To the Honorable the City Council of the City of Chicago:The men and women of Chicago, by their sovereign right of suffrage, have placed in our hands the guidance and management of their municipal government.
Our beloved city, the second in the United States, fourth in the world and destined to become the greatest in the world, today outranks in wealth and population many republics and monarchies and comprises a cosmopolitan citizenship gathered from all quarters of the globe to avail themselves of equal opportunity, acquire wealth, secure justice and rear their children in the atmosphere of liberty.
I am deeply appreciative of the honor of my position as chief executive and profoundly sensible of the grave responsibilities it involves. In assuming the office of Mayor of Chicago I beseech your hearty and loyal co-operation in the conduct of this administration, that not only the people of our city, but of Illinois, the Nation and the World may henceforth look to Chicago as attractive to visit, desirable to reside in, inviting and profitable to business, wide awake to the expansion of its commerce and ever solicitous for the employment, well-being and happiness of its people.
My greatest desire, seconded by my ambition to achieve constructive results, is that no shadow of corruption, dishonesty or wrong-doing shall cloud any of the varied and multitudinous activities of the city government during my term of office.
It is my business and yours to safeguard Chicago's interests and protect the life, liberty, personal and property rights of its citizens under the constitutions of the United States, the State of Illinois and the laws in force, which each of us have solemnly sworn to support. Let this obligation guide us in the discharge of our official duties, and I ask you, Aldermen, and every citizen of Chicago of whatever tendency of party, creed or race to co-operate with me so that during the four years to come the fair name of Chicago shall stand out respected, honored and unsullied before the nations and people of the world.
I entrust to the heads of departments and bureaus the conduct of the city's business. The responsibility for proper and efficient management and the faithful execution of laws and ordinances rests upon their shoulders. I forewarn all concerned not to ignore this admonition. Service to the public must be the measure of efficiency . The inquiries and requests of citizens and taxpayers must be promptly and intelligently handled by department employees. Laziness and discourtesy will not be tolerated. Charges will be preferred against the negligent in this respect. The over-lapping of the inspection service between the several departments and bureaus to the annoyance and petty persecution of taxpayers must be stopped and duplicate work and useless employees dispensed with. I ask the aid of the Aldermen in remedying these conditions.
I have pledged the people of Chicago that our streets shall be safe for men, women and children. The Chief of Police must make them so. I assure him and the members of his department of my support. I wish to say to the policemen of Chicago that credit will be awarded for honest and capable police service and promotion can only be earned by a record of full performance of sworn duty. No political influence will be permitted to have effect in the Police Department. The protection of life, limb and property, the security of every citizen and the safeguarding of the honor of women is too obligatory a function of government to yield to the trifling of politics.
The patrons of our transportation lines are entitled to better service than now afforded. I ask the proper committees of the Council and such departments of the city as deal with this service to move at once to enforce the provisions of the traction ordinance and relieve the conditions now responsible for overcrowding and delays. As Mayor I shall act in this matter to the extent of the authority I possess for the purpose of benefiting the public forthwith.
I am advised by the Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly that two elements may operate to defeat the passage of the so-called Chicago Home rule Bill. These are the early adjournment of the Legislature and the Public Utility Companies themselves. This authoritative statement is of such a character that it must be heeded by the press and the people if Chicago is to regain it s right to regulate and control its public utilities, of which right it was deprived a year and a half ago.
The people themselves must be aroused to the necessity for action in order to secure a restoration of their inherent right to local self-government and in this way regain the power to improve conditions in the traction service and regulate the prices to be paid by the people for gas, electricity and telephone service.
Members of the General Assembly from the State at large who believe in even-handed justice and fair play can certainly have no objection to allowing Chicago Home Rule and the people of this city are certainly capable of self-government and should not be denied this right at this time.
The chief executive of our state is a former Mayor of this city and therefore realizes the imperative need for Home Rule. I have invited him to appear before the Public Utilities Committee of the House with me and I also invite all the Members of the City Council, representatives of the numerous civic organizations and as many public spirited citizens as can possibly spare a day from their business to be in Springfield tomorrow and appear with me before the Committee to urge upon the Legislature prompt consideration for the Home Rule Bill and such action by the House and Senate Committees as will bring this vital measure to a roll call on its passage in both branches of the General Assembly.
