Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-03-15

made to the legislative body which
would I've fine piece of absurdity.
But suppose we should have n full.
f'cdgcd ordinance passed by the Coun.
ell and ready to he submitted to the
people ut the coming election. what. let
us ask. would the question to be sub.
mittcd be?
Would it he simply as to the passage
or rejection of the ordinance?
II so. we fear it would not give the
public any very wide field for the cxcr.
else of its Judgment. because it Is more
than probable that nine-tenths of the
voters would 20 to the polls on the
morning of election without having
studied the provisions of the ordin.
ance carefully or indeed. without hov.
ing read 1t Mt all
Should the question he thrcc.ccnt.
four-ccnt or iive-ccnt fare?
There is no doubt as to what the
answer to this question would be nj
the polls. The lowest fare I'm sight
would. of course, get the overwhelming
vote.
Here arises the question. Ii the
traction companies should refuse to
accept such an ordinance ut such terms
would the city he ready to 20 into the
street railway business? If It tried il
would 1t manage 1t only us well us It
has managed its other affairs. and
would the street ear branch of our
municipal service be about the same
Kind of n blessing to the city as our
water service. which Is diluted poison:
our health department. which always
inefficient. is now hopelessly crippled
for want of funds. or our street depart.
nent, which Is submerged at present
In Its own filth?
one wise AMI far-secing correspond
ent OF our esteemed contemporary. the
American. says:
1t Is not necessary for the CITY
Council to call a vote of the people
about any ordinance relating to fran.
chises. The question on the petition
for Election Commissioners to put on
the ballot is: Municipal ownership of
street railways-ics or No. II that
proposition is carried by an affirmative
vote. as II will he Of confusion IL not
introduced by Its enemies about fran.
chises,. 1t will be the duty of the
Council to execute the public policy the
vote declares"
| Is that sog
| We don't believe It. The Americans
correspondent should remember that
one Of the strongest arguments of the
supporters of the policy of delay IL
that the city IL not now empowered to
go into the strpet.car business for H.
self. In other words Il will require IN
act of the Legislature To empower the
city to take and maintain municipal
ownership of the street railways ar of
any other public utility, no matter
| whether u majority of the people may
have voted for 1t under the referendum
or not. That Is the position of the city
administration. and that Ii the truth:
80 those who glibly talk about the l,eo-
pie voting for municipal ownership ut
city elections "and the duty Of the
City Council To execute the public
policy the vote declares" are simply
talking through their hats"
In ,I,,,,,, :, .,v.r,,I,,nu ,,. ,,.,
r,,,., hos so,d 49,, ,.,v,I ,.,v, .,,,
,b., ,v.n ~ .,cr. sh,,,,a ho SAM, ,u,.
ton on this subject referred to the vote
of the people ut the coming or any
o,hor e,.c,inn m, ,nu,,,,,y nr Ini,, -"
I, IN, ,x,.c,.,i,, -, v.,,inu ,,,,,
.>nr..si,n n, ,uh,i,. ,nin,,n ,v,,,,J 49,,
h.I,.v, Il. d.m,,s,ro,,I ,,.,.o,,, .
do,,h, .rho ch,nc.s ,r,. ,., o., an, ,h.,
IN, .y.r,yh.lm,nr ~. ,or,,r ~, nv, ,o,
ors won,, n,,. ma n,,on,,", v,.,,v..
IN IA, matter r.,,o,n,,,n ,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,
ma way or ,,,,ho,
Tbe ndiou. c,yI, sorv,,o ,,u, u.,,,,,
maj, /, no.,,,,I, ,or On. ,r,,,,. ,,,,,.
| ,Jm,,is,r,,,,,, :, u,,,n,,i,, , ,,,,,,,i..