CHICAGO'S AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 10

CHICAGO'S AFFAIRS

FINANCIAL TROUBLES

CAUSES EXPLAINED

(By Telegraph.) : (Special to "The Evening Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

An explanation of tho financial tangle in which the Chicago municipal affairs have beconio involved was given yesterday by Mr. A. Bennie, a-visitor.from that' city.; "You see," he said, "a'fictitious valuation was placed on property and it runs so.high that they had to revalue thecity. That naturally takes time in a city like Chicago with a population of three millions, and the result was that no taxes were collected in 1929. The civic authorities were consequently placed in a very awkward position with practically no money coming in to finance their various ventures'and to pay wages, etc. I have been reading the reports by cable in the papers, but I "do not think the position is quite as serious as is indicated. For one thing, the authorities will collect two taxes this year, and that will adjust a good many of their difficulties. It is just a question of time." ' One aspect of the financial upheaval he mentioned was the increase in crime following .the discharge of a great number of''policemen."..Each city in the .United States!maintained its own police \force, and Chicago had.had to retrench severely.. ''.'.,.'"..";■' .' < Our <ihain'' trouble," Mr. Kennie said/ "is that we have far too many politicians and they don't blend well with our diversified population. Crime has increased since ithe war and feuds among the bootleggers are frequent. It is difficult to suggest a solution to the p'rpblcm because there are ..;so .many, aspects to be considered., Some /juries dare not convict for fear of reprisals,' especially .when they have to deal with tho more. influential gangs, while the judicial system also.lends itself to corruption, although I do not say, that it is corrupt.','. ..: • /* • ■ He added that Chicago was really a prosperous.city, and.the people were very optimistic and did not worry much about being in debt. They looked to the future with absolute confidence and were now preparing for a world's fair in 1933 to commemorate the centenary of the city. The last world's fair in Chicago was held in 1893 on the occasion of the Columbia. Exposition.