisions width carried to their ultimate sequences, work a perfect revolution in the system of special assessments, and Indeed overthrow them totally. The Corporation Counsel gives it as his opinion that these late decisions of tho Supreme Court have fo unsettled the law of assessments as to render it impossible Tor the city to continue its improvements under the present charter, un- Ursit is desired that the cost hereafter of all stiect openings, widening®, or improvements and sidewalk building shall be paid by general tax ation. The c ourt has so construed the law that thcic seems to he no possible way of making a special assessment to pay the cost of an im provement, that may not be defeated by any in ter* i-ted parly who resists payment. The worst feature of these revolutionary decisions is tho predicament in which they place either the City Government or the contractors for work already done but not paid for. There is not far from a ml.lion of dollars duo to contractors fo»*worlr pone and materials furnished. tinder thcpravls jous of Hie charter authorizing special assess ments, and these claimants are already threat cning the city with suits for the amounts due lot m from the persons whose property received the special benefit from the liuprovemcuts. I have a list of uncollected assessments which foots up the large sum of $790,1(34.11. Of this amount, all except $'202,419.58 Is pending in the courts, cither by injunction or an appeal to Ihe Supremo Courr, principally to the latter. Seme now r on appeal are reassessments, amount ing, perhaps, to siso,coo. This, added to the 5203,449, makes the sum about §112,419, which have been decided adversely to the city, on the appli cation for judgment upon the original or first assessment, if the “Beygeh” decision Is ad hered to by the court, this amount will be lost, cither by the city or the contractors, and this will be only the Urst instalment of the losses that will fall on the city or contractors. A hi ief statement of the points decided by the court will convince your honorable body that I have not magnified or over-stared the grave con sequences that must flow from the change of views held by that court. In the recent case of Rich vs. the City, the Court has decided that the finding of the Appraisement Com missioners is vol cnuclnsirc, but that it is only a means devised by the Legislature to get parties into court; and that upon the application for judgment a party objecting to judgment may show that lie is assessed too much for benefits that ho is not allowed enough damages for the properly condemcd; in fact that ho may show anything meritorious or technical which tends to show that the assessment ought not to be col lected nom him. The Court also now holds that the objector is to u jury trial, and, of course, a right of appeal from its verdict to the Supremo Court, thus entailing endless litigation and delay on the city. The Rich case was upon a condemna tion proceeding, to wit widening Michigan avenue. Following the Rich ease, the Supreme Court have decided the case of Creole vs. Citv, Rae vs. City, and one or two others, affirming those named In which the rule hud down in the Rich case, is applied to the improvement of streets except that the Court has not decided that the objector in an improvement proceeding is entitled to Jury trial, leaving that point still open. dlic charter requires that an assessment shall be w&du lor benefits ami la the proportion of ben efits conferred. Rut there happens to bo no pro vision in tho charter which directs the Court, if it finds that the party is assessed too high, or not enough to recast the assessment mid have the pro portion maintained; but the effect of these bite decisions is, that if the assessment upon one lot is defeated, the whole assessment necessarily hills, Even if the Court should modify their opinion so as to hold that the assessment is dc feated only as to the party succeeding iu sustain ing his objections, it will leave the city iu an un enviable position as to its assessments. Iu the determination of the question of benefits there will be no fixed nilc or basis to act upon. It will bo impossible for any Commissioners to assb'ii befits that the Judge and jury will agree with us to each and every amount assessed