Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, July 4, 1879, Page 1

OWICAGO JOCKEY AND « THE CHICAGO TROTTING CLUB JOCKEY AND TROTTING CLUB. TO-DAY, JULY 4, - GREAT ATTRACTIONS! e—=zp HOPEFUL To Beat 214 for $2,000, FIRST RACE, PURSE, $1,250, for 5-year-olds and under; $625 to first, $315 to second, $185 to third, $125 to fourth. 80-80, JENNIE ©., LULU'K,, WIRY JIM. DONALD, BUFFALO BILL, and TOM WALTON. SECOND RACE, EPFLE G., APOUL, KENTUCKY WILICES, 2:20 Class---Purse, $1,500; $750 to first, $875 to ‘second, $225 to third, and $150 to fourth. BONESETTER, CHICAGO MAID, ETHEL, ELSIE GOOD, CLEMENTINE, MAZO-MANIE, and SCOTTW’S THOMAS, LEW SCOTT, THIRD o RACE. Special purse $2,000 offered to HOPEFUL to beat : 214 in harness. Three trials allowed. * Races wilt contmence promptly at’ 2 o'clock, Cars take you to the track. Van Bure Randotph, Madison, and TO RENT. ~ IN TRIBUNE BUILIING Two very desirable Fire- - -~-Proof—Offices. on second fioor, and one on third floor.” Apply to Ta WM. ¢C. DOW, 8 Tribune Building. CARRIAGES, Etc Fine .Phaetons, - Side-Bar Buggies, Dog Carts, .. .. . Surreys, and Wee a Carriages, Cera PINEST _ SEES BEST. STUDEBAKER BROS’ MPG C0, 161 and 153 Wabnash-nv. “SE We, SAME TT” OLAUK-ST. BRIDGE EVERY DAY AT 0:30 A. M. ‘or Bouth aud liyde Park Fishing aod Picots Grounds, fetes ya thers wail 4:30 be aie Round arp onhy < War Water- Works Crit. South Park, ‘Hyde Park, anit GererpReat Pier at 2:30 p, m. every day, Round trip ttn. Grant Sooniight Excursion every evening at 8 Pitan and Sects linda oh boar aoe teN ity DADY, Manager. E SUMMER RESOUTS. Grand Union Hotel, 1 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. ¥., COMPLET. IN AL} ITS APPOINTMENTS FOR THE *, COMFORT AND PLEASURE OF ITS GUESTS, Now Open for the Season, Rates Reduced to $4 Per Day. * ROOMS CAN BK ENGAGED at the PARK AVESUB HOTEL, or METROVOLITAN HOTEL, NEW YORK, £ a MENRY OLALH, POPULAR PRICES. ss" SARATOGA SPRINGS, : “ CONGRESS HALL. . THREE DOLLARS PER DAY, h i he ily renovated and Fae ee eee snr, Sane a + CLEMENT & BOUTIIGATE, Props, . Ugh SURMENT. tate Lindell Hotel, Bt. Loula, Wale WILKINBON, Supt, NEW CONGRESS WALL, fp GARR MAY, Nod, OPEN JUNE 28. ees, Dulldings, thoroughty fre-proof. Situsted on Ne Highest polat uf land da the Allentle, Coat. “Pas: x levator, stn Hiodsrn ‘conseticnoes, “A Grant Gromencay of oFer Im convetdences, iT 1,Unifeot of Porchy Te Ay GONUUN, Proprietor. United States Hotel, SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. Oped for the'sesvon from Juno 14 10 Oct. 4. TOMPRINS, GAGE & CO. Bi “3 RDING—ONE NIGIITS DE FIOM CHICAGO; sora dail 4 ing. bath: silos OSS. de Wo Grek Douelen Me PROPOSALS, ROPONA IN BOR Fi P ROE SHUT EIY Srok ORS EIT Orrice oy KUreRristsa Axcnitrct, Derantusi. dt 4th day of July, 1s7a. fo Putting tn place in comple! Face the Gre-proof doors and window-suuitehe for the United detes Custom Honse, ete.. et Chicago, lite, 1a sccardsuce Witt specification and sclicduic, coptea ot which sod apy additional laformation may ‘be bad on spplteativa at this ofice or tho olice ot ihe Superine sendenk JAS. GH Buperruing Arctlicet. va INNTILUT 3M, Vernon 1 Baltimore, Sd, Ku; Tench, sud German Boarding aud Day behoo! ‘Founw Ladies. A Jarno curpe of $adtaue the Prtacioain MiSs Mdiiy ‘ ¢ Priae R Sings. Malte Sb ah, for rofessors. “the 20th, For circulars JONKS and To Rent, 4th July! POURTEE OF JUL, GOODRICH STRAMERS Jill make hourly Excursion Trips aut on the Lake (twa, hour ride), Tickein, euch trip, Bo centas ehildzen ane dor 12 years, half price, * eae Exeursion Boat tor MILWAUKEE, ‘Thursday.mosning ayoa'ciueks, aud ‘Thurslay evening : pasrcer riz ve Grad Haven and Moskegor Thursday Kventug at 7 o'clock. GRAND CELEBRATION AT MICHIGAN CITY, Steamer CORON A'will moka Excursion to Michigan City, teaviny on Friday Morning a6 o'clock stiarpand arrlve back baturday Morning at4 o'clock. Thekets for round trip onty $1.00, Herth extra, nf DUCED RATES TQ ALL POINTS, Ir UC BUTLIN, Supt. NOTICE. FORE TASURANGH PAGO WOTICH. Beri SHAM he Nold'a inceting uf antl Th af which ten days’ previous noticn al least one daily paper, published-tn tha said Rovrd of Underwriters is located. wt whitch met ing, each Insurance Con ¥, Corporation, Associas tos, Underwriter, Agent, eran OF persons, dulag & ¥ire tosurance business in tho clty,shalt have the NERY fo be represented at such meecting, and shail ba cutie ted to one rote, A majority of the whole number so represented shall have puwer to ureide upon the question of snstalning the Fire Patrol herotubeture mentionert, aud of fxtug Che maxinium amount of oxpenses which aball be Ine curred therefor during the fecal year next ta siiaue, which amount shall In ao case extred two ner centim on th Bgerexato of bromine Toturned: asrereived, ay rovided in Seution 2 of this Act, and the whole of auch amount, Ora much thereof na may be necessary, be awesiod upon all Insuraace Companion, Organs \oraciona, Aseoe! ry cn, Be ‘shall bo cullectab Underwriters in any court of jaw in tha Btate of Minols having Jurisdiction, {a such manner aud at auch tf ne ia ant talutain a Fire 2 mectiny of Interested will bo Hoard of Undorwrlters, on Monday, July Lath, 18° RECEIVER'S SALE oF Canned Meat Machinery, ats, 17, aifectton of the Cireutt Court of Cook County, 1}- Muols Pnoreby give notice tat I will scliat Public Auctfon, for cad. on Raturdaye July tas tea ees galuce ata. cm ine oremlsen ist Michteanvat. “tor. her of {aanlia, the bnlance of the autat of the Chicago Meat-Vreasrving Company, couststing of Canning sae gluon, Fltutes, (Picitia, ae and ather at a ure, nate, KINy Canker ete, GRUNGE Gate hectiven = Chicago Meat-it RECHIVER’S SALE Of all tha Meal Hatate af the CITY NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, Notice 1¢ boraby elven Chas pre eate wet) b a4 ypoaate we by the undersigned until aug? ia inst, Tor any Een ah the real eatate belonging wthe caiato of the Cite Nee {ional Bank uf Cileagy, Including the. banie wattiiee Noe. 186, (30, aud tot" Washington-at., alot, wnteh The sopretal or the Gonureiloror