Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1894 — WANTS THE CITY HALL SITE. [ARTICLE]

WANTS THE CITY HALL SITE.

Cook County Commissioners Make a Big Demand on Chicago. At the next meeting of the County Board of Cook County the first gun will be fired in a long legal battle, the duration of which will probably not be measured by the present generation, when County Attorney Judd presents an order for the Board's approval making a formal demand upon the city of Chicago for the possession of the city hall property. City officials are at present inclined to consider this as a joke, or, at best, a bluff on the part of the County Commissioners. It is thought that the latter have an object to gain, the nature of which is not yet apparent. Attorney Judd said, according to a dispatch, that the county’s intentions were serious. “I shall,” said he, “ask the County Board to pass an order making the demand on the city merely as a necessary legal formality. The city will, of course, refuse to comply, ana then I shall file a bill for the county. It will probably come up in the Circuit Court. I expect to get a decision and carry the case before the Supreme Court in the October term of this year. “I am of the opinion that the county hes a legal right to the land. As for compensating the city for its building, t> at is another question, but I don t think the courts will think it necessary. This is not precisely a question of equity or justice, you see. Neither side wid be robbed, whichever wins, because the two municipalities are practically the same. The city pays seven-eighths of the county taxes, and the issue only concerns the best use of the people’s money and the people’s property. The talk is already started by some of the County Commissioners as to the disposition of the City Hall grounds when they get them. A 45,0.0,009 building for county purposes, with an in fiosure in which is to be the jail, is one of the projects discussed. Corporation Counsel Rubens thinks the legal aspects of the suit are not worth worrying over. He thinks it would be fortunate for the city if the county won the suit, for the city could then enter into negotiations with the United States Government to exchange property on the lake front for the custom house block and thereon erect a new city hall.