USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume II > Part 50
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
513
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
a million people upon the same money that sustained 450,000. As to our bankruptcy, no county in the world with an equal number of inhabitants has so small an indebtedness as the county of Cook, and with all the efforts of the press and other interested parties to injure her credit, her 4 per cent bonds are worth 41/2 per cent premium today. No county in the world has so much to show for its indebted- ness as Cook county. No newspaper has yet told the public that the present County Board paid $460,000 of county bonds last year and reduced the interest $50,000 per year, yet such was the case. What will the honest taxpayers and citizens of Cook county say when they realize these facts as presented to them today? What would these miscreants have us do in order that they may continue their schemes of robbery undisturbed?" But this flourish was neither true nor believed by the people. The writer skilfully concealed the facts and tried to hoodwink the public. It remained for the next board to un- cover the corruption and crime.
At the December session of the new board in 1886 Commissioner Klehm was reelected president for the coming year. The new board had only about $25,479 in sight to maintain the county government and its institutions until September 1, 1887. The president said, "No County Board in Cook county ever organized with such finan- cial embarrassments as will be experienced by the board the coming year. True, there was a time some nine years ago when the county treasurer was not able to pay county orders promptly when they were presented, but that was at the so-called 'tax-fighting period.' War- rants on the treasury, notes and judgments left to be paid this year are already issued to the extent of 75 per cent of the entire estimated county revenue."
The total revenue for the fiscal year ending September 1, 1887, amounted to $1,501,265. In December, 1886, the obligations already due against this revenue amounted to $1,475,786. In addition there . were other obligations amounting to nearly $100,000. Mr. Klehm said, "The County Board is charged with having brought about this state of affairs. Every year without exception since the Board of Commissioners succeeded the Board of Supervisors fifteen years ago its members were made a target for the attacking batteries of the press. The County Board may have been careless and extravagant at times, but the responsibility does not rest on the County Board alone." Among the causes assigned by Mr. Klehm were the fol- lowing: The inefficient manner of making assessments; the county was unfairly required to support certain institutions, the care of which properly belonged to the city of Chicago, and an increase in jury fees by the last Legislature.
On March 31, 1887, the grand jury returned indictments against the following county commissioners : George C. Klehm, Chris Geils, R: S. McLaughry, Chris Casselman, R. M. Oliver, Daniel J. Wren, J. J. McCarthy, F. A. McDonald, and against the following ex-
514
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
county commissioners : R. M. Leyden, John Hannigan, Adam Ochs, C. T. Lynn, John E. Van Pelt, Michael Wasserman, Patrick McCar- thy ; also against W. J. McGarigle, warden of the hospital; Harry Varnell, warden of the insane asylum; Charles L. Frey, warden of the infirmary; and against fourteen contractors and other business inen involved in the frauds of the County Board. The charge in most of the indictments was conspiracy, and nearly all of the com- missioners and ex-commissioners were likewise indicted for bribery.
In December, 1887, President-Aldrich in his final address said, "The work of the board of 1887 is finished. The proceedings of this body for the past three months have been conducted in a manner which cannot be understood by the public. The details of the history of the preceding months are on record in the Criminal courts of this county. As I recall the events of this most eventful year, I am well nigh impressed with the conviction that nearly every month has marked a tragedy, so constant and overwhelming have been the de- velopments and punishments of crime." The previous board, thor- oughly corrupt, adroitly managed and manipulated, was whitewashed by the presiding officer at the close of the year. The lying statements made by that retiring officer were held up to the severest criticism and ridicule. The new members of 1887, though in the minority in the fight for reform, succeeded in accomplishing revelations of cor- ruption which astounded the whole county and country. All reform steps were ridiculed, misrepresented and opposed by the majority of robbers on the County Board. An attempt to revise the rules was promptly defeated. An effort to secure an inventory of county property was likewise tauntingly crushed, and an attempt to appoint a purchasing agent and controller was derided, hooted and voted down. The determined minority then adopted better tactics. From information furnished, mostly by Daniel D. Healy, they secured from the county attorney an opinion that all outstanding warrants were illegal and that all indebtedness incurred prior to the current fiscal year was not payable from the taxes of that year. This opinion enabled them to secure a reference to the finance committee of bills representing the indebtedness of the county. As the finance commit- tee was then luckily a reform one, these bills were thoroughly inspect- ed. This was the first bad blood shed. While this movement was going on the State's attorney and his able staff accumulated a chain of evidence which was to fasten securely the guilt in this great conspira- cy upon the proper culprits. When this fact became known the rag- ged and rotten lines of the guilty parties began to weaken. Soon the wardens of the insane asylum and poorhouse were decapitated and these institutions were thoroughly investigated, with the result that extravagant management and graft were shown to exist there. Next the reformers took up the question of extravagant salary lists and succeeded in saving fully $100,000. It required relentless and radical measures to accomplish this reform. Outdoor relief for the summer
-
-
515
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
months was abolished. This department had afforded the conspira- tors a highly prized and fruitful opportunity for graft, extravagance and theft. The janitor contract stealing was revealed and uprooted. All was now confusion. The thieves in terror were shaking in the shoes bought with the people's money. The coffers of the county had been drained and a million or more of floating indebtedness was the legacy of successors.