ine Guan tubeet ba ay ‘ the Dutted. Staves District Court for the Notkgee hice trict of {linuts, information will be furnished on ap Schedules and plication ta Re RURUES, Revelver, 130 Lak GAMES AND SPORTING GooDs, on ““TRADQUARTERS FOR ~~ “ARCHERY, LAWN ‘TENNIS, CROQUET, BASE HALL GOODS, FISHING TACKLE, faith Prout mf tre iter, oi ainentcals Shorts," Foutalainy rules Mlistrations, and prices, furalsbed free ‘upon appiteation, Spalding & Broa Tih KANDOLYVEHLST. * G. . ° NICKEL PLATING OHICAGO NICKEL WORKS, Cor. Obi id Fraukiin-ste. arti amnere preotiace” aieuted. "alate adaate . spared tas Plating. BEWAKE OF baying work done by LN- PiUNGeus “preach odies, LOU Hadelpieals FRIDAY MATT BENNER. He Was Summarily Removed by Mayor Harrison Yesterday, Because He Would Not Use His Influence on the Firemen. Benner’s Statement of His Talks with the Mayor. The Singularly. Trivial Cause for which a Good Man Was Bounced, The Mayor Sots Out His Vorsion of the Case, and Makes Insinuatious. The Aldermen Unanimously Agree to Stand by Benner. And the Insurance Men Say His Removal Is an Outrage ‘ After What He Has Done to Build Up the Depart- mnent, The New Law Regarding - Re: movale---Expiration’ of Benner's Term. Now Let the People Riso Up and Com pel His Reinstatement, MARSHAL BENNER. MAYOR TARRISON REMOVES TIM, “When the readers of Tur Tuipunz open the- paper this morning they will be astonished and pained beyond mensure to learn thafon this day—ove when special vigilance {fe required on the part of the firemen—one when this city, which fs still of woad, is exposed to danger from conflagratlon—Matt Benner coases to be atthe head of the Department, and another man steps into his place, They will also be surprised to learn that this docan’t take placo through Marsbal Bouner's act, but is the act of the Mayor of tho city,.who has been proclaiming ever elnce his clection that he in- tended to bo Mayor of the whole city, nnd tod ail that he could for the interests of the people, Yes, as will bo seen by the snbjoined corre. ‘spondence, he has, because the Marshal refused to lend his personal influence to make the em- ployes of the Fire Department accept a decrease in their salarios after the Mayor had stated to him that he wanted this action of the firemen to, be purely -yoluntary, removed him from the position which he lias occupled so long and filled so wet) The record of Marshal Benner fs familinr to every’ Chicagoan, lis long service in the Department prior to his appointment as its Chicf ts known only to those with whom ho sorved, but what he bas done aines he took charge of {t in August of 1873 fs Knawn tol, He took a Department with «e- moralized men, broken-down engines, and worthless hose. Ho has built it up until ft is now,iu peint of eflictency, discipline, and drill, tha best Department in the countes, Ho has accomplished more with less money than any orDisceparding’ all poltticat laims, ti isregarding ai tical claims, turning o deaf ear to ue. entroatien of Aldermen and pale tclans, ha haa been persistent and tuexorable in utting Upon the forceonly the beat of men, aud keeping them there su long as they were alll clent, notwithstanding what pressure might be brought to bear, ‘The engines und other mate. rial which he found worthless are now tn admire able condition, and with them and his splondiily: trained forceo he has fought through “the many heayr fires which this elty bas had to encounter during bis administration, Ho has the confidence of the Insurance meu, and of all the property- holders. Keening alool from alt polftieal in- trignes nud al) contests of factions, he has stuck to his duty, and to that alone, devoting. to tt dars und nights of tireless toll, Yet, not- withstanding all this, he js sigtea out by the Mayor as a viction ul proscription almply be- cause he will not use his Influence with his em. ployes to extort from them a yoluntary consent to on unnoceraary reduction. The sorrospondenes on this subject, which eas made public lato yesterday afternoon, fs as follows: T WANT YOUR RESIGNATION. ; Curosdo, Tuly 3, 1879,—-1f, Kenner; Flee Mar- shal—sins Ow the Uth day af dune inetructions from ttle office were Issued to you to restrict the stpenditures of your Department to the amotnt prescrived by the law approved May ‘11, 1879, Im= iting the tesuance of warrants drawn and inened in anticipation of tha collection of taxes alrendy levied to 7h percent of the total amount of said tax tery, At different times aince that 1 have been jn consultation with you as to the mode of reatric- Hon “to be carried out by yon, You drew up and presented to mo your plan. which = among other things contatned onc based upon on reduction of the aniariew af your force to the amount of f per cent npon each dreman's walary, J then requested and jn- structed you to vielt’ cach ono of the station. or engina-honscs to explain to the men thy necesnity of the act. and to persuade them (o agreo to the reduction by voluntary action, You promined mo todono. On the fiat day of this month you ad> dreased me 8 communication 10 the effect that iho matter had cen laid before the battallon; that three had voted in favor of the reductions, 14 had voted ageinay tt, and five were absent, ‘To-day you ine formed me that yuu wad ‘not visited the stations, ae Thad instructed you to do} that you 8 nut think Wo proper rou ahould Influence the mon; and admitted tat une of the Aldermen had Vieited the stations and adviscd the men to vote aeainat the reductian, and yon admitted that you had not endeavored to counteract the infinonce of said Atderman, Aa lt ls absolutely necessary that the heads of the differont departments abould be In accor! with pte Chern so the policy of expenditures in run- 2 the C WHA THIN IT OVER, July 3, 187070 tae don. Carter I, Mayor of the City of Clicago—sins T pave che houor to acknowledge the receipt of Your lotter requesting my re fon a6 Pra Muraual, tau Jeet at once, and would roapectfully state twat Lhave taken tho matter under adyseement, Kespectfaily, M. Hexszit, ¥ire Marshal and Chief of Hrigade, _ DIAMISSBD, + Orriog, Ciicavo, July 9, 1870.