Chicago Sentenced

Already in desperate financial straits, Chicago last week found itself confronted with what amounts to a fine of $176,000,000 as a penalty for diverting much water from Lake Michigan to flush its sewers. In accordance with a U. S. Supreme Court judgment last January that Chicago's water diversion illegally lowered the Great Lakes level to the peril of navigation. Special Master in Chancery Charles Evans Hughes presented to the court upon which he himself once sat a "sentence" for Chicago's violation. That the Supreme Court would approve the Hughes report seemed certain. He advised the Court to impose upon Chicago the following orders:

1) Graduated reduction of water diverted from the present rate of 8,500 to 1,500 cu. ft. per sec. in nine years.

2) Simultaneous construction by Chicago of sewage disposal plants estimated to cost $176,000,000.

3) Putting Chicago "on probation" during this period, with semi-annual reports to the Supreme Court. Implied was the possibility of the Court's holding Chicago in contempt if it failed to observe its probation.

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