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 54
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550
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
In the meantime it was necessary to secure temporary quarters for the various county offices. Room in different locations with offices widely separated was secured, but it was the best course that could be pursued and proved no serious hardship.
During the year 1905 a new building to serve both as courthouse and detention home was projected and commenced. Great improve- ment in the management of the courts was made. A return to the individual calendar system of the Superior court resulted in the more rapid accomplishment of work and in the gradual reduction of accu- mulated cases. The same progress was not made in the Circuit court, which refused to change its system. Amendments to the Civil Service law effected many improvements in the details of managing and successfully conducting the various county departments and in- stitutions. One effect of the amendment was to give all employes the right of appeal to the Civil Service commission. Full provision for the investigation of all cases deserving the same was made. The law also made the appointment of probation officers a county func- tion.
During 1905 the financial problem still seriously confronted the County Board. Before any relief could be expected it was necessary for the people of the county to understand the true condition of af- airs. The Merchants' club of Chicago did much. to explain to the people the necessity of improved revenue laws. A law fixing a min- imum of 65 cents below which the county rate could not go was se- cured as an amendment to the Juul law. This amendment would supply the county annually thereafter with about $500,000 additional revenue. It was believed that this sum would liquidate the annual deficit, but it did not provide for the liquidation of the floating in- debtedness in existence, amounting to nearly $1,000,000. Another law secured was an increase of the fees in the offices of the recorder, county clerk and attorney, the addition amounting annually to about $100,000. An emergency liability requiring a special appropriation of $105,150 was created during the year at the time of the teamsters' strike. During the year the payment of probation officers and the expense of publishing annually a statement of real and personal assessments were placed as additional burdens upon the county. Thus as a whole the year saw considerable improvement in the reve- nue receipts to be secured annually thereafter for the expenses of the county. Several very important bills greatly desired by the County Board and by many citizens failed to pass the Legislature.
The charity service throughout the county during 1905 was exten- sive and was wisely and ably managed. The county hospital service was improved in several very important particulars, especially in the new wards and departments. The county agent, to whom was re- cently assigned certain charity services, made a satisfactory report. . He furnished outdoor relief to 7,713 persons. The institutions at Dunning were carefully and judiciously managed and the result
551
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
was a most satisfactory advancement at the end of the year. Many improvements were introduced and reforms instituted. During the year fourteen book typewriters were installed in the recorder's office. This system at the close of the year showed a considerable saving. The State's attorney's office, which for some time had needed atten- tion, was considerably expanded and improved, placing that official in better position than ever before to conduct promptly and satisfac- torily the important affairs of this office.
In his annual message of December 3, 1906, President Brundage said it was still his opinion that too much care and attention could scarcely be given to the charity work of the county. During the pre- ceding two years many improvements in the physical conditions and professional services at the county institutions were introduced. In many instances entirely new and up-to-date equipments were estab- lished with most excellent results. At this date the County Board planned the development and improvement of the scientific side of the work at county institutions. It was proposed first to increase the efficiency of the pathological service. An expert pathologist was necessary in order to carry out this important step. There was planned a new morgue and a new pathological laboratory. Wide investigation was made with the result that the plan was found to be not only thoroughly practicable, but up-to-date and highly serv- iceable. A permanent X-ray department, to be a branch of the sci- entific system proposed, was favored. It was further advocated that non-professional employes should be required to live outside of the hospital. A psycho-pathologist for the institutions at Dunning was also proposed. Modern apparatus for treating the insane was in- stalled at the County Insane asylum. Special study of this impor- tant subject by experts in the interest of the county was made. Other similar institutions throughout the world were visited and other systems and methods were thoroughly inspected and studied with the result that there was projected in Cook county one of the most important departures for the treatment of unfortunates ever un- dertaken in the history of the county. Scores of important details were laboriously, patiently and successfully put in operation. Alco- holic patients were duly considered; new buildings for consumptives were projected and created; a new location for the county infirmary was proposed and urged. It was strongly insisted that the insane hospital should become a state institution. An important improve- ment in the conditions surrounding all employes in the county insti- tutions was made.
