The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-29
ChiCago's Mayor Opens Fight
For Municipal Ownership
Of Street Railways Thu OughOut
the State in a Bill
WHICH HEHAS DRAWN
For Submission to the General
Assembly of Illinois.
Also Advocates Home Rule For
Cities in Other Matters.

Chicago, Dec. 29.-NIayor Harrison's
substitute for the Allen law is practical
~ ready for presentation to the legisla-
ture.
The committee of legislators elect ap-
pointed by the mayor to prepare bill
for Introduction at the forty-f1rst gen
eral assembly completed a report yes
terday providing for the municipal own
ership of street railroads. Although the
recommendations of the mayors COM
mittee include provisions for a Accent
fare for cities containing a population
of 200, 900 or over, and fix a limit of 20
years for street leases, the municipal
ownership feature is made most prOmi-
nent. From this fact it is inferred that
the mayor wishes it known that Mr..
Altgeld's desire for municipal owner
ship is not his alone. 1t is also predict
ed by those interested in the coming
campaign that Mayor Harrison win
make municipal ownership his slogan in
the city convention.
The substitute bill prepared by the
mayors committee is little more than d
resIatement of the horse and dummy act
which went into effect July l, 1874, with
provision for the substitution of cable,
electric, compressed air or any other
motive power, steam locomotive engines
excepted. Section 5 of the proposed
bill repeats the Allen law and all other
laws which conflict in whole or in part
with the new bill. The horse and dunn
my act fixes 20 years as the maximum
term for which street railway franchis-
es may be granted, and the proposed
bill adopts the same limit. The other
provisions are familiar to most students
of street railway legislation in this
state and have never been seriously
contested.
The first recommendation of the COM
mittee, which is predicted on what the
Democratic policy in relation to street
railroads should be in the forty-firSt
general assembly" declares that all cit
les in the state shall have the power to
maintain, operate, control, purchase or
lease any street railroad within their
corporate limits and gives municipali-
ties the power to purchase street rail-
road properties prior to the expiration
of the companies franchises with the
consent of the grantees or lesSees. In
case of reversiOn, and conditioned upon
it, the companies are required to ac-
cept reasonable compensation based on a
fair appraisal of their properties, no
compensation being allowed for good
will or value derived from the original
grant.
Nothing is said in the report as to COM
pensation for leases to street railway COM
ton should be based upon gross receipts.
y provision is vaguely stated, however,
may permit the city to accept municipal
services from the companies in addition
to 4 percentage OF their gross receipts
The committee further recommends that
all city ordinances granting street railway
privileges be conditioned for their validity
by reference to the people for their rati-
fication or rejection at the next succeed
ing general or special election of the city
to be held not less than two months after
passage in the city council.
The committee declares that the rights
of cities in their streets are inalienable
except upon a three-fourths vote of all
the members elected to the city council.
and upon reference to and ratification by
the people. In cities having population
of 100000 over, Accent fare is advo-
Gated, and recommendation is made that
no grant should be made to extend be-
yond the longest existing grant heretofore
given by the city.
Finally, the committee deplOres unnec-
essary interference in city affairs by the
legislature. advocates hOme-rule in cities
and an enlargement of the powers of mu-
inequalities.