or valuation made. In September last tlio Supremo Court, under ita new organization, delivered another opinion—not yet published, which seems to knock the lust prop from under the city, in regard to making special assessments. It is the case of Bey-eh rv City, in which the two former decisions of that Court, in the Ward and Lailiu cases, aro directly overruled and reversed. Tho Court now holds that if the first assessment is invalid for any reason, technical or otherwise, no new or re assessment can be made. A petition for a re hearing was made in both the IlicU and Bcyreh eases, and granted in the Rich, but not yet in the Bcygeh case. The same court, la&t September, in tho case of the City rs. Korton, lam informed, made u de cision tnut the city was liable for a part of the assessment, assessed upon property not liable by' law to be assessed, and used language inthnatin a general liability of the city to the contractor for all-work done, including special assessment work. It is the intimation this last deciaion that has caused the contractors to threaten suit against the city lor special assessment work. The court fcemsjtoplace the city in this dilemma By revers ing its lormer decisions it renders it impossible for the city to make a valid assessment that will stand its lire, and then intimates that the con tractor may collect his claim from the city be cause the assessment was not properly made! The liability of the city to contractors is thus stated m Section 17, Chap, c, of the charter: Vny person talcing contracts with the city, and who agrees to be paid from special assessments, shall have no claim or lien upon tho city in am/event, except from the collections of the special assess ments made for work contracted for; and no work to be paid for by a special assessment, shall lK csccpl to a contractor, or contractors. tc7/o triil so aijri-e.” This language of the law seems to he plain, ex plicit, and peremptory, but the contractors expect ire i lull ut ic mule r tbo new doctrine laid douu by the court, and that, too, ia the face of their own written contracts, in which they agree to make no claim against the city on ac count of special assessment, except from the col lections of the same according to Section IT. Chapter C, of the revised charter of said city In view of these recent decisions, tho only safe recommendation f can make to your honorable body is. to direct all contracts revoked involvin'* special assessments, and to recall all warrants outstanding for the collection of special assess ments, and to put a stop at once to all improve ments being made on account of such assess ments. Let ua ascertain to a certainty the exact liability of the city in all condemnation proceed ings for the widening, extending, or improvin'’ of streets, alleys, and sidewalks. No other course is safe or justKJuble at this lime, in the face of tho recent and unlooked-for decisions of the Supremo Lourt. 'WJZXT rSOrERTV-OTTCERS MUST no. When, the property-owners hereafter desire to Imve new streets laid out, or streets extended or widened, or graded, macadamized, or block paved, let them be required to enter into an agreementwith the city, waiving right of appeal, stay of judgment, or any claim on the city for damages in connection with such Improvements, llenuiro them also to make contracts, directly with the contractors for the work to he done and materials furnished for Improving their streets alleys, and sidewalks, in order that the contrac tors shall have no pretence of claim against the cit v for work done for the special benefit of indi viduals. dhere are no funds in the Treasury now, nor likely to be, for a long time, with which to pay for effect extensions or widening:?, or pavings, ami the city is prohibited from borrowing monev ami adding to the iiiiuiidpal debt, for these or am* other purposes, it will be all the city can possibly do. to keep the present improved streets in re pair and clean all the streets iu this wide-spread city. BLTBESCHMEST AND ECOXOSIV THE ORDER OF THE I>AV. The lavish expenditure heretofore indulged In by the Hoard of Public Works, Board of IMuca tiou and other departments must be peremptori ly terminated from the sheer force of necessity, it nothing else. The two or throe millions a year obtained