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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2013
The Illinois Constitution of 1870 prohibited the State legislature from enacting local or special laws incorporating cities, towns, or villages, or changing or amending the charter of any town, city, or village. In 1872 an act was passed, providing for the government of all cities in the State of Illinois. In 1875 Chicago abandoned its special charter, and accepted the provisions of the general law of 1872. This law, with a series of amendments, has continued for a generation as the fundamental law of the city of Chicago. The very rapid growth of the city, however, in territory, in population, and in the complexity of its municipal interests has rendered the law of 1872 wholly inadequate for the present needs of the great metropolis. Widespread agitation in regard to this subject led to the initiation, in 1903, of a constitutional amendment authorizing the State legislature to enact special laws regarding the government of Chicago, providing that such laws should not go into effect until approved by the voters of Chicago. This amendment was adopted by the people of Illinois in November, 1904, after a vigorous campaign had been carried on in its favor by the citizens of Chicago. The legislature of 1905 met very shortly after the adoption of this act, so that a complete charter could not be presented to them. A bill providing for a new system of municipal courts, and abolishing the old “justice shops,” was prepared, however, by a citizens' committee; was presented to the legislature, and passed. A committee of the city council also drew up a proposed charter for the city, which was introduced into the State legislature, but of which only a small fragment was finally enacted. The term of the mayor was extended from two years to four; provisions were made enabling the city to secure the interest on its public deposits; and some other minor powers were contained in this rump charter. These acts were voted upon in November, 1905, and approved by the people. So far, however, as comprehensive legislation was concerned, very little had been accomplished, except the establishment of the new courts.
2 These facts were analyzed and discussed in the writer's report to the City Club on the Municipal Revenues of Chicago (1906).
3 The United Societies of Chicago consists of a membership of about 490 societies. “They include the Belgian-American Club, the Bohemian Benevolent Association, sixty lodges of the First Bohemian Catholic Society, the Concordia Mænnerchor, the Chicago Turn-Gemeinde, the Croatian Liberty Society, the Germania Club of Chicago, the First Hungarian Social and Sick Benevolent Association, the Krieger-Verein (Town of Lake), the Kreiger-Verein (South Chicago), the King Sobieski Society, the Luxemberger Philharmonic, the Luxemburger Sængerbund, the Militair-Verein, the Nord Chicago Mænnerchor, the Plattdeutsche Gilde (46 sections), the Pulaski Cavalry, the Roos Society, the Sant-Aldessandro Sokol Polski (Town of Lake), the United Swiss Organizations of Chicago, the United Croatian Societies (40 lodges), the Walhalla Society—in all 490 societies, representing over 90,000 voters of Chicago.”
4 At the close of the convention, Mr. Linehan, one of the leading labor members, had voted for the completed charter, and said, “If the members will organize, I will take pleasure in proposing them as delegates to the Federation of Labor.”
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