~f, Hauner, Haq., Fire stareval—sins Lam in receipt Gf your latter of thle date, in anawer ta. my latter Sratae eae, Tequeating your rogipnation of tho oftice yua hold, in which you state that you havo taken the matter under advisement. Under the circumstances £ now notify you that youare hereby diecharred from said omice, and that you will urn over your office ta Mir, D. 4 ‘Swaens, who will ay- 1 ‘once. Very reapecttully, 1:-'®, Department at once Oanzan H. Hantisox, Meyor, — MATT'S STORY, HOW IT ALL HAPPENED, Soon after the Marshal's peremptory removal had become known yesterday, a ‘Tripuny ree Porter sought bim out and feuud bio Curcauo, larrisai Mavon's “any direct anawer—by remarking, deratand JULY 4, 1879-TWELVR altting unconcerned and at ease, with none of the outward and viaible signs of 2 mag who les been removed for a poor reason from a respousl- ble and honorable positions “Welt,'" said the reporter, this comesrather suddenly. Won't it canse some little troublein the force? “No,” sald the Sfarshal, promptly. ‘So far as the Fire Denartment {s concerned there should be no uneasiness in the public mind. It is not disorganized in consequence of anything which bis been sstd* in the papers this morning or yesterday. I had {nstrocted the offfcers—that is, the chicts of battalfons— to notify their company officera and also the members ‘of the respective compaoles to be quiet, and to attead to thelr own business as Usual, and not to enter into controversics or discussions with people in thls matter, Of course, at that time J hind no {dea, really, a8 to what had transpired; ‘but I can assure yout tliat a8 far as the Department ia concerned it {6 all right, and the men will attend to thelr, business when they are called upon.” : “When did tic Mayor firet speak to you about this reduction busiuess}"! “THE FIRST INTIMATION Trecetved from him was n communication, the same as évery head of a Department received, requesting wie to confine expenses withit | 7% per cont of the appropriation, or, a8 A understood afterwards, of the tax levy. I re: ceived that communication from hit, & think, on Saturday; f forget the exact date,‘as I have not the document with me. The feltowing Monday there was a meeting of Ue Council. went to the Council Chamber und’ reaneated the Chairman of the Committee on Fire und Water-—Ald. Thompson—to call the Cuminittee together that Thursday ‘at 4 o'eluck, to take into consideration the advisability of complying with the Mayor's request, and he did 20, The following Wedneaday—the day previous to the meeting of the Committec—! was told the Mayor: desired to see. ine, abd went to his office. the way, previous to that I hind “been there’ severnl times to sechim, but owing to the crowd of people Ralting for bim I dida‘t have sn opportunity of; scemg lin. When lie got through with certain pores. he told me he wanted to see me recard- nt this reduction.” I told him that was what I wanted to see him about, Lalso told him then that I had requested the Chairmau of the Com- mittee on Fire und Water to call o meeting for the next day—that ts, Thuraday—at 8 o'clock, at which meeting I desired his presence. ‘Then slawyercamein—a prominent lawyer here— and ‘said-to me he wauted to talk to the Muyor for one minute, I said ‘All right. sir; I will step out.’ I remained tn the oftico whiie the Mayor and this lawyer were in his private office for tenty minutes, Then, it belng after 12 o'clock,—my dinner-tour,—L sald to the Mayor, ‘guess Lhad better call in Jater and sce you.’ He sald then, again, he wanted to sce me with regard to this reduction, and he would call on me, 71 said, ‘All right, afr? The followiny day, at 8 o’ctock, . (‘THE COMMITTER HAD ASSEMBLED in my office. Thera were four members of the Committee when the Mayor came in, Ho opened the conversation by atating his desire and wishes. Hosald he dealred to take oa re- sponsibility in this matter, und that ho {elt ns thoogh it should . come Voluntarily from thu Department,—that {s, this reduction. | When he got through J caid to him, ‘Now, Mr. Mayér, you baye atruck the very point that causcd ine to request the Chair- man of the Committes on Firound Water to call this meeting, Now, in your statement you say that you don't desire or wish to take any re- sponsibility inthis mattor,: My opinion {s ttiat somebody has got to take eome responsibility. Peraonally, L feel as though} had no authoris: to,” Alter making this rewark, ho sata that Ladld not bo woul re . PUY SOMBUODY,IN MY PLACE THAT WOULD.- Ashanged the subyect—thot is, I did pot make ‘Mr. Mayor; the situation oft facts ‘am they” ar Last year the appropriation was made in bulk for thfs Depart- ment, as well os for ‘every other, There ‘Was no question as to the autherity that 1 had at that tfiné, as the head of this Departinent; to reduce the salaries 5 per tent; but this year the appropriation {s made different,—that ts. tu say, the Common Connell have passed different ftems. ‘They bave designated a certain atnount. to be paid cach individual “member of the Fire Departinent in accordance with the position that be holds in the Department.’ told olin) {did not think 1 bad anv authority to chance that Appropriation, inaginuch 28 my Understanding of the charter was thut when an appropriation vas once made It vavoot be raised or reduced. Furthermore, 1 had given bonds to the Sinount of 325,000, and ft was a question to my mind whether, if 2 did get that way, the law warranted me in doing ft, and whother my- self aud my bondsmen would not be legally Mable, T referred him then to the appropri tion, and he stated that he didn’t exnetly und: atand it in that Micht. And afew moments a terwards he lett the rvom. I then ealled the Committeo's attention to the fact, and showed thein my position, They of course wanted to know what could be done. £ showed them the progress that I had made, wherein I had reduced to the minimum the amount appro- priated for different items, such os repairs of apparatus, new apvaratus, tools, etc, and also supplies, nnd various other items: I told, the Committee then that whatever was done I wanted to keep within bounuds,—within the law,—so a8 not to make myself and my bouds- wen Hable, ‘Thera was one of the Committee, certainlyy who expressed bimeetf to the elfect. iat that was correct us far as he was concerned, and that, fu case it was necessary, be would bo awitness to that fact. ‘That was all that was Tam afraid you don't: |. Teale done wt that time, auy more than that, If anything ¢lse turned uv, I was to draw up a communication und give it to the Committce, which ther might put into the Counell the tol- lowing Monday. But f submitted nu report to them, nor any sitecestions ur recominendations, “7 Judge about a week-afterwarus, i HAD ANOTHER COXSCRSATION Wit THR ‘MAYOR, at which he suggested the propriety af iy call~ ng the inen together, or of visiting the dtifer- cut houses, and stating to them that it was nut bie act or desiro thot prompted blin te do this, but ih was a matter of duty; and to suggest tut they should nerec to a reducllon, whatever the amount inight be. 1 dign't. have the time, really, to yisit tha different en- gins ous, and to talk tw tte meu, as he recommended or suggested, but a wevk seo Inst Saturday evonlng, 1 called all of the officers of the Departinunt, including the chlefs anc company officers, to meet ut bas ginelouse 13 to take somo action ju reference tote juueral of Mr. Coyle, who was druwned at Blate street bridge. After the arrangements wore mado for the Juneral, L culted the olwera! attention to tho fact und to the conversation that L had had with the Mayor und Committee, and stated that I had gone to werk nad cut down the different appropriations: and items to the lowest amount possible, but that it would be actually uecesaury, tu Keep within the 45 per cout, unless sumetuing else should ocvur, to probably reduce salaries by Uor 7 per cents that {s, Gor 7 per cent for seven amouthe, £ forget now the date when I SIGNKD AND ISSURD AN ORDER to the chicfa of the different battatlons re- questing them, on or before June 3, ta renurt to me by compautes the umber uf men iu thelr respective buttalions whu would agreo yolune tinuly to tule 6 per cent fess than the salary ar proprivted by the Council jor the next alx monthes In ‘compliance with thut of course { received the revors, and L submitted to the Mayor a copy of the onter I issued, uid alse the sebult of the votu taken, Mr, Hurrison called at my office to-day noon, Juat after diuner, wel said to me thst tra DIDN'T THINK TAD MUCK INFLUENGR. with the men In:the Departinent. LE told hin f thought L would buve considerable influence tf It became necessnry tO uso it. So then auld, *Why this report as you aubinitted if Dhl rou call at the different compantes, mind state Jue exactly what 1 told yout? said, No, afr, § did not. ‘Then sata he, + icyou advise them to do so and so!’ Laald, ‘No, sir, My instructions to the ollicers and chiels of battal- fong wera not to advieo them either to vote In fuyor or against: tho mens: ure, «1 understood you t6 say thut you wanted these men to yote voluntarily with- out being bulldozed. He said then mati 1 could not get tless ten to consent to these things, he would put somebody else in my placa who would. 1 told him that was the prvileze be had, Leupposcd, ‘Then he retired, PRANK aDams, Corporation-Countel, left word at the Fire- Alarm office while | was absent at dinner to the coffuct that he desired to seo me at 2% 1 called at bis office at 2 aud he asked with recard to the diticulty 1 had with Mr. Here tison, aud 2 tol bin = thas there vas no I talked ho advised mo to ace Mr. Harrison, anc ocension for it at all, with Adams on the éubject and Onally he sald he would send for him. He went down stairs Amself, [ wuces, and asked Mr. Macrison to come up Into his office, Presently, Mr. Marri- ton did came up, and] atated that Mr. Adama had sent for me. not knowing what for, but that it might be slout the diticulties that appeared. to be brewing. [told Mr. Harrleon that my oplulon was that there waa no occasion for any trouble, He sald he felt that war; then he went onto taik aul repeated tha remarks ba mate — prevfost hy aml, of course, acked him -Aeqin whether he did not say tliat he desireti this thing to be done volua- tarily. Hosatd ‘Yes.’ He wanted it to come voluntarily from the Departments tut be did hot expect that the members of the Department would voluotarily givaup Sper centoft their salary, ‘Bat T expected to get from the heada of the Department. o report to that effoct.’ Fi. nally, 1 told:him f was following out his direc Yuna; tat i, ASKING THESE MEN TO YOTR VOLUNTARILY ‘upon the question that hall been aubinitted to them... Then the question came un ns to what influence had been used towards carry inue this, J said { had used no iniitence. I told hitn th my.dnstructions to the officers were not to JoiMnidoto the men elther one way or the Asher, Out they should allow them to yote as ‘thelr consclences dictated, The question came upthen abont some person fnfluencing these ‘men,—adyvising them not to vote for the reduc. fion, Heasked me if Ihad heard anything of the kind. Isald Thad, Thad heard that Ald. Dixon had been arotind to some of the houscs advising them to vote“no."' He wanted to know then what t had done to counteract that, Ltold bim Ldfd not consider that I bad any good right to go out and do anything of the kind, ‘Then he told me that my actién, accord- ing to his jpommenty was not {n harmony with the Administration. I told Lim I thought I had done ererything for the Administration, as I had for his predecessor, but he sald he could pnt seo tt. Ife did not think I bad. He said that was all bo Jad to say on the subject, Le retired at Jast,— or rather be said he wanted to sce Mr. Adame, and retired, Inside of half an hour I cota communication from him notifying me of the fact that NY RESIGNATION WOULD DE ACCEPTED. Talmply sent hin a note’back atating that I had recelyed hfs cotnmunication nnd would take the Matter under advisement, to which he sent me notice thut Ll ‘should consider myself dis- charged." THE SUM IN CONTROVERSY. "Tell me, Marshal, what sould be the total amount of this 5 per cent reduction which has Jed to your removal!” “Thu actual amount for the next lz months {s about S per cent." “\Ts the reduction a necessary onct!? “Thoda conversation with the Committes revious to my receiving this order from the Mayor, aud Mr, Gurney’s opinion at that time was that probably they might pay us lone as they could, until they rau the amount upte 75 per vent of the levy, and then that possibly they might hayeto Walt until they collected) the tax before the firemen got the balance. 