from the sale of bonds and added to the city debt, which was the pleasant practice, is for bidden fn the future by the new constitution and the two or three millions annually obtained from special assessments is prohibited by the Supreme Court. The only remaining source of revenue (with the exception of rents, licenses and the canal lien money) is from direct taxation on property according to valuation. The time has now come for the introduction of a rigid system of retrenchment in all branches of the municipal government. The “pay as you go’’ principle must now bo adopted and adhered to. There is nothing that will afford such financial relief to the city, at this time, as rcfrctic/nnent. It is our surest resource, and better than any credit; we can draw upon It to a remarkable ex tent. When we borrow we must repay with in terest, but when we save an expense there is uo debt created, ami neither principal or interest to provide for. The fire-fiend came like a thief in the night and caught ourumuicJx>al government livinzin excess of Its income, with a loose discipline fn some de partments, Inefficiency in others, and extrava gance in all. It will be no easy matter to reform the luxurious tastes and expensive habits of the past or to enforce in the future, close economy upon Independent hoards accountable in effect to nobody and ac customed to have the use of all the money they desired. But the Common Council has some pow er left under our singular charter, to hold the purse-strings and impose restrictions and limita tions on expenditures, and to force down the cost of supporting a municipal government within the tax-paying ability of our crippled people, and I pledge myself to aid you in this duty to the lull extent of the small fragment of executive power left in the hands of the Mayor under our peculiar charter. DISCHARGE OF OFFICE-HOLDERS AND REDUC- TiOX OF SALARIES. There should be, in my opinion, a complete overhauling of all expenditures in all the depart ments of the city, with a view of ascertaining wherein and to what extent reductions can bu mode. lam persuaded that the services of hun dreds of persons now on the pay-rolls can bo dis pensed with and their salaries saved to the Treas ury; and that a multitude of expenses can bo lopped oil* without detriment to the public in terests. v This 5s no time for the city to support super numeraries or retain sinecures, or keep on its pay-rolls mote employes than it has work for, when “5,000 of our worthy ami industrious citi zens are burnt out of house and business, winter ing in sheds and barracks erected by the money of strangers, and subsisting on tho charities of sympathizers, and when the ability to pay taxes is limited to the remnants of property imdc vouied by tlic tire. INVESTIGATION* SUGGESTED. Tn view of tho existing stale of things, I rec ommend the appointment of a special committee, whose duty it shall be to make a searching in vestigation into the details of tho municipal ser vice. for tho purpose of ascertaining where it is possible to retrench expenses; and, in this con nection, I would suggest the advisability of re ducing all salaries over which tho charter gives yon control, to the extent of about coper cent, for the period of one year. I am of tho opinion that tho members of tho different boards, ap preciating its ueccesity, will cheerfully co operate in making the proposed reduction, which would save the Treasury at least half a million of dollars. If J comprehend the. moaning of the recent mu nicipal election, one of its chief purposes was to secure the reforms and economies which I have named, ami tlic people will be bitterly disappoint ed and indignant if they are not fairly carried out. 3ICNICIPAL CORRUPTION'S. For several years past good men have ■witness ed with grave apprehensions the alarming deteri oration of integrity in municipal administration, and a feeling of despondency and almost despair came over them. Honesty seemed to have de parted from the majority of those holding places 01 u ust or honor. in some cities knavish coruM 3®" unscrupulous partisans had seized J m nn lc ipul government by foul and cor i,,L 11 Vr? 1 8 then rioted in prolli gate expoudi oftliom.m,m^' I!edf rW ullul l.''