During the year a permanent home for the Juvenile court was projected. The building was designed to cost $125,000, to accom- modate about 130 children and to contain a court for the trial of Juvenile cases. It was shown that hundreds of families deserted by the husband and father had to be supported necessarily by the coun- ty. A workhouse was recommended as a necessity. Amendments
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
to the jury laws were suggested. In many instances weeks were consumed in securing juries to try trivial cases. A way of simpli- fying the method of selecting jurymen was devised. A still more rigorous enforcement of the Civil Service law in every branch of the county government was urged at this date. One of the greatest iin- provements in all departments of the county service was the intro- duction of new, simple, accurate and satisfactory official statements. The abstract books were largely completed and perfected. The amendment to the Juul law fixing the minimum tax rate in the county at 65 cents proved a great relief in the administration of county af- fairs. However, the former deficit of about $1,000,000 was not pro- vided for and necessarily had to be taken into account until payment could be made. The expenses of the county increased rapidly be- cause people demanded better service. At the same time the Legis- lature steadily increased the county's obligations. Thus the same lack of revenue would soon be shown unless at the same time meas- ures to secure additional money could be adopted. The Municipal courts entailed upon the county new and additional expense. A re- cent decision of the Supreme court lessened the receipts of the Pro- bate office. Increased expense in operating the new courthouse had to be met. The publication of the assessment lists and numerous other unforseen expenses added to the burden of the County Board.
During the past year many controverted claims were settled by the board and by the State's attorney. Satisfactory progress on the courthouse was made. A system of rigid investigation of all de- partments was pursued and carried out. At the close of 1906 Mr. Brundage recommended the following legislation: The compul- sory installation of a uniform system of bookkeeping in all county offices and departments; the adoption of an inexpensive process of selecting jurymen ; the extension of merit rules to all county offices ; the prompt commitment of all insanity suspects; the transfer of all insane persons to the care of the state; additional revenue of the county for current expenses; and additional legislation to prevent wife desertion.
In April, 1907, President Brundage resigned as president and member of the County Board. He briefly reviewed what had been accomplished during his administration. The new courthouse was nearing completion ; the Juvenile court building was practically un- der roof ; plans for quarters to be occupied by jurors in the Criminal court building were ready ; a new law of the Legislature provided for checking up the accounts of the various fee offices and for the inau- guration of a uniform system of bookkeeping in all county depart- ments; two consumptive hospitals had recently been built, one on the hospital grounds and one at Dunning; special apparatus for treating the insane had been installed at the insane hospital, and important improvements on the infirmary were under way. Mr. Brundage recommended an emergency hospital as a branch of the county hos-
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Devon
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1-Original City 1837; 2-Additions 1847; 3-Addition 1853; 4-Additions 1863; . 5-Addition 1869; 6-Addition 1887; 7-Additions 1889; 8-Jefferson, Lake View and Part of Cicero 1889; 13-West Ridge and Rogers Park 1893; 14-Norwood Park 1893; 16-Part of Cicero 1899.
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Belmont
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Fullerton
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
pital, to be established within the loop district down town, and fur- ther recommended that the offer of the Iroquois Memorial associa- tion for a proposed site be accepted. Commissioner Busse, on behalf of the board, expressed the regret of the county commissioners at the resignation of Mr. Brundage and complimented him highly on the progress made and the efficiency shown in county affairs during the entire period of his administration. Immediately thereafter William Busse was elected president of the County Board.