1 spoke to the Mayor on that subject, ond he dian’t secm to think well of it, I might alate here, iu this convection, that on the frat inter- view, whon the committee were there, the Mayor sald lt was actually necessary that something should be done with these departments. 1 asked him whuther the representative of the city would mect the men half-way; but he didn’t seem to entertain that thought favorably. ‘That was iu the protenve of the Committee.” “How much are the men getting now! “Sorenty-flye dollars a month.’ r “Faw much bave they got fu cash this yeart”? “Three months.”® * And the rest will be fn scrip! “Noj the appropriation: originally was for our Departinent $130,000 in cash; $120,000 of that it was calenlated to spend in salartes, and $10,000 was to bu retained fog the purpose of purchashy hay, oats, and feed for the horses. If te had to purchase those articles with scrip we would have to pay fo much mora that last year ant this year Lasked to have this $10,000 reverved in.cash for that purpose; that would Jenve, you Bee, still cast cnouzh, when collected from ‘misceituncou’ recelpty,-to pay another month's salury in cash; then they would get eleht months’ scrip.” “ Tow much do the men get for the scrip?” “Tt fs selling at Of cents on the dollar,’ “Then, in addition to this 6 per vent, the Mayor wants to knock off 5 por cent more, making a total of 11 per cent?’ ‘Tatts it? “That is coming down pretty bord on the mien”? “Yes. Juat look at TUE INJUSTICE OF THE THING! Last year our Department was tue opty one in the iwhote City Government where the men were reduced in salary, ‘nat 1 did myselt, 1 deducted 5 per cent from thelr salaries, be- clining with the Ist day of January. ! actually fecl now that {t would be unjust to our men to reduce thelr enlaries when those of the other employes of the City Government remaiii os they Were made by the Council.’”* “'Didw't the Mayor see thiatt' “T called his attention to it to-day.” “Had the Mayor ever suggested any other Riau of briuging the expenses within the appro- priation “No; he eurgested nothtng, and recommend- ed nothing except what I liave told you. All that he ead was that I should sce these men aud tell them the necessity of the reduetion, One of the members of the Committee on Fire and Water said at the time of the meeting that. the Mayor made a mistaku fo trying to reduco these men’s salarics.”” 2 © Waa 10 sugioation made as to reducing, the mtumber of menf? “ Not by him; not by the Mayor, It was ang- weated by a member uf the Committee on Fire add Water that £ should LAY OFP 4 NUMBER OF MEN froin the different companies, Some citizens also suggested it, I aatd that the oumber of men to-day connected with this Department, in the differcut conipanics, was really, if nnything, tov anally that it they were tu reduca it any. more {t would sfiuply CRIPPLE THE COMPANIES. As far as J am personal neerned, I would rather wee a reduction tak@™place “by disbanding acompany than by celpoling, every olher com- pany tithe Dopartincat, for I: would rather one eflicient compauy than ‘halt a dozeo which are inetficient.? © The chiefs, as you uuderstand {t, then didn't. tdyo any inetructlins to the men sbout yori one way or the others! No, they did uot. All they did was to repro- sent tome the sentiments of Ue mon on that polut. 1 ought to gay that the actlon of the men fs o matter of pride on their part, ft fy not a question of 5 percent with them, but they think they have been unfatrly treated, and for Tutt reason yuted as toanlmously as Wey did.” ag they be weprtyed of that $ per cont by the city authorithes{?* “If you have the charter as a guldo they can- not. Now, to show the feeling of the Depart: tment, let me tell you something, Four years Axo, When wo hay the dtteulty with the to Mayors, whay the Council eae fu that spring they Weat tu work amd the Corporation Counsel drew up a resolation or a kind ofan agreement that was to he signed ty the different emploses ast the giembers of tie diferent departments. In wluning tat agreement they agreed to work ut areduced sulury, Of course all stynot it, and ticle pay was reduced the atnount specified. In the fall of that same year Vere were four ar (lve mon discharged from our Hepartment. Lwas given to ugderstand along Jate in December, or Iutor tu the winter, that they svere goalie to suc for part the back pay which they vlaimod Nad been unjustly and ile galty taken from them,—that the signing of this Qucument was compulsory; they were etther ta take less, or else bu disinissed, ‘They hod been faformed that it would not stand tn law, and, they proposed: to test it, ‘They wore oly through the Departinent witha view of collecting tuflicient inoney to cinploy an attorouy, ‘They had been previously given to undgratand by tig Rentleman (who, by the way, tea clty uficial to- day) that if they woutl raise a cortain a:nount he would take Lhe cuse in hand and on gage ta callect trois the city, and, if hevollectud, he Wanted 9 certalp additionalsua. ‘I to WY eard,-—sorne of the alltcery reported thut each Was tho case,—aud i sent for sume of the ollicers and told thew ff there was wnything of that kind jn contemplation | wanted ft stupped; that £ didn’t propose for that stoull amount. to get inte any dillcattles,—to have themen sue the city. ‘Khe regult was that the matter was hush: ed up, the metubera of the Departinent dign't coutribute anything, and, therefore, there heyer Wasa suit, called ifs’ Honors attoutlon to Unat fact. . “Cun you think of anything that you have done which could have influenced the Mayor in this tater?” “No, nut that I can think of, Ihave never douse anything to run counter to bim. 1 slwaya culd, CER When he was acaudidate bofore the election, Inutiu my vpiulon be would make & |. muetl ez) z S food Mayor for the citr, and Inever did any- thing then to injure his chances.'