- Tl» earning, sessional ilm a 0 yapiOly transferred to tho ptib- Iterate, TlU I’oik municipal rule tefected to Jre.mr'o V"’ degree, all me immleipal govemminta °u, *,S SS Union. Did Chicago wholly tho tauiiuatien 1 Can it lie shown l,v tu o lucre ,so of oar taxation or funded debt 1 I Icarnon raiie side of the street or alley arc per indulge in that dangerous luxury. i 1? forb.dthe construction of those buildings which tend to Jeopardize tho dry, or allow all citizens an equal privilege to burn down their neighbors, nils la a laud of equal rights and privileges, and the rule in regard to incendi ary structures should also ho equal and uniform I cun Fee no other way of securing tho safely of tho city and satisfying tho citizens, than by treating all alike, and extending the Uro limits to the city boundaries. Special privileges are odious In a republican country. in view of all tho circumstances, I recommend that your honorable body proceed to frame and perfect a llro ordinance that vdl give security and permanence to the future city. Tho existing Wdcn lieu Jto learned of the treaty of peace lie declared he would light in the ranks ol those opposed to it; and, on learning of the revolt m Paris, on the ISth of March, loil, no promptly tillered his services to the insurgents. He was placed in command of the Legion of tlie Seventeenth Arrondisse lucnt; but his zeal in establishing discipline displeased the committee in control, and ho was placed under arrest on the of Apn v Finding about this time that Felix Pyat had violently assailed him in Ins journal, he went to the ollme, and remained there half the night, waiting to ehmstiso I’yat, who, however, never camp. I'ossel was soon released, and was appointed Chief of Start* by General Jiisoret, the Communist Minister of Wap. He next acted for about four days as Presi dent of (he Military Court, a body charged wdn the trial of persons disaffected toward uic Cotnnnine, and then was named Min cer of Mar. In this latter capacity he showed great zeal and activity; and, while other leaders wero ready to betray their associates, Kossel remained faithful. Ills services, however, did not secure him iiom the displeasure of the licklo Comnmnistantliorines, for, on the lotli of April, a decree was issued, again placing him uuder arrest. lie inaniigci], with Jiis former good fortune, to escape, and remained in se eimty until .lane T, when, after the fall of Pans, he was captured by the government authorities. At the tune of his arrest, Itossel was dis guised as au overset-ref I ho Eastern Kailroad and had even provided himself a letter froal an olheer of the company, introducing him to another olhcial. Ho was tried on the charge of desertion, and for complicity in the arts of the Commune. During his trial he behaved with great, dignity, and heard tho sentence of death pronounced with out. betraying the least emotion. Owing 10 some informality, the seu leiico was annulled, and ho asgranled a now* trial, which also resulted in ins con viction. He hoard his snutence of death pronounced against him with the same jinniicsa as before. In the interval durimr his imprisonment he wrote a work on tlm reorganization of tho French army, which was pronounced a very able treatise. Great sympathy was expressed for Kassel, and very earnest appeals ware made for his pardon especially from Metz. wlmto he was very Ijopnlar. 1 he rench residents in the United Mates were particularly active in preparing petitions, ami sending telegrams in advance to 1 resident liners. The Franco .Ucswocr Aiiurnaiii of this city day after day con tained long lists of names sent on to be added to the petition for Russel's pardon. Tltcopilc Charles Ferre. Theopilc Charles Torre, wbo was shoe vea torday with the other Communists at Ver sailles, was only in his 2.» th vear. During the closing years of tho Imperial Govern ment he was known as an anient Republi can, aiul was conspicuous in ISG3 at the Dau din demonstration. lie was elected in March last u member o£ tho Commune of the Eigh teenth Arrondis.scment, ami also a member of the Committee of Public Safety. It is alleged that ho was present at the sununary trial of General Lccomte, and loudly demanded the General’s execution. In May ho was appointed Pro curator of the Commune, in which capacitv ho ellected several arrests, and