Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-08
MAYOR.ELEcT DUNE
Addresses a Large Audience and Makes
His Puedaes.

| New York, April Fresh from his tri
umph in the municipal election, Mayor
elect Edward F. Dunno of Chicago, cam,
| TO New York, today, and. tonight ad
| dressed large meeting in Cooper Cnior
| under the auspices of the Municipal Own
| ership League in this city. He told hi,
hearers how he expected to carry out hi
| pledges made in his recent campaign ir
chicago to attain municipal ownership
OF the benefits, as he considered them
OF city control of public utilities, and hi
closed with congratulations to the loca
| league on being pioneers in the movement
| in New York.
His speech was enthusiastically receiy.
ed.
Recent agitation in New York for mu.
niclpal ownership added interest to Judge
Dunne's utterances. James Graham
Phelps Stokes, vice president of the
league, presided and introduced Chicago's
mayor-elect in a Commute speech.
Judge Dunno said in part
Men of the East. We bring you It'd
ings of great joy from the men of the
West. The exploitation of public prop
NY NY PIlNdle Capital, WITH llS alISn-
dant greed. extortion and corruption,
has had its day in American cities, but
that day is about to end. Next Monday,
Chicago starts upon her mission of dis
lodging private capital from the