? “Do you accept this action as final"? “Taimoly notified bim that I wonld take the matter into conshteration; but my term of office expires on the first of next month, and of coursa be will then have an upportanity to Sppoiot my auvcessor.”” MAYOR NARRISON. Mls #TAtEMENT, Tg order to get nfullstatementot the Mayor's posftion on so Itnpurtonta matter as this, are- porter for Tix Trinvne called at his house Inst. evening, and, after waiting for bin to.return from the Council Chamber und an exploration Of the State street dives, which be js apparently #0 much In earnest abont breakiog up, succend- ed in -getttny that for which he came—the Mayor's defense of the step he bad taken, Mr. Harrison, at first, remarked that he thought the correspondence between bimaelf and Mr, Bennet gave all the esaeut{al points inthis mat- ter, but a {ittle reportorial urging sutticcd to show bim that the importance of the aten de- manded from him a full anil explictt statement of the reasons which had moved hiro. “TI will then atate, said hls Monor the Sfayor, after lighting bis mecrachaum and tak- fog a few introductory puffs thicreat, * that MY FEELINGS TOWARD MARSHAL NANNER Were of the most fayoratie character. I had No expectation whatever of disturbing him while I was in office, unless something occurred to foree it. But when [ gave my instructions onthe Mh of Juac, which tostractions were founded upon what I believed to be a necessity of the city’s finances, I went to Mr. Benner and to Mr. Dixon and requested them to study the inafter up and devise some means of supporting: thelr Departments within the 75 per cent, as re- quired by law. After a good deal of discussion with the heads of both Departments, I sug: gested to them to advise with thelr oflicers and men, as I was very averac to taking any steps Which would not be satisfactory to them. ,The Police Department at onco a'lopted a plan of reducing the exponditures in several ways, ons of which was to reduce the pay of the mien to £350, the amount at which the salaries were fixed last year. As that would not be sufllctent, still, to come whhin the reqtifrements, that, too, after saving in t the other modes that they conld suggest, they determined to Jay off a certain pumber of their men for fixed periods, so asso get it around through the entire fores during the remainder of te year, As faras I could Jearn, this had the consent of ail but two or thgee precfocts out- Alde, and two or three preciuets to the city. WHEN I WENT TO MIL. BENNER toconsult with him, giving what I thought to be the nacessity of the -vosition in which we were placed, Mr. Booner rather declined to jook into the retrenchmentuntll ho could satiety himself of the neecssity of the thing: under the Jaw, Tids rather surprised me, at the time, and I stated to bim, os bo was ware, 1 was geting under the opinion of the Jaw us given by the Corporation Counsel, In t, that opinion was set forth In the instruc. tions issucd to We heads of departments from the Mayor's office. Hut he seemed disposed to Jook into the law bimself, As he bad given bonds inthe sum of $25,000, he thoneht be ought todose. Ithen remarked to him that, if he thonght it incumbent. upon him to look into the tav, I should fecl dispored to get somebody else in his placc that would not bave to examine the Jaw at all, but would take the opinion of the Law Nepartment. I thought this bint to Mfr. Benner was sufficfant, Je acemed so at first. “ At oy next interview with him be informed me thut ho was looking inty the subject aerious- ly. Some time since he submitted tome bis lan of reduction. -This plan contained several hems of reductiou, but not touching yet a salary, He found thut he still could not come within the requirements ‘of. the law. without, reducing on the remaloderof the year, including the month of dune, I suegestedto him not to touch the month of June, but to take the per- contae off the remaining six months, riving ns my reason for that, that June was then consid- ; erably advanced. He acquiesced fo it, I then sugecsted to him the propriety of GOING TO RACH OF MIs ENGINE-OUSES, asked him the number of them, and asked bim if ha could noc go to each one of the houses, meet all the officers and men together fo each house, and explain the circumatances in which wo were placed, the Jaw,” und the fact that the Inw was not brourht about by our action; that we knew nothing of it; that Iwas ignorant of it until it was approved by the Governor—had never heard of tt in fact; and that he himself ought to have known of this more than myself, aa he had been In con- stant attendance with amember of the Legista- ture,—and f, boing away, liad not done uu toadyise those wen, to exptaiy to thein also the foct that next year we would be circumscribed atifl nore than this; that for the year 1878 we. made a levy of 2.85 upon the yatuation of prop- erty in the city, which yaluotion was about 151,000,000; that: that 286 brought in §3- 775,000 in round numbers; but that next yoat, ff the valuation suould oe the same, we would, be able wo levy upon it only about $2,600,000 for genural purposes. As the 2 por centis included, it will be neceesury to ratse cnough to pay the interest on our bonded debt. ‘The levy } for general purposes was about $3,100,000, ue $500,000 more than we will be able to levy next year, Lusked tim to explain tu them that the city suthorities lad no control whatever ever the <Aseersors, and, therefore, we could not caleulste ot any facreused assess- ment, Ttold him that 1 thought tt proper that this thing