The mayor said, "Mismanagement was deeply rooted in nearly all departments of the government. Demoralization was everywhere. The empty whereases and resolutions spread all over the record books for years past were all that could be found in explanation of this chaos. The good ideas therein were consigned to easy death among our already overburdened archives. Our county was upon the verge of bankruptcy and radical measures had to be adopted. All bills were closely scrutinized, contractors were summoned before the finance committee and subjected to a searching cross-examination. Developments led to an examination of old bills already audited but not paid. Nearly a million and a half of these old accounts were personally examined by that committee and the result justified our suspicions. An embargo was at once placed upon everything, and thus, though in the minority, we defeated the efforts of the majority in this direction. That we were met with and endured insults, deri- sion and rebuffs of these plunderers on every side is a matter of pub- lic record. We were decried as reformers, but reformers only in name, and like themselves had our price. If they were to be believed, we were anxious to get into the ring. Temptations were held up to some of our number, then threats were made, and when false argu- ments and boodle reasoning failed vituperation of the most virulent character was resorted to. A bitter struggle ensued, waged on one side by a determined and dignified minority bent upon regaining the county from the toils of a band of cutthroats who were arrayed on the other. The evidence which was accumulating against the wrong- doers soon became so overwhelming that crafty tradesmen began to realize, despite assurances from the old commissioners, that all was not well with them. Supported and stimulated by the gang, they re- sisted for a time the searching examination of the finance committee and the county attorney, but by degrees they told the truth and were turned over to the tender care of the latter, to whom one by one they gradually gave way and reluctantly admitted their guilt and crimi- nated their confederates, the members of the once powerful ring in the County Board. That ring had been broken and its members stood at the door of the county jail. The plundering of Cook county had been done mainly in the name of 'public charity' and in the guise of 'needed improvements' and in the interests of 'education.' Com- missioners had bad habits and indulged them to their heart's content, always, of course, at the people's expense. Schemes without number and of every nature, schemes to gravel roads and level hills ; schemes
516
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
to despoil and rebuild public buildings; schemes to preserve the stone and brick in the same ; schemes for steam pipe and for covering the same ; large water pipes were found at our county hospital coated with patent steam pipe covering-anything to make business that would pay the usual commissions. Commissioners would grow elo- quent in depicting the sufferings of the poor and the hardships of the sick and at the same instant mentally calculate the 'divide' in the schemes they were advocating for the alleviation of this distress. Our famous institutions with their silk-hosed wardens had degener- ated into mammoth collection agencies where contractors and mer- chants were corrupt, and where the members of this board were seen to congregate to receive their share of the spoils and to indulge in wild midnight orgies." And so Mr. Aldrich continues with col- umn after column of revelations and denunciations.
It was shown that the previous board had issued bills to the amount of $572,785 more than the bills audited by the board of 1887. Twenty-five per cent was added to bills to meet the demands of graft. The total appropriation for county purposes, $1,432,500; warrants drawn to date against the various funds, $1,272,284; total indebtedness which the new issue of bonds was to provide for, $984,- 352. Mr. Aldrich paid high compliment to the assistance given by the county attorney, his assistants and the clerks of departments. The plot and conspiracy would not have been revealed had it not been for their efforts. The Department of Public Service had accom- plished wonders during the past year in ferreting out the work of the conspirators. The committee clerk of the board was praised for the invaluable service he had rendered. "He stood alone at his post and battled for the right in the face of threats of personal injury, and as an official who fully comprehends the duties of his position he is un- excelled. The same is true of the jury clerk and his assistants. The county physician and the county agent likewise rendered great assist- ance. The chairman of the finance committee was particularly active in revealing the conspiracy," said the mayor.
In 1888 the total debt of the county amounted to $5,483,500, with an annual interest of $294,882. In 1893 the debt was $4,558,500, with annual interest of $190,932. This was such a notable im- provement as to attract attention.
On December 3, 1888, President Senne stated that the liabilities of the county were as follows: Old liabilities amounted to $2,294,- 500; also $250,000 in bonds issued in 1869 paid for the erection of the east wing of the old courthouse destroyed in 1871, which amount would have to be met on May 1, 1889; half of it was levied in 1888 and the other half in 1889; the new indebtedness, consisting of bonds issued by authority of the Legislature in 1872 and known as fire bonds, amounting to $1,439,000. The actual amount of the new indebtedness less sinking fund accumulated was $1,325,783. In addition there was the 5 per cent courthouse bonds issued in 1879
I
New Shore Line
Accretions
Pier
Old Shore Line
Showing land Accretions at the Mouth of Chicago River and along Shore. Captain J. Allen, 1837.
