Eckells v. City Council of East St. Louis

The complaint in this case was for a declaratory judgment to construe certain provisions of the Illinois Revised Statutes and the provisions of certain ordinances of the City of East St. Louis relating to the powers of the City Council, Commissioner of Fire and Health and Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to investigate negligence and dereliction of duty of officers and members of the fire department of said city.

A disastrous fire occurred in East St. Louis on April 19, 1956. Shortly thereafter, members of the City Council of said City and the Commissioner of Fire and Health began an…