On August 5, 1907, President Busse congratulated the commis- sioners on the effective work they had done during the past two years. The press and the public generally agreed at this time that in the construction of the new courthouse a new record for speed and honesty was attained. Mr. Busse said, "It is conceded that no public work of like magnitude in this country has been constructed with as great a rapidity, energy and business capacity, and that few private persons or corporations have equaled the record made by this board. Not only in construction, but in its plans and architectural details is the present county building a new departure. It is a modern office building adapted to public business. The build- ing has been planned and equipped with a view to the convenient transactions of business and the comfort and health of employes and the public. The County Board has demonstrated the proposition that a municipal corporation may successfully carry on a business enterprise on the same lines pursued by a private person or corpora- tion. Too much credit can not be given the men who have had con- trol of the work."
In his first annual message of December 2, 1907, President Will- iam Busse noted that during the past year the board had finished and moved into the new county building ; erected and equipped the Juvenile court and Detention home and organized its executive force ; prepared plans for the improvement of the county hospital service ; made preparation for the care of persons suffering from contagious diseases and acute alcoholism; devised plans for an emergency, medi- cal and ambulance service; made important progress toward the construction of the new county infirmary on the site at Oak Forest; reorganized the psycho-pathological department at the Dunning in- stitutions ; extended the interne service to the Detention hospital ; put in service a new consumptive hospital with a full corps of physicians, nurses and employes and installed a free medical dispensary at the Juvenile Detention home.
The financial condition of the county was not satisfactory, but was improving. During 1907 over $300,000 more taxes were received than during 1906, but the receipts from the fee offices and from the various court clerks showed a decrease of about $280,000. An increase for the maintenance of nearly all of the county institutions was noted. Charity particularly showed increased and imperative demand for help. A deficit of $1,500,000 had accumulated and Vol. II-32.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
would have to be carried over until 1908. The cause of this deficien- cy was mainly due to the continued creation of new departments without any provision being made for their support. From 1903 to 1907, inclusive, the following departments showed greatly increased demands for revenue: Board of Assessors, Board of Review, Ju- venile court, Detention home, Jury commissioners, Civil Service commission, Bogardus law, election and primary expenses and judges' salaries. In 1903 these departments required a total of $512,850, but in 1907 required $856,860. During the same time the county hospital, the Dunning institutions and the county agent in- creased their expenses from $766,113 in 1903 to $931,026 in 1907.
In December, 1908, President William Busse noted the progress in county affairs during the past year. Although the year was char- acterized by great financial depression, the deficit was no greater than it was the year before. There was a vast increase in the number of persons cared for at the various county institutions. The revenue act of 1898 contemplated a quadrennial assessment of real estate. The amendment of 1905 authorized the existing tribunals to make re- valuations in any year. Acting under this amendment the existing body found the value of lands and lots, exclusive of improvements in Cook county, to be nearly $26,000,000 less than that of the pre- ceding year. It was suggested therefore that the amendment be re- pealed and the valuations be returned under the revenue act of 1898.
During 1908 various improvements were undertaken or suggest- ed. One was to deaden the street noises which disturbed the court rooms. The new Juvenile home and Juvenile court for their first year were pronounced in satisfactory condition. There were re- ceived 2,641 children. A system compelling parents to take care of their children was adopted and put in execution. The Juvenile court dispensary conducted by the Children's Hospital society was a most important and useful appendage of the charitable institutions. Six sessions per week of the Juvenile court were held. Provision for a complete record of all children received in the establishment were made. The evils of wife and family desertion were on the in- crease. No doubt fathers and even mothers, believing their children would be cared for by the county, deliberately deserted them with that objet and expectation in view. Steps to compel parents to sus- tain their children were taken. The Outdoor Relief department showed great expansion and improvement. More than 12,000 fami- lies probably by reason of the panic, applied for and received aid from the county agent in 1908. He assisted many unemployed per- sons to secure work. Special care of acute alcoholic patients was taken. Clinical apparatus for pathological work in the various wards of the hospital was needed. Conditions at the morgue were greatly improved. It was stated that the county hospital was richest in pathological material of any in the United States. A well equipped pathological laboratory was required. Work on the consumptive
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
hospital was well advanced. The early completion of this institu- tion and of the new County Infirmary at Oak Forest was urgently demanded. The overcrowding of the county charitable institutions was earnestly considered with a view to improvement. By rear- ranging the county hospital and purchasing a strip of land on the Polk street side, space was secured for the new consumptive hospital. Many necessary improvements on the new infirmary grounds at Oak Forest were made. When this institution should be finished it was expected to be the most complete of its kind in the country. The adoption of a plan of administration at the new poorhouse puz- zled the County Board. The citizens' or advisory committee, which during the last few years had so greatly assisted the board with ad- vice, was asked now to cooperate in devising plans for the proper ad- ministration of the infirmary. The fight against the white plague was pushed as far as the means and advantages allowed. Previously the board cared for persons only in advanced stages of the disease. Now it was demanded that early stages as well should receive the attention of the county authorities. In April, 1909, the county voted as follows on the question of a tuberculosis sanitarium tax: For tax, 167,230; against tax, 39,410.