I have promised the gas consumers of Chicago that the city's interest in the pending suits to secure permanent price reductions and the return of refunds due them will be vigorously prosecuted and in my campaign, in challenging my opponent's stand on this question, I named a committee of aldermen, whom I would appoint to engage competent counsel for this purpose. I hereby redeem this promise and request Aldermen Lawley, Utpatel, Merriam, Capitain, Nance and Richert to act as a special committee for the purpose named and urge their confirmation under your rules that they may take prompt steps in this important matter. In the meantime I renew my advice to all gas consumers to save their receipted gas bills.
For reasons over which the local government of Chicago has no control we have 150,000 people out of employment and many more working at reduced wages and on part time. This causes distress. The plurality of 148,000 votes by which I was elected cannot be explained by the paramount importance of one or several local issues. The fact is the voters emphatically expressed their dissatisfaction with the economic conditions existing under the present national administration and protested as vehemently as they could against the legislation enacted at Washington which has been followed by hard times. When the voters are aroused to a political situation they generally respond in the right. The results of this contest are undoubtedly but a forecast of the people's verdict to be rendered at the polls in the next general election.
But we should urge action to alleviate depressing commercial conditions locally, and this is the time to devise ways and means to expedite the construction of all contemplated public works, including the new Union Station and other terminal projects under consideration by the Terminals Commission, the widening of Twelfth street, the Michigan Boulevard extension, the water front development and the subway problem. In addition I desire to obtain the co-operation of the City Council in engendering a spirit of team work among the commercial interests of our city with a view to reviving in some degree private business activity. I have, therefore, in accordance with announced pre-election statements, arranged to call a business men's convention, to be held in the near future, for the purpose of jointly discussing between the businessmen of Chicago, large and small, representatives of the railroads, traction lines and public service corporations and executive, legislative and administrative officials of the city, plans to stimulate activity in public, semi-public and private enterprises to provide work for thousands of unemployed people.
Under the statutes I am part of the City Council. I shall strive to preside over your deliberations with fairness and parliamentary decorum. I shall make recommendations to you from time to time on matters bearing upon the administration of the city government and for the best interests of the people as I see them.
No doubt, I shall deem it my duty at times to veto certain measures passed by your Honorable Body. In so doing I want the members of the Council to feel that no discourtesy toward one or more is intended. I shall only exercise that power after mature and impersonal consideration.
I am a firm believer in the separation of the three co-ordinate branches of government--Executive, Legislative and Judicial--peculiar to our American system, and that one should not intrude upon or violate, the prerogatives of the other. I do not intend to exceed the rights and privileges of the executive nor transgress upon the legislative or judicial functions. I shall impartially execute the laws made by the proper legislative authorities and interpreted by the judiciary.
Source: Chicago (Ill.). City Council. Journal of Proceedings April 26, 1915 p.2-5
Municipal Reference Collection, Chicago Public Library
April 28, 1919
To the honorable, the City Council of the City of Chicago:
GENTELMEN-The people
of Chicago, by their sovereign right of suffrage, have indicated
their choice of executive officers for the ensuing term of four
years. By the same supreme authority the conduct of Chicago's legislative
affairs has been entrusted to us for the coming year.
Having taken the oath
prescribed by the Constitution of this State, and having otherwise
qualified, I have according to law assumed the office of Mayor and
ex-officio your presiding officer, and in conformity with my duty
submit herewith my fourth annual and second inaugural message for
the consideration of your Honorable Body.
The duly elected City
Treasure and the duly elected City Clerk have likewise qualified
and assumed their offices as have the new members of your Honorable
Body.
At the beginning of
a new Council year, as well as a new term of office, I wish to reiterate
with all earnestness my desire for harmony and co-operation between
the legislative and executive branches of the City Government. More
real good can be accomplished for the people of Chicago through
unprejudiced, unselfish and unhampered combination of effort upon
the part of public servants than through the bickering and strife
which only aims to further selfish ends.
The recent municipal
campaign, preceding both the primary and election, involved exhaustive
discussion upon certain questions of public policy. The people at
large, despite the attempted confusion of issues, voiced their sentiments
in the following manner as nearly as can be judged by the votes
cast for the several Mayoralty candidates.
My object in enumerating
the former items is merely to base a record for future guidance
in both executive and legislative functioning.