shoul come from the Department as a voluutary act; that 1 thought it would te very grateful to the public, and would be benoflcial to the Departmont, whereas a forced roduction would bring about friction und Jarring. Mr. Benoer promised mo to visit his engine-bouses ond carry out my instructions. | expected the reduction to vommence on the Ist day of duly, buton the Ist { received from Mr, Benner a communication in which be stated that * UE MAD SUBMITTED THE PROrOSsITION tothe battalion, that they bad tuken a yote, ani that out of 832 nen five were absent, three yoted forthe reduction, and 44 voted against. it... Thin looked to tne at once vs an unfriendly action on the partetine Department. Yester- day J tried to see Mr, Benner several times, but falled. This moruing 1 went to his ollice and remarked, ‘Mr, Benner, 1t seeing you have lost your influences with your men’ On his asking ome why, “I stuted to hin that, 1s be had caly had tufluence cnongh yo vonyince three men that they should come into accord with ine, 1 thought his Influence wus pretty well gone. Ho replied, tn substance, Uiat he bad not thought it proper to use any influence; that he had left it to them. 1 then remarked to him that i was afraid tt would be Necessary for me then to eet some person who would PREL THE PROPRIETY OF UsING 1M INYLUENCE with the men, A fow momonts afterward, a jarue oumber of fremen belug in the Comp- trofler’s ofllce getting their pay, L mat one or tio of them—quite prominent ones, and oud inep, too—whom 1 kuniy, snd asked them tow itcame that Uiey voted as they did. then Jearned that ‘intlucace from aboys ’—those may vot have been the precise words, but what was said wus synonymous with that—bad been brought to bear upon them to vote as they alld. i en agent fur Mr, Swente, uid tatked with blm on the aubject. While be was in my ofllca Mr, ‘“Aduina came to zoe and informed me that Me, Benuer was ttt tils office nnd wished to talk with me, went up lo acohim, Mr, Benner oxpialned hls views, nnd! informed him of what £ had fearned sbuut these lofluences being Drought to leur upon the men, aud that [suspected that ho had himself rather WORKED AGAINST ALY IDHAS Inatead of tn favor uf thein, He wuld pu that he had not, but that Ald, Dizon had goné to the engine-hotses and udviecd the meu not to agree to the reduction, £ asked him If he hud ene denvoret to counteract Ald. Dixon's ine Muence Mia reply was that he had not, IT then asked bim if he bud gone to the engine-houses to advisa those Bien as Tad justruvted and requested hint ta do, He replied that he pad not; Umut be had thought it proper to leave them unliilucuced,. Athen Ins Sormed him that Lehould bo compelled tu get sumo person WHO WOULD BB mOnE DISYOSED TO FOLLOW MY ADVIOR, Liwrote my letter, asking for hte resignation, ‘The roply camo that he had takon ft under advisement. I felt that that waa not a proper Jotter for iim to reply tome, und f fmmediately dagued the order—og wrote my lettor—dischare- fog bin aud turning the Department over to Mr. Bwenle. 1 did this, while bostily, yer not with- out reltoction, for l was thoroughly aware that Mr, Swonls was # competent oliicer, ud, fu my own opinion, would conduct a i 3 PRICY S71VE CENTS,‘ } ee ieee Cie) y the Depa? oat guite as woll as Mr. Benner, for T bavey’ge ive L have been In my present po: Altlon, 1€F AF 4 that Mr. Swenic haa, and Has ka: quite as® Sh ta do with the reat laxoment of the J~ © tment os Mr. Beoner, it ot more, Therefore-t felt that the city’s” interests could not be injured by aubstitatlog. him for Mr. Benner. I most acknowledge here that tere have been : oe SOUE OTUER Cases, previous to this, in the madagement of the oftice in making contracts Jur hose and other things, that had not been ‘satisfactory tome, aud Lf was the more willing on -that account to act as hava : .dono. ‘Thera have been dealers {n material for the Firo Department who bave chme tw ine stave 1 have edu Installed in the Mayoralty and stated that they would not bid for suoplies unless L would Iook tnto the opening and awarding of the bide myself. They wontd not bid if Mr. Benner had sbaolute control of tt.!? a “Stay J ask you to give methe names of come of those dealcra, provided it fs not an improper thing to doi" : “Twill not state them, Those thin; over, had made me a little more watchful proba-’ bly than I would have been, {wiit here stato that 1 entered upon my office with every Prejudice that it was possible for -a man to have fo Chicago In favor of Mr. Benner. J advised Mr, Medill to place him in that pust-- on before be waa placed there, my argument: however, tule: partiealarly that the true way to Increase the morale.of the Fire Department’ waa, if poss(bfe, to promote men tooffice jostead of taking them from the ontaide, Mr. Medill ab, the tle being disposed to put auother person * an autelder—at the head of the Department. : ‘48 THE PUDLIG MAY NOT. UNDERSTAND: thoroughly the position {n. wofch I am placed,. {will here alate that the city nay collect con- alderable moneys from back-tazes, during. the ; year;,bat I bave felt that I had no right to cal- culate upon such resources at all. the city, shonld make acalculatiun upon the resources: which it abould not And available, it has no Dower to have recourse to borrowing ns indb : viduals, or os head of the City Governments In the present condition of our yolua-- fon the city cannot ‘borrow ono dollars and I sec but two ways by which we can: get rid of the necessity of issulng acrip. One is fo curtatl the expenses go as to actually acquire a surplus to in cash, Theother is to incrcaso. the valuations so much that we can under tho- conatitutional requirement borrow enough to get rid of scrip. The Constitution restricts tho + city to raking the inaebtedness 6 per cent upon ite valuation. ‘The present Indebtedness of Che caro ts about $18,000,000, That requires a valu- ation pf ‘about $275,000,000.. On th yoluation this = year—I mean = -1873— 31,000,000, We “must, therefore, adi to our valuation $144,000,000 before we cam: comiaencs