It was generally demanded early in 1909 that the feeding of pris- oners in the county jail should be taken from the county sheriff and placed in the hands of the superintendent of public service. Later a law to this effect passed the Legislature. In June, 1909, the Cook County Historical society was organized, Jesse Holdom, Jolîn M. Ewen and J. Seymour Curry, being the incorporators. The new inheritance law gave to the county in June $185,000. In June and July, 1909, for the first time in the history of Cook county, there was made a comprehensive attempt by the board of assessors to list for taxation the capital stock of Illinois corporations. It was shown by John C. Harding in June that thirteen big corporations here had evaded assessment to the amount of $1,034,314,870. The total as- sessed valuation of real estate in thirty country towns of Cook county as returned by the assessors was $30,801,437.
During the fiscal year, 1909, the county completed the Tubercu- losis hospital; let contracts for nineteen new infirmary buildings ; constructed sewerage, water systems and roadways at the new infirmary plant; made extensive improvements to the criminal court building and the county jail; installed a new ventilating system in the juvenile court building; made important alterations at the county hospital and the detention hospital; improved the nursing and interne service at the county and detention hospitals ; established a library at the county hospital; improved the buildings at Dunning and put a new roof on the Consumptive hospital; united the State Free Employment bureau with the County Agent's office ; established the Bogardus Relief bureau ; founded two new branches of the County Agent's office; reorganized the medical service at the Juvenile De-
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
tention Home and furnished seed potatoes for one hundred gardens of the City Gardens association. During 1909 the admissions to the . county and detention hospitals were 32,540. County affairs were in a satisfactory condition at the end of 1909.
On January 19, 1910, the County Board passed its annual budget, the estimated income being as follows :
Taxes
$7,626,309.22
Fee offices
1,682,500.00
Sundry resources
427,037.89
Bonds and interest.
66,587.88
New infirmary fund.
645,580.15
Total. $10,448,015.14
The actual appropriations amounted to $7,086,337.08. Under the Juul law, which reduced the tax rate, the county lost $3,140,244.06 from the estimated revenues, and it was estimated that $221,434 would be lost in collecting the taxes.
POLITICS OF COOK COUNTY 1866-1909
T HE election of aldermen in the spring of 1866 was spirited and bitter. The terms "Union Men" and "Copperheads" were used unsparingly-the latter with unnecessary hate and se- verity. "Copperheads should not be permitted to hold office under the government they tried to destroy," was the slogan. Old soldiers were in high favor. The Democrats were quiet, and hoped by secretive measures to elect a majority of the council. All voters were required to register. There were sixteen wards, each having two precincts. The Eight-Hour party put a ticket in the field.