Our fight for the continuation
of the five cent fare, supported by the people, is so far victorious
and I congratulate the people of Chicago upon the decision rendered
by the State Public Utilities Commission on April 25, 1919 which
prevented an increase in street car fares in the City of Chicago
above five cents. I also congratulate the City Law Department for
its successful efforts, and especially Mr. Chester E. Cleveland,
the attorney in charge who so ably presented the City's side of
the case and defended the people's interest in this controversy.
I am deeply grateful
to the people of Chicago for the confidence expressed in my administration
of municipal affairs, especially after four years of almost continual
assault by organized forces possessing exclusive privileges in the
columns of the public press and employing the weapons of falsehood
and willful misrepresentation insidiously, skillfully and with immunity.
However, as Chief Executive
of the City of Chicago standing for principles which I will not
yield, I harbor no grievance against any interest nor any individual,
seek no revenge and repudiate reprisals. Nor will I permit personal
dissatisfaction with anybody or any condition to influence my official
judgment. I court the friendship and co-operation of every influence
that will magnify the name of Chicago. Every person, every official,
every business, every social, racial, religious or political agency
and every question will receive equitable consideration at the hands
of the Mayor in accordance with my conception of the significance
of the office which I have the honor to occupy.
The advent of peace
following the distress of war opens up possibilities for the expansion
of Chicago more extensive than ever before. Our record of achievement
is more marvelous than that of any metropolis on earth. Chicago
is greater than some nations, and outranks them in wealth, intelligence
and population. We have drawn to us people from every quarter of
the globe and we are proud of our cosmopolitanism and the degree
of contentment which prevails in a citizenship of such widely distributed
origin. We have the material, the health, the spirit and the opportunity.
Your honorable Body should devise ways and foster the procurement
of means whereby the future of Chicago may be as comprehensively
and energetically developed as has been its past.
Great and worthy projects
lie before us. The Chicago Plan Commission has well defined ideas
for the improvement and beautification of the City. The extension
of Ogden avenue from Union Park to Lincoln Park, the widening and
extension of Robey street and Western avenue from the northern to
the southern limits of the City, the widening and improvement of
South Water street, the straightening of the River, the erection
of a new postoffice, the re-building of the Illinois Central terminal,
the development of the entire lake front embodying both commercial
and recreational improvements, the completion of the Union Station
project and other great passenger and freight terminals, the electrification
of all railway terminals, the addition of playgrounds for Chicago's
children, the building of new and better bridges, the improvement
of our streets, sewers and water supply. All these are plans in
the economical realization of which Your Honorable Body can render
priceless service to the people of Chicago. We should not permit
petty schemes, political or otherwise , which embody nothing useful
but only create enmity between officials to burden and lengthen
our proceedings in this chamber in committee rooms, when opportunity,
with a great constructive program in hand, practical and possible
is knocking at our council doors.
Chicago has performed
great wonders in the past. Over twenty-five years ago this city
actually realized what seemed to be an amazing vision and constructed
and conducted the greatest demonstration ever held, before or since,
in the World's Colombian Exposition. And we can today expand into
a city worthy of the ambition of our people and their child if we,
charged with the responsibility of government, possess the ingenuity,
integrity, thrift and toleration equal to the opportunity.
I have a few specific
matters to direct your attention to at this time. Others I will
present as occasion offers. In a message submitted to your Honorable
Body, October 2, 1916, I noted the fact that the rapid growth of
Chicago had completely altered several times, the character of improvements
and the class of residents and industries in continually changing
local neighborhoods and this condition was detrimental to the physical
appearance of neighborhoods and the stability of property and had
caused the sacrifice of real estate values running into millions
of dollars. There is now pending in the Committee on Municipalities
in the House of Representatives at Springfield a zoning bill conferring
upon the City Council power to create residential, industrial, commercial
and other districts in the city and to regulate classes of buildings,
trades and industries within such districts. The bill safeguards
the right of objectors and public hearings are provided for. It
has already passed the State Senate. The enactment of a good zoning
law such as the one proposed will aid the scientific upbuilding
of Chicago by protecting homes, helping merchants large and small,
and promoting the construction of industrial plants. If this bill
becomes a law it will be advisable for your Honorable Body to call
into conference representatives of the real estate boards, architects,
engineers, builders, manufacturers and labor organizations to assist
in its application for the benefit of all and the injury of none,
if possible.
