Chicago, Jan,. 23.
With Chicago's financial situation apparently going steadily fromsbad, to worse, Mr. Silas Strawn, a. pro minent Chicago lawyer and chief 'American delegate to the extratorri" {oriality investigation in China several years ago, as head of a citizens'—"'rdscue committee," estimated to-day that the city debt stands at approximately G9B40," 000,000 with 2 staggering burden, of interest to be met.
Mr. Strawn declared that political leaders: of the city, under the chief= tain ship of Mayor William Hale CBig Bill") Th responsible fort through their negligence, inefficiency, and downright dishonesty.
'An unofficial appeal has beet molle bythe city government to Chicago' business" men that they, should purchase $7,000,000. worth of "tax warrants," virtually notes against taxes to be collected, There is no question but that the need is desperate, with police, and sire department personnel redueed dangerous degree: and even the necessary sanitary and street cleaning work _opei restricted basis, but response to' the appeal.
The business clement has con= tently fought the election and reflection of Mr, Thompson and others of the self-styled "Big Bill the Builder" administration, dee claring that they were looting the wholesale, Every" newspaper in Chicago opposes the city adminis tration, School employees" numbering' 40,000-are now owed the sum of $11,000,000 in back pay, it was revealed by the Strawn commit toa to-day. Other departmental ployees are in similar condition, it was declared.
"Our political leaders have taites utterly and we are upon the verge of chaos," Mr. Samuel Strawn, fa designed to show @eclared "to-day in issuing fre
on has brought the Iakeside metro polis nearly to bankruptey, Quoting the fact that for three days, city administration leaders attempted without success to pers suade Chicago merchants to buy $7,000,000 worth of tax warrants raise money urgently needed for the city's most/vitel requirements, Mr. Strawn said that the reason, was that the merchants after yours of observation of, the functionings of the "Big Bill" administration "unin they would be throwing down a vat-hole" if they took atop 10 aid, "This is probably the most serious situation that has, over confronted an American city," continued Int. Strawn, "ye everybody stay ie asleep."
Meanwhile there is no coal for tha poot-house or tuberculosis hospitals, pensions can be paid to age city ex-employees. Garbage is not tying collected and it remains in tha firemen of Chicago have not been paid since early: last month according to My. Strawn, Jan. 25; Silas Strawn, Chicago lawyer who Reads the "citizene' rescue -com anitiae" which is striving to. save the city from imminent beakruptey, announced to-day that he has per= suaded wealthy private citizens' uy G§20,000,000 worth of city tax warrants waieh will cover the most Urgent. immediate reeds.
The banks refused to participate the purchase beecuice of the large indebtedness now. 0° standing.
The amounts will be pavehased as the municipality applies funds to the most needed objects, which in-chide sanitary work, street cleaning fand garbage collection, back pay of tenchers, firemen and policemen and employment of additional personnel to bring those forces back to. uld atrength—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.