carried out arbitrary sentences. Hewasnext appointed a delegate to the Prefecture of Police, and as such, suppressed numerous journals, ami signed the death sentence of many persons, lie was, it is also alleged, concerned inset ting lire to tho Police Headquarters, and went to La Kuquotto Prison to order the execution of the hostages. Ho also caused prisoners to be released, who. when sup plied bv him with arms ami ammunition, massacred many persons imprisoned bv the Commune, including tiO gendarmes. Terre was placed upon trial under the following indictment: 1. For having participated as a member of the Commune in a plot to over turn (bo government. *J. For destroying and ordering to bo destroyed several public buildings. For having provoked and order ed the assassination of the hostages. 4. For having usurped public functions. 5. For ordering arbitrary arrests. He was found guilty by the Military Commission and sen tenced to death. Web* of Woven Air.” The marvellous delicacy of touch possess ed by flio Indian women (says an English writer) counterbalances the inferiority of In dian cotton in weaving the line and delicate muslins to which the names of Webs of Wo ven Air, Dew of Niglit.lvunning Waters, &c., arc given by tho natives. They now use the spinning wheel generally for the ordinary fabrics, but “the spindle still holds its place in the hands of the Hindoo woman when em- loyed in spinning thread for the liner mus- iiiis. For these the Hindoo woman lirst cards her cotton with the jawbone of the loahe fish; she then separates the seeds hy means of a small iron roller, worked back wards ami forwards upon a Hat board. An equally small bow is used for bringing it to the state of a downy ilceec, which is made up intosiuall rolls, to he held in the hand dur ing the process of spinning. Tho aparatns rcqniredfor this consists of a delicato iron spindle, having a small ball of clay attached to it in order to give it a sufficient weight in turning, and imbedded in a little clay there is a piece of hard shell, on which thußjnu dln turns with the least degree of friction.” Very great attention is paid to tho temper ature of the air during the process oftepin ning, and the spinners in tho dry climate of tho northwest of India actually work under ground to secure a moist and uniform atmos sphere. The cheapness of English manufac tured goods seems to have greatly depressed the cotton fabrics of India, but the line mus- ins of f iic latter country yet maintain undis puted celebrity, and arc valued as highly as ever. Tho Dacca muslins are the very tiuest of all. One of tho best pieces which found its way to England was ten yards long by one yard wide: weighed only three ounces, two pennyweights, and could bo passed through a very small ring. FiOUR. PLANT'S EXTRA.' As some retail grocers are charging exorbitant prices for PEAA'T'S EXTRA" EE OUR, we will hereafter fill orders, from FJUtIS EJTES, at SO, delivered to any part of the city. Price to the trade $lO. A. M. WRIGHT st CO., Exclusive Agents, Southwest center Canal and Lakc-sta. FOR SAXiE. 03L.X> NEWSPAPERS FOB SALE AT Tribune ©Hee, 15 South Canal-st. CHICAGO RELIEF MS ISICIETY. The Campbell Priating Press Generously donated by the inventor to bo sold for the relief ot the sufferers by the late lire, is now up and In operation at Messrs. HORTON LEONARD'S es tablishment. No. 10 Kouni J kpteijson-st. All inter csted ar«» invited to call and examine its workings For terms of sale apply to N. K. PAIKRANK, at Standard Hall, comer Miclugan.av.aud Ttdrteenth-at., between 2 and 4 p. ni. SASH, DOOES AND BLINDS. A full assortment. Dressed Flooring and Siding lonmchly seasoned, at low. prices for cash—also uw i shingles,—at Kt’KAKIN'S Kill, S2l and 320 State* insurants Apcy, GEO. C. CLARKE GO., PBITCrPJt OFFICE, i\o. 10 Eldridge-court. BJJ.WCXr OFFICE, No. 65 W. WasMagton-st, insurance Agency Risks taken in the folloicing Reliable Companies: IANUFAGTDBEBS’ KSUMNCE COMFY,of Boston, OItGA.M/.ED 1522. Assets, afierpajing all losses, inclndlng these of the Chltago Fire, $1,130,000. ion IjS t S. COMT, of Columbus, 0, HTfIWESTEI MTIfINAI IYS. COMT, of Milwaukee. lOFPIIN FERE INS. COMT, of Jfew York, HIM IMIMNGB. Merchants requiring insur ance on the Mississippi or Mis souri Pavers, can