tu borrow one veut, Any increased yaluation makes ua Mable to an fnercase of} State texation, which ts expended, to a largo} extent, In other parts of the State, and not im’ Chicago, Thereforo it -bohoores the city to: keep ite valuation as low as possible.” , “tr IS MAISED AS 4 POINT, ON THE OTHER. aIDs, . Mr. Harrison, that the Council has fxed tho galarics and the number of the meu, and that! Marshal Benner, os -the bead of the Fires De- partinent; has not the poier to reduce their pay “That is true, aud as the head of the Firo: Dopartment cannot, 28 the head uf the Police Department, reduce {ts numerical forco with-. absolutely — cripplin Mt becathe ome the more. proper that Mr. Benner shoutd use all of bis endeavors to induce his men to submit yolun- farily (or by voluntary action) to a reduction. The ordinance fixes the Bei Mr. Benner cannot lessen that poy. ie cannot reduce the numberof men onan engine without de stroving the yaltle ofthat engine. His only mode of reducing the men would be by discon- tnulne the use entirely of some particular en- Glue or engines, which might be yéry injurious to the interests of tho city. But his force could. agree to take less than the ainount fixed by tho Conuell. ‘Lhe salaries wero fixed by tho Coun- cit befure this law went into effect, and betoro they dreamed that such ‘a law was on ‘the tapis, The.Poltce Department can bo lessened without absolutely Uertroying its eDi- clency. Of course {t more or less injures it, but it does not destroy it, Bata certatp umber of men ore absolutely required to run an enuthe.; Theretore Mr. Benner know, and it was discussed between us, that it was impossible te cut duwn his forve, and that {t would be Injudielons tu dls- Dense with avy of his companios. Therefore, also, Mr. Benner knew that he could LESSEN THE SALARIES IN BUT TIVO WAYS. One was by the consent of hilsinen, The other woul! be by discharging them cntirely, and re- enlisting tem on a different basis; and cven' then hfs inen might claim thot they were on- titled ty the pay as fixed by the Appropriation ‘8, how ordinance. It was this” fact—the knowl- edge of ft—thut mado me -feel “that Mr. Benner's refusal to properly explain to his men the uecessitics of the clr cumstunces and the absolute necesaity for re- daclng the pay uuder the present levy und in prospect of the levy for next year, was hostitc to me, and made me feel thit-he was not In accord with the Admf{nistration In his polley of reduciug taxation and kecping within the lawa.!” “Do you think, Mr. Harrison, that AU. BWENIE WILL BE IN HARMONY WITH TOUT". ‘“4f he should not bel should. bo foreed to get gone one else who will oe fu harmony. [ have not cunsutted with blm yet. ‘That was not necessary, because be was nover asked to bine upon hisinco what Lasked Mr. Benner to do. it he refuses to redace thelr salaries then there in Dut ove recuurse left. ‘That will-bo to dis chance them and then relniist-them under an agreement.” “There will, no doubt, be a good deal of tall, Mr. Durrison, about the crippling of the Firo Department through your action, and the jue surance compatiles especially will complata.” “Let them, L will say emphatically ‘that £ haye [carneit, on diligent inquiry, for some. past, tut it Mr, Benner shoutd Have been taken frum us by the act of God, the City of Chicago would pot have been burned up. Iam not ova of these who feel that there is but one ida who cau run any particular Department. If Mr. Benner bv — really 80 necessary it would become nocessary for the City of Chicago to iuaurc his life fora very cnormote sum, or Ws would be ina doolorabla voudivion. Aud ! will say here that. if Lam not yery touch inislnformod, thore fs an impression In the Fire Department itgelf that’ Swenle Is tha exccutlye man of the Department, ulid that Mr. Bonner bas been oxtrowaly ornamental, In saying this L don't wish to disparage Mr, Ben- net, but aslmopty tu place Mr, Swenie lo a position that Lbelleve the men uoder bim think hie antitied to, “1 would state here that, alter Mr. Beuner left Mr. Adains sud int this afternoon, Mr. Aduings foformed ino tbat Mr, Beaner bad sn- formed him—what 1 atready kuow—that Mr, Kenner was « Democrat, and had been i favor of my success to my election, ‘Therefore, l CANNOT DE ACCUSAD OF HAVING ANY PARTISAN FAELING in thls action, As to Mr, Bwente’s politics, I know nothing whateyor. 1 have nover spoken. to Mr. Swenio unell this afternoon, that 1 ra- incinber, a doven words in my life. In (act, when Sir. Swenie cameto my olleo 1 didu’s know him, Jhadeccu him uften, but nover ' Knew thatit was he. .t knew he was one of thy ollleera uf the Department, but I didy’t know that ho was Alr. Swente.”? “TO BUM IT ALL UP, Mr, Harrison, you claim that your actlon has been in the interest of the city at targe und the taxpayeral™ To aum ft all up; my nection was based upon my desire to promoty the futeresss of the city wud af the taxpayers, aud U fect that I wilt bo powerless ta do the Thops ta do for thy. city -t€ “1 fall to have the heads of tte various departments thoroughly tu accord withime. And wheo L say avcord, [ mean tt y—ot political accord, byt that ac cord that will egable mo to kuuw ‘that tho Vartous-hvade will endeavor as far a3 their ability goea to lessen the expenses of the city und to reduce taxation, Ant I wish here to state omphatieally thar’ { covsider ts reduction of tasation fu Chicago as above evorsthing else desirable, ‘he city canuut prosper; real catate, of which [ sm au uvner, cannot increase in value; and, unless it duca lu~ crease, there will yet be a lurge oumber of us who will go to tho wall.”? THE ALDERMEN UNANIMOUS YOR BENNER. A reporter talked with moat of ihe Aldermen on the subject last ovening, uud found that they almost Upanimously condemned the Mayor's action. Jt had pecn due so suddenly and at sucha late hourin the afternoon that tew of thein had heard until the news was brought to them there, and with one accord they expresscd: aurprise and regret. ha ALD, TUROOP a thought the Mayor bat done a yery foolish |