The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-12-15
CH|CAGO'S FIGHT FOR CITY TRACTION

The Chicago city Monday passed an order submitting
the o-caed Mueller law relating public ownership of
ways to vote of the people the municipal election
This another important step sharp there going on for
the city purchase and operation of the various plants
another decided victory for the public ownership
combined traction fighting and nail for the
extension of their franchises private monopoles
That the people of Chicago strongly in favor municipal
ownership would be demonstrated bv the the proposal
cast at the city election of when 1896
lively and only 2oo8 negatively no party the
municipal election of April of this vntured
public ownership The Republicans demanded Immediate enabling
legislation giving Chicago the and authority
crate street railways and other public utilities while the democrats
making the demand declared against action
present franchises until such enabling had been
favor of municipal ownership "a" the earliest possible date
Accordingly there drawn a Mueller
BILL which introduced in the legislature then
was favored by the friends OF municipal ownership and anagonzed by
the traction interests Both Republican Democratic candidates
for of Chicago the capital urge enactment
and it was hnv enacted but not until its friends the House
dav notable in Illinois Legislative annals
burst of wrath and drove the speaker from the chamber
his aW rulings designed to prevent the bill from coming vote
That was the second defeat Of the traction interests which have
stopped nothing public ownership
sion of their to be done The
Mueller act which makes provision for condemnation proceedings
against street railways of value for public purchase and
and of purchase and operation Beoeaw
city, be first submitted to popular vote and accepted by majority Of
To the submission this the people Of Chicago
therefore the thing for the traction interests fight
months after the Mueller passed. petition
presented to the Chicago city council for the submission of
This petition referred committee dealing
question of extending franchise nothing
cv government +he matte o tendn frarchis go d ;d
then became alarmed began look though the council had
pouniy for the c acceptance the Mueller law They demanded
action by the council the petition which had been nuerous
ed and under the lead Of the late Henry D. Lloyd and Others they
planned the citizens the council chamber nights when
their friends the floor of the council should demand
order framed the petition They denied having
the council usyng their action the ground that
influences quietly work against hem that councmen
should be impressed with the deep public the
matter that councmen who leaned submission
should be stimulated against influences pressing
strongly the other way.
This plan of has been followed proved
The council has decided submit the Mueller all questions
franchise aside pending
pe the polls spring So every stage the
the sharpes kind OF from the has been
and their final defeat still far from being assured But the
difficulties in the way municipal ownership have been passed.
the got beyond the Legislature council
poraton influence easily made effective and referred
the electorate OF Chicago be influenced
If majority of those voting favor the Mueller act it be-
comes law in Chicago and the city government simply by virtue
this fact proceed acquire the traction properties the
specified in the But after purchase the
late The question Of operation then be submitted distinct
proposition and unless at least reehhs OF those voting favor city
operation the public railway properties be leased for periods Of
than such conditions the council shall
Thus the popular of the Mueller spring
the public ownership of railways Chicago But the
public operation will be determined begins look
though the second of the country be deep the
pertinent this country of city conduct of railway
DOrta alton