The City's financial
and taxing problem is of the most serious moment. It must be met
dispassionately and non-politically. The most careful judgment must
be exercised in deciding upon a policy to be pursued. But it must
be met promptly. I suggest the formation of a concrete advisory
body comprised of representatives of your Committee on Finance,
members of the General Assembly from Chicago and down-state, a representative
of the Board of Assessors and of the Board of Review, a representative
of the executive branch of the City government and a representative
of the executive branch of the State government. In this connection
I beg to refer to my message to your Honorable Body submitted August
14,1918, calling attention to the unjust and inequitably distributed
burden of taxation and to a message of Governor Lowden's on April
19th of this year in which he calls attention to the "inequalities
of taxation, the entire escape from taxation by some corporations
and individuals and the utterly haphazard assessments of property.
Through the courtesy
of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. David E. Shanahan,
a joint session of the General Assembly has been arranged for tomorrow
in Springfield before which I have been invited to speak upon the
City's financial needs. I shall leave at midnight tonight on this
mission and will recommend to the General Assembly such legislation
as will provide additional revenue to meet the estimates of the
City Departments and your Honorable Body in providing for corporate
needs.
Complaints relative
to the quality and price of gas continue to be received by the Department
of Public Service. These together with telephone complaints and
complaints as to traction service, make this department a busy one
and of value in protecting the people in controversies with public
utility corporations over charges and service. It is regrettable
that not enough help is supplied this Department to keep its work
up to the minute because prompt relief is what the people are seeking
and are entitled to in dealing with these powerful agencies. I recommend
that you give early consideration to the matter of extending the
operations of this department by providing for the employment of
more persons to carry on its work.
There is a general demand
upon the part of the people for a reduction in telephone rates and
an improvement of the service, judged from the numerous complaints
received. Your Honorable Body has under consideration the question
of the revision of the rates charged by the Chicago Telephone Company
for its service in the City of Chicago under the terms to the ordinance
passed in 1913 which fixed the maximum rates for a period of five
years. This ordinance makes provision for meters on measured service
lines to be installed by the Company at the request of subscribers.
No meters have been installed in Chicago as yet. It is my suggestion
that your committee consider the advisability at this period of
requiring the actual installation of meters to protect lessees and
subscribers in checking the accuracy of the number of outgoing messages
they are charged with from time to time.
I again urge your Honorable
Body to give serious consideration to the expansion of the Police
Department, to provide a greater force, to revise the present confusing
provisions of the police ordinances, particularly as to organization,
to provide for the erection a modern police administration building
which will include the courts and a separate building for the Police
and Fire Alarm telegraph systems surrounded by open ground where
they can be adequately safeguarded.
Many of our returning
soldiers and sailors are seeking positions with both the Police
and Fire Departments. They furnish the best possible material for
these services. Our Civil Service examinations accord these men
almost exclusive preference for this kind of work on account of
the age, physical and experience standards imposed. We should aid
the employment of these men in every direction possible both with
private employers and in the public service.
Permit me to again refer
to the results of the last election. Upon every appearance which
I made upon the public platform I discussed with the people assembled
the question of the administration of our public schools. I stated
unequivocally time and again that if I was re-elected I would reappoint
the members of the Board of Education who were deprived of their
offices through a technical interpretation of law by the Supreme
Court. Our local courts, Circuit and Appellate, and three members
of our Supreme bench, including the Chicago member, upheld my appointees.
Four other judges from sections of the State outside of Chicago
reversed the foregoing judicial opinion. The people, however, have
spoken on this vital issue. They want the public school system restored
to the control of their representatives and not continued in the
control of representatives of mercenary newspapers profiteering
on school properties which they hold. I shall accordingly submit
to your Honorable Body in the very near future names of persons
for approval as members of the Board of Education of the City of
Chicago under the new school law, and I sincerely trust that the
City Council will abide by the express will of the people.
It is to be noted with
much satisfaction that the Illinois Legislature is promoting waterway
legislation by the passage of a bill authorizing the issuance of
twenty million dollars worth of bonds for waterway construction.
This means much to Chicago by providing a water route from this
city to the Illinois River. It will add to our commercial developments
as well as promote new modes of passengers travel.
No problem is of more
vital concern to the people of Chicago than the continually increasing
prices of the necessities of life particularly articles of food.