N A
Pier
1
1
1
New Bar
1
Old Shore Line
519
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
to the amount of $750,000; also $1,000,000 in bonds authorized in 1887 to be issued to complete the courthouse. The grand-extra grand-total of new indebtedness at this date amounted to $3,077,- 783.
It was now contemplated to build a detention hospital to relieve the overcrowded condition of the insane asylum and poorhouse, and to make an improvement in the sewerage system of the grounds sur- rounding the institutions at Dunning. . The total resources for the fis- cal year 1888-89 were $1,621,814. There was considerable perplex- ity at this time, owing to the methods adopted to pay expenses from the assessment of another period. The law provided that the appro- priations for the expenditures of any year should be made during the first quarter of that year. The tax levy by which to realize the money to cover these appropriations was made on the assessments of that year, but this procedure required a credit system of at least one year on an average and was therefore seriously objectionable. The law also provided that at the close of each fiscal year there be placed to the credit of the general fund all unexpended appropria- tions for such year. Orders could not be drawn against the general fund, because a legal tax levy could not be made unless a liability existed at the time of making the tax levy. If the money for the expenditures of 1889, for instance, should be paid directly out of the general fund no liability would exist and no tax levy could be legally made. The money therefore was borrowed from the general fund and from time to time returned to the several funds. This was done as soon as the taxes were collected and received by the treasurer. It was a roundabout way of doing business and was considered dan- gerous, but it was the best that could be done under the existing law. On November 30, 1889, President Senne said that the laws under which the board had operated during 1888 and 1889 gave consider- able power to the Board of Commissioners. The board had authority to levy taxes and to expend the same; and the amount to be levied and thus expended was not uncertain and could be ascertained each year in advance, because it was based on the equalized valuation of all the property in the county of the previous year and was divided into two parts : First, a tax levy not to exceed $1 on the $100 valua- tion could be made for the payment of principal and interest on the indebtedness of the county created prior to August 8, 1870; second, a tax levy not to exceed 75 cents on each $100 valuation could be made to pay principal and interest of the indebtedness of the county created after August 8, 1870. This rendered certain in advance the amount to be expended each year. It was therefore within the prov- ince of the board so to manage financial affairs that a balance would be left over at the end of each fiscal year. From 1873 to 1877 the full levy of 75 cents on the $100 valuation was not levied because the population of the county was small and the assessments were high. On December 1, 1877, the beginning of the fiscal year, there
Vol. II-30.
-
520
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
was a deficiency consisting of outstanding orders and temporary loans amounting to $548,000. After December 1, 1877, with the single exception of the year 1881, the full amount, 75 cents on the $100 valuation, was levied. The reason why the levy was not made in 1881 was because on the first of December, 1880, there was a bal- ance on hand to the credit of the general fund of $583,000 in round numbers, so the levy was unnecessary. The date of the fiscal year of the county did not correspond with the date of the official year of the county. The latter in 1889 and before was the first Monday in December of each year. The former was held to be the first day in December of each year. The former was held to be the first Monday in December up to 1877. From that time until 1887 it was held to be the first Monday in September each year. From the first day of January, 1888, it was made by law to be the first day of Jan- uary each year. On the first day of September, 1882, there was a balance to the credit of the general fund of $394,706, and from that date until September 1, 1887, there were five tax levies, but each year there was a steady encroachment upon the balance left to the credit of the general fund until on September 1, 1887, the deficiency thus created amounted to about $1,250,000. The board of 1888 author- ized the issue of $1,000,000 in bonds with which to meet this defi- ciency. It was therefore concluded, owing to the fact that for twenty years this indebtedness would hang over the county and require the outlay of a large sum for interest, that the management of county affairs from September, 1882, to September, 1887 would cost the county taxpayers, in addition to the five tax levies, a total of $2,064,- 706.
At this date the insane asylum was overcrowded and the condition would certainly become worse unless an immediate provision for additional room should be made. The number of inmates at the in- sane asylum and poorhouse was 2,230, but during the winter months increased to about 2,500. It was suggested at this time that the two institutions should be managed by one head, owing to their prox- imity. It was also suggested at this date that a building for the curable insane should be built. The county was in a condition finan- cially now to construct and maintain such an institution. It was shown that whenever proper economy was used in county affairs invariably a balance was on hand at the end of the fiscal year.
On December 7, 1891, John M. Green, who had just been elected president, took his seat and delivered his first address to the County Board. He stated that there was urgently needed at this date hos- pital facilities for persons suffering from contagious diseases. It had become the opinion of many people that the several county insti- tutions at Dunning, particularly the insane asylum, infirmary and county farm, should be placed under one executive head. The board at this time concurred in this view. The county building was too cramped and small and needed enlargement by the construction of
521
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
several additional stories. The Criminal court and jail building were in bad sanitary condition. The county agent's office needed atten- tion and improvement. The so-called boodle cases were pending and would have to be prosecuted to a finality. It was believed by the board that in the past heads of departments had been too independent of control and had exceeded their authority to the detriment of the public service. Economy and strict accountability were now required owing to the fact that the appropriations, dollar for dollar, had been made to cover actual conditions, and the amount to be expended was thus definitely known. The county hospital appropriation was ex- hausted by about the first of December and that institution would probably require from $15,000 to $20,000 in addition to live out the year. There were deficiencies also in other county institutions, so that it was estimated that every dollar saved from other appropria- tions would be required to meet such aggregate deficiency. In May, 1892, there would fall due $1,483,000 in 7 per cent fire bonds. This obligation would have to be met. It was at this date proposed to sub- mit to the people at the fall election in 1891 the question of voting this amount of refunding bonds to take the place of the old fire bonds. This proposition was submitted in November, 1891, and the return showed that the people favored the issue.
In February, 1892, the committee on public service made the fol- lowing recommendations : That the plans for plumbing in the north half of the courthouse should be approved ; that the county morgue on the hospital grounds should be placed in charge of the coroner as general custodian; that the hospital committee, in conjunction with the coroner, should prepare rules governing the morgue; that for services returned there should be paid $8,000 to the Chicago In- dustrial School for Girls, $12,000 to the Illinois Industrial School for Girls, $12,500 to the Illinois Training School for Boys ; $12,500 to St. Mary's Training school; that judges from outside of Cook county who might hold court here under the request of Judge Scales should be allowed $10 per day each; that the superintendent of pub- lic service should insure the furniture in the Detention hospital ; that the list of petit jurors be approved; that hereafter no delirium tre- mens patients should be received at the county hospital, and only at the Detention hospital when injured.
During 1889 the right of the county treasurer to pocket the interest on county moneys deposited in banks was questioned. It was claimed that the county treasurer withheld from the city of Chicago funds long after they were due in order that he might draw interest on the same from banks where it was deposited. An investigation showed that he thus withheld large sums for a short period and had drawn interest to a large amount on the same.
At the close of 1891 the total bonded indebtedness of the county amounted to $4,558,500. The appropriations for county purposes in 1892 amounted to $1,902,071. The estimated expenses amounted to
522
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
$1,658,500. The total assessed valuation of the county as shown by the rolls of the various town assessors amounted to $171,811,704 real property, $30,407,189 personal property, and $1,465,000 rail- road property.
At the end of 1891 there was levied a total tax for 1892 of $2,105,- 530. On December 3, 1892, it was reported that the county institu- tions at Dunning had been placed under one management and that great economy and greater efficiency resulted from this arrangement. A county storehouse was built during 1892 at Dunning. The insti- tutions were well conducted and the superintendent in charge was complimented for his management of the institutions. It was shown that in 1891 those institutions had cost a total of $244,643 for sup- plies, and that in 1892 under the new head they had cost only $207,- 156 for supplies. During the year the hospital was overcrowded and additional wards had been improvised for emergency cases. Many of the wards were supplied with additional beds and cots. The upper wards were converted into a special department for con- tagious diseases. In 1891 it required 162,918 to maintain the hos- pital, while in 1892 it required only $123,504 for the same purpose. It was reported at this time that the Detention hospital and morgue were model institutions and a credit to the officers in charge and to the county. They filled a long-felt want. The county agent's office was reported to have been well conducted during 1892. It was be- lieved that that office had done the most good to the greatest number at less expense than ever before. There was reported a saving in 1892 in this office of about $25,000. During 1892, instead of adding additional stories to the courthouse, it was determined to erect a new Criminal court building on the North Side. At the end of the year the building was well advanced. During the year the $1,350,000 in 7 per cent war bonds had been refunded at 4 per cent.
At this date the office of superintendent of public service was con- sidered one of the most important in the county. All supplies were thoroughly inspected under perfect system, with the result that bet- ter quality and cheaper prices were secured. Previously contractors by the score took advantage of slack methods to furnish poor supplies and short weights and measures. The system of inspection now in use almost wholly prevented such a condition of affairs. The sher- iff's dieting bills and the work of the county treasurer did not prove altogether satisfactory either to the citizens or the County Board. Improvement in those departments was demanded. It was clear to the people that the county treasurer had not only neglected the duties of his office but had deliberately violated the law. It was shown that for months at a time he had retained millions of dollars due to the various municipalities, particularly the city of Chicago. This practice had occasioned serious annoyance and loss.
On December 5, 1892, George Edmanson, new president of the County Board, urged upon the commissioners the necessity of paying
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.