obtain certifi cate at the Marine and Fire In surance Agency of GEO.C.CLARKE&CO OFFICES, .Vos. lO Eldridge-court and SS IP. n'tfshhigton-st. MTM insurance Company, OF HARTFORD, CONN. Organized J3. Si. 1819. Losses paid In fifty-two years Over s29,ooo,ooo—Exclusive of Late Chicago Losses. Cash Capital, $3,000,000, With an ample re-insurancofund after Paying Chicago Losses. Assets Over $4,500,000! This well-known and reliable Com pany, which has stood the tests of over half a century, will continue Issu ing NEW POLICIES and RENEWING OLD ONES at current rates. (Mill PISCO, Affiffl, Office, 585 Wabash-av., 43 South Canal-st,, Adjusting: Offices 750 Wabash-av,, ip to Saturday, ffotexaber IS, 1871, 1,201 claims had been paid, amounting to $2,327.* GOO.OO. 9 The First in the Field.” THE HOME OB’ Columbus, Ohio. Cash Capital, $500,000.00 Cash assets, Not. 1, 1871 995,479.12 liabilities, includ ing Chicago losses, 353,479.12 Was the first Company to notify policy holders in Chicago that claims would he paid in mil. The losses of the Company by the Chieago lire are being adjusted and paid as rapidly as possible. Business solicited at fair rates. Adjusting Office for Chicago, Mo. 17 ESdridge-court Agents of the Company visiting the city are requested to call. JACOB PEETBEY, Een’l Agent. Geo. C. Clarke Co., local agents, 10 Eldridge-court. Globe Ins. Company, OS’ C mOACAO. ADJUSTING OFFICE, ROOM 1, NO. 63 CANAL-ST. 11. F. WALKER, President. lEFIIIC liliCi CO. Parties having settled at 25 cents will he prof ited by addressing E. G. M., Tribune office. EQUITABLE INSURANCE CO., CHICAGO. All parlies that suffered loss aud insured in this com paiiy are requested to present their proofs of loss as toon as possible. Parlies holding policies who did nut puffer .<>s:i arc requested to present the same for can* cellatiou. JAMF.S LONG. Receiver, Room l, 15 South Caual-st. BUSINESS CARDS. MORSE, WARD CO,, COMMISSION MERCHANTS, Mo. 227 East Washington-at. Advances mode on consignments ol Grain. Provi sions, and Dressed Hogs, for sale in tills market. Property bought ana sold on margins. REFER BY PERMISSION TO FIRST NATIONAL BANK. Chicago. UNION NATIONAL BANK, Chicago. FLINT. THOMPSON CO.. Chicago. REID, MURDOCH FISCHER. Chicago. GEO. TL. CIARKB, Of the firm of IL Floyd (Faulkner Geo. R. Clarke, Architects, Boston, Mass., has opened an office. NO. S4G WABASU-AV., Where he is prepared to famish Plans, Specifications, and superintendence for any buildings which maybe entrusted to Ms care. He can. bv the connection with Ids Eastern office, ofTer great facilities for the prepara tion of Plans, itc., and, by permission, would refer to the following gentlemen of this city: Messrs, Goo. p. Gore Co Mr. Hale, of Messrs. Hamlin. Halo Co.: Dr. L. D. Boone: Rev. Robert Collyen Thomas Lord,of Messrs. Lord «fc Smith; C. B. Kirtlaud. of Messrs. Weage, Kirllnnd Ordway;Messrs. Clallinßrothers; John Dekoven, and others. mnv mss, S*.@INTS tSNJP OIZS, FA&S&jSFBAGITE, 306 and 308 Wabash-av. SA&E BEOS. CO. WHOL2SAXB muiLenert. 061 Imliann-av., between Twentieth and Twemy-GrMt-Ht*. C.S.RMKM&CO, WlteM 111 Wots, CINCINNATI, Manufacture Store Frouta, Doors and Shutters, Jail Work, Glass Pavements, Grates, Mantels, Railings, and all Iron Work used in the erection of bnii.nnpi WAUL BROTHERS Are now permanently located nt 129 Michigan-av. where they are in full suppli* of all grades of GLUE ASD SEATSFOOT OIL. Cash for Glue stock. Colwell, Clark Co., ■tuns i mis OTTAWA. ILLINOIS. Haring an extensive Planing. Sash, Door, and Blind Factory in active operation, where are employed 100 men. and with a heavy stock of seasoned Lumber on hand, wo are prepared to do contract work iuCliicago with despatch; will take contracts, including mason ry. Wo invito correspondence from parties desiring to huild. COLWELL. CLARK «fc cd. JYOSS. TUWESTEIUV Horse Rlail Company, r&l A VEST VAN BUEEN-ST. Wo take pleasure in advising the trade that we are again In complete running order. We shall run night ami day. ana shall exert ourselves to fill orders with all poaslh.e despatch. No change in prices. A. W. KINGSLAND, Seo’y. EAGLE IRON FOUNDRY, (Established in 13-10,) SAMUEL J. CRESWELL, Jr., 812, SM, SIC, and Btß Bace-st., PHILADELPHIA, Iron Fronts, Stairs, Girders, Lintels, Columns, etc., etc. Light