I advocate the passage
of national and state laws providing imprisonment for the fixing
of prices in defiance of the laws of supply and demand. The municipal
authorities, however, should do what they can to mitigate the burden
of the people under existing conditions. We have an ordinance passed
by your Honorable Body December 9, 1912 which seeks to regulate
the period of time for keeping foods in cold storage and otherwise
regulating the conduct of cold storage warehouses. The Commissioner
of Health is empowered to supervise inspections for such purposes
and to appoint agents to make same. No provision has ever been made,
however, for the employment of such agents. The Commissioner of
Health has done everything possible with the force at his command
and has made periodical investigations. These inspections should
be made not less frequently than once in every three months as the
ordinance provides. This means continual work in one line of activity
by a number of persons. I therefore recommend that your Committee
on Finance confer with the Commissioner of Health for the purpose
of making adequate appropriations for the more rigid application
of the terms of this ordinance or strengthening its provisions,
for the protection of the people against the extortionate demands
of combinations maintained by food profiteers who withhold foods
from the market to purposely curtail the supply and fix prices in
excess of the scale which normal conditions justify.
In my first annual message
and in subsequent communications addressed to your Honorable Body
I have called attention to the operations of the Municipal Voters'
League and the damage of a system which excludes many of the duly
elected aldermen from exercising any voice in the selection of committees
where ninety per cent of the Council's business is transacted. It
is a violation of the principle upon which this government was founded---"Taxation
without representation". This so-called organization works under
a cloak of secrecy and persistently refuses to make public the sources
of its influence or its funds, although assuming at all times to
speak in the name of the people. We have recently been vouchsafed
the information that a self-perpetuating committee of nine is the
"League" and that no other voters exercise any voice in its management.
The truth is that all its pronouncements and endorsements and denunciations
of aldermen and municipal policies are the opinions of Mr. Victor
F. Lawson, owner of the Chicago Daily News and partly represent
the dictatorship which this one citizen seeks to exercise over all
the other citizens of Chicago and elsewhere.
Mr. Victor Lawson advocated
the vicious traction legislation which was defeated by the people
last fall. He has very recently, and while the City's plea for the
five cent fare was pending and undecided before the State Public
Utilities Commission, sought to influence that body by editorial
comment in favor of a seven cent fare. The Municipal Voters' League
have the unrestricted freedom of his columns, the so-called "reports"
being published in full, and the aldermen endorsed by the "League"
and the aldermen condemned by the "League" are likewise endorsed
and condemned by Lawson and vice versa.
I have no interest whatever
in the personnel of Council Committees, but the heads of administrative
departments must necessarily seek their aid and cooperation in performing
public work.
With the Committees
organized by the "League" and contrary to the expressed will of
the people, an effectual system is enforced of subverting the will
of the people and imposing the will of the Municipal Voters' League
and Mr. Victor Lawson.
Let us hope that at
some future time this conspiracy against popular government will
be overthrown and that the City Council, represented by its full
membership, independently and of its own initiative will be permitted
to organize in its own Chamber in the City Hall.
I intend to urge upon
our people and especially our local business men, propaganda for
the boosting of Chicago. Our City has been defamed by certain selfish
newspapers who have probably found avenues of profit in pursuing
such a course. I cannot see their object, but object there must
be, to cause them to ridicule Chicago, to paint it as a criminal's
stamping ground and as a smoky, filthy place to either live or do
business. As a matter of truth, Chicago is a wonder city, entitled
to homage and respect the world over. It is the most orderly and
law-abiding of all the big cities on earth and it is the cleanest,
healthiest place and the greatest metropolitan summer resort on
this, or any other continent. In criticizing one group of newspapers
for maligning the city it is only fair to call commendatory attention
to another group which is supporting the city as a community and
advocating its progress and prosperity. The Chicago Herald-Examiner
and the Chicago American are rendering loyal service to our home
town and its people as its recent news and editorial articles will
testify. By tearing the mask off of a small but noisy group of pretentious,
sanctimonious individuals, who in reality have been sacking the
town instead of saving it , thousands upon thousands of real, red-blooded
citizens have been shown the true color of the fake reforms and
frame-ups that have been going on for years. Chicago returns many
thanks to the two newspapers just mentioned and hopes that "booming
the town" will become a fixed habit in this community.
