ifying for itself first one local celebrity and then
another. "There's Johnnie Dowling, that big blond fellow with the
round head; there's Pinski--look at the little rat; there's Kerrigan.
Get on to the emerald. Eh, Pat, how's the jewelry? You won't get any
chance to do any grafting to-night, Pat. You won't pass no ordinance
to-night."

Alderman Winkler (pro-Cowperwood). "If the chair pleases, I think
something ought to be done to restore order in the gallery and keep
these proceedings from being disturbed. It seems to me an outrage,
that, on an occasion of this kind, when the interests of the people
require the most careful attention--"

A Voice. "The interests of the people!"

Another Voice. "Sit down. You're bought!"

Alderman Winkler. "If the chair pleases--"

The Mayor. "I shall have to ask the audience in the gallery to keep
quiet in order that the business in hand may be considered." (Applause,
and the gallery lapses into silence.)

Alderman Guigler (to Alderman Sumulsky). "Well trained, eh?"

Alderman Ballenberg (pro-Cowperwood, getting up--large, brown, florid,
smooth-faced). "Before calling up an ordinance which bears my name I
should like to ask permission of the council to make a statement. When
I introduced this ordinance last week I said--"

A Voice. "We know what you said."

Alderman Ballenberg. "I said that I did so by request. I want to
explain that it was at the request of a number of gentlemen who have
since appeared before the committee of this council that now has this
ordinance--"

A Voice. "That's all right, Ballenberg. We know by whose request you
introduced it. You've said your little say."

Alderman Ballenberg. "If the chair pleases--"

A Voice. "Sit down, Ballenberg. Give some other boodler a chance."

The Mayor. "Will the gallery please stop interrupting."

Alderman Horanek (jumping to his feet). "This is an outrage. The
gallery is packed with people come here to intimidate us. Here is a
great public corporation that has served this city for years, and
served it well, and when it comes to this body with a sensible
proposition we ain't even allowed to consider it. The mayor packs the
gallery with his friends, and the papers stir up people to come down
here by thousands and try to frighten us. I for one--"

A Voice. "What's the matter, Billy? Haven't you got your money yet?"

Alderman Hvranek (Polish-American, intelligent, even artistic looking,