The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-12

| Harrison, former Governor Altgeld and
| other celebrities in the fight against the
railway companies were present and
made speeches.
The gathering became radical in its
! resolutions. and as a consequence chi
cago is embarked on a cOmpaign for
ultimate municipal ownership. A fifty
wear extension of the present ordinance
was opposed under all circumstances.
The resolutions adopted demand tne
unconditional repeal of the Allen law
and declare that no ordinance for the
extension shall pass the council untli
the Allen law is repealed. 1t is declared
that no council legislation for the ex-
tension of the franchises or other rail-
wav legislation shall be considered till
the Allen low is repealed, and after the
law is repealed the council shall only
consider franchise legislation when II As
accompanied by plan for ultimate mu-
nicipal ownership
coming session of the legislature en-
abling the city of Chicago to acquire the
street railways. which it at present is
not able to do under its charter.
1t is further held in the resolutions
that there shall be no further agitation
of the extension of franchises till just
prior to their expiration in 1913 An eX-
tension five years in advance of the ex-
piration of the old ordinances is opposed
under all circumstances. In all future
franchises 10 per cent is to be demanded
for the city in ordinary cases, and an
exceptional ones, 20 per cent.
The resolutions further demand a
provision in future extensions for a re-
duction of street railway fares, and
complete interchangeable transfer sys-
tenn Even with the repeal of the AL
len law the resolutions demanded an
adequate compensationo clause. The
resolutions make personal appeal to
resident officials of the company to
withdraw all Doodle measures now be-
fore the council. A term in Joliet is de-
manded for all aldermen found guilty
OF boodling.
The resolutions wound up with a non
nartisan Endorsement of Mayor Harri-
son, who is heading the fight.
Franklin H. Head, an ex-president OF
the Union League club, presided at the
meeting, and among the vice presidents
seen on the stage were: Franklin Mac
Veagh, Luther Latin Mills, John V.
FarweII Cyrus Mccormick and others.
The tenor of the resolutions regard
ing municipal ownership brought up a
question that apparently no one fore
saw It became popular idea at the
start and every person present at the
meeting left with the view firmly fixed
in his mind that eventually Chicago
should operate her own lines or road
In the meantime, however, before they
want to attempt to do anything of the
kind the better element hopes to purify
its political system.
be had at Springfield to advance the
idea, but formerly Chicago has had
notoriousIy bad luck trying to get any
legislation at the hands of the country
members. All the speakers dWelt on the
subject and their arguments were well
received. The meeting on the whole was
quiet and orderly, although on one occa-
sion man in the gallery shouted, "A
rope for Doodle aldermen and there
was stir, but it quickly died out.
Tt is believed that some of the street
car companies. seeing the public agita-
ton are ready to withdraw from the
fight at the present time if they can find
a means Of doing so with dignity. This