and heavy Water Pipes, Sinks, etc. Fire Doors, Bats, and Bakers’ Oven Castings, etc. Old castings of all descriptions. TOTS, Vergho, Buhling Co.’s Retail Store, 934 State-st. 2>K. W. Si’. BVPORSPS Office is removed to 755 Wabsasla-av., CORNER SIXTEENTH-ST. Geo. R. TJoyes Messinger, 441 and 443 Lake-st, Paiier Flour Sacks, Plain and Printed Wrapping Papers. E. Sweet:, JJr. Co., Civil Engineers and Contractors, 99 S. Clinton-st., Chicago. Contractors for railroad, dock and bridge building. A. F. OTTO, Watchmaker Jeweller, No. 201 Fifth-gv. Residence, 75 Abcrdeen-st. DE. W. C. HUNT, OiSce, 318 West Hadlson-st. Residence. C 57 West Monroe-st. HOXEI*S. St. James Hotel, LOCATED Corner Clark and Polk-sts. Containing I§o Booms. The Largest and Best Furnished Hotel in the West. El. A. LORITG, late Hattcson House) WILLIS HOW£ f Late St. James Hotel) Will be pleased to see their old friends. Ante busses for the NEW ST. JAMES. Clifton House, NORTHWEST CORNER OE mill aid mmm W. A. JENKINS, Proprietor. H. F. KITTREUGE. CIGARS. HAVANA CIGARS. The undersigned are receiving by weekly steamer a fnll assortment of tbo moat desirable brands of Havana Cigars. Their stock is largo and thoroughly assorted, enabling them at all times to fill orders promptly, -with the freshest and most desirable goods, and at the low est prices. Price lists will be forwarded on applica tion. The following brands aro among those which they receive regularly: La Rosa da Santiago, Partagas, La AntJ/mt-dad. Oubssas. Flordel Kumar, Figaro. Flor do.'Laro. Espanola, 0. Gonzalez. Henry Clay. AgnlladeOro, Ingen ai dad. Charm ca. Intlmidad. Upmaun. Rosalia. Oftrgncra, LaKo»erva, Aclaracien. Agnlla Univo/saL Legitimidad. Kucepcion. Marias, Meridinoa. paes u’ssroßD, 921 and 923 Broadway. Now York. Aug. 1 Ifi7l. FROPOSAXS, Treasury ©epaitoient Office of the Light-House Board WAimiXGTOX, Now. 27.1971. Sealed proposals will bo received at this office until 1 o’clock p. m., on Monday, the StU day of January, 1572, /or supplying ninoty-onc thousand gallons of tho best quality winter-strained, pmo Sperm, Colza or Lard oil, lor tho United States Light-House Service, according to the specifications bearing date as above, copies of which maybe had on application to tho Light-House Board, to the Llght-Houso Inspector, No. 1G Broadway, New York, tho Light-House Inspector at No. H Pem berton Square. Boston, and the Ligfit-Hooso Inspector at Detroit, Zilch. JOSEPH HENRY, SCAI*ES. t y0 vaults, &a, of ROBINSON SON., as East Madlson-at. TO DENTISTS. H. D. JUSTI’S Denttd Depot Is now located at 2:; v\ est Mailison-at. between Sangamon and Morgan where can bo found a lull aud complete stock. A. A. BARNES, Manager. SSIOW CASES. Tlircu new patents! designs, superior to all otters. tX-, 11 maaulacturer. 111 NorthJFonrt.h.Bt.. Philadelphia. HEW PUBLICATIONS. -views FLORAL GUIDE FOR 1872. Over 100 pages—printed in two colors, on superb Tinted Paper* Four Hundred Engrav ings of Flowers, Plants, and Vegetables, with Descriptions, and two Colored Plates. Direc tions and plans for making Walks, Dawns, Gardens, &c. Tho handsomest and best Floral Guide in the World. All for 10 cents, to those who think of buying Seeds. Not a quarter of the cost. 200,000 sold in 1871, Address JAhEES VZcj£. Bochester. N. V. INSURANCE. STATE ISSCBAIE HPAE limited number of Policies wanted tills week fop C***- SIIUF.ELDT HALL. __ 2> West Madison-st. IPlllt fflililE (9, Four, eight, and twelvo-montU adjustment] certifi, cates. Will pay highest cash price for one oc aiL P- K. TENNEY, Wabash-av. REPUBIIO liIAKE MPAM. I ■will buy tho claims o£ i.artics having settled at 25 cents. H. D. STILES. 521 tVabash-aT. PROOFS OFIiOSS Made and claims collected Claims against Chicago companies prepared at veiy low prices. J. E. JOHNSON. Notary Public, FURS. "TiEM “HIT' 15 ECRS l" Gay’s Patent Muff. _ *s a ll 3C(? before purchasing ronr Furs. I havo a full lire of all kinds of Kura that I am celling at manufacturer*’ cost, at my CHEAP AUCTION STORK. C 2 West Madsou st. S. P. HAWLEY. MEDICAIi CARDS Br. A. d. Oita, Tlic longest engaged and most successful physician ia all Chronic and Special Diseases (formerly 102 Wash- Ingtou-sM. ia now ccmfidruUa’.ly consulted, personally* or by mail. utZCi Stains:., Chicago, 18. SuaJdtami* torcizcular. 3