· The Republican Union county convention met on July 19 in the Circuit court rooms and consisted of all "who are in favor of keeping traitors out of the halls of Congress and of assisting and maintaining the right of the people, through their representatives in Congress, to fix and determine the condition in which states lately in rebellion shall be permitted to participate in the government of the United States." "Out with the hereditary officeholders and give the old soldiers a chance," was the cry. In 1865 there had been a few soldiers and a few Copperheads on the Republican ticket. This ticket came near defeat. It was now proposed to nominate old soldiers for nearly all offices. The Democrats nominated Timothy Bradley for sheriff and shrewdly induced old soldiers to run on their tickets.
Lyman Trumbull, John A. Logan, Governor Oglesby, S. W. Moul- ton and Schuyler Colfax addressed an immense audience here in August, 1866. The reception to General Logan was a memorable event ; his speech attracted the attention of the whole country. In the fall of 1866 many advocated direct voting for candidates instead of delegates at the primaries. There was an attempt to form an old soldiers' independent ticket made, but it resulted finally in a union with the Republicans.
Mr. Judd was the candidate selected to defeat Mr. Wentworth for the Congressional nomination. On October 17 Gen. B. F. Butler de- livered a powerful union speech here concerning national politics, particularly concerning the impeachment proceedings against Presi- dent Johnson. The Republicans nominated Dr. William Wagner for coroner, J. D. Ward for the state senate, and General Beveridge for sheriff. All voters were required to register in October, 1866. At the election the Republicans were victorious with every candidate, mem- ber of Congress, sheriff, coroner, senator and seven members of the Legislature. In the first Congressional district Judd received 1,5,247 and his opponent, General Wallace, 5,667.
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The election of April 16, 1867, embraced a mayor, collector, treas- urer, attorney, clerk of the police court and one alderman and one constable from each ward. During March, 1867, the Democratic party, led in the main by Connett, Chase and Comiskey, thoroughly organized and held a series of meetings in the wards. It was under- stood that the Cook county and city Democracy could expect no suc- cess whatever without perfect organization. The election of Demo- cratic aldermen was declared to be imperative because it would herald resistance to the alleged despotism of Congress.
The Republican Union city central committee thoroughly organ- ized for work late in March, 1867. On April 3, 1867, the Democratic party nominated Francis C. Sherman for mayor. Their platform stated little concerning national politics, but dwelt upon the inefficien- cy of the municipal administration of Chicago and asked the people to make a change. The Republican newspapers called this a Copper- head convention. Among those who took part were F. C. Sherman, Dr. J. A. Hahn, St. Clair Southerland, M. R. M. Wallace, H. M. Chase, Thomas Holt, J. L. Marsh, J. W. Horton, J. H. Winkelman and Capt. J. W. Connett.
John B. Rice was renominated for mayor by the Republicans. The total registration in the sixteen wards of the city in April, 1867, num- bered 20,980. The election resulted in a sweeping victory for the Republican ticket. John B. Rice received 11,904 and F. C. Sherman 7,971, the majority being 3,933. A total of 19,875 votes was polled at this election. Two years before Mr. Rice had received for mayor a total of 11,078 votes and Mr. Sherman his Democratic opponent, 5,478. Democratic aldermen were elected in the Sixth, Eighth, Twelfth and Sixteenth wards. The new council stood twenty-four Republicans to eight Democrats ; thus the Republicans lost in numeri- cal strength in the council. The judicial election in June, 1867, was one of the quietest and uneventful ever held in the city. Out of a total population of about 220,000 there were only 1,068 votes polled.
The political campaign in the spring of 1868 did not possess strong partisan features. A few aldermen, the treasurer, recorder and sev- eral others were involved in this issue. Here was to be nominated the Republican candidate for the Presidency. In fact, already pre- liminaries for the National Republican convention were in progress. The total vote polled was 23,655 against 27,079 at the last Presiden- tial election. The Republicans elected ten of the new aldermen and the Democrats seven. The former still had a large working majority in the council. The popularity of Judge McAllister rendered his elec- tion over Colonel Smith, the Republican nominee, a foregone conclu- sion. The bar voted and worked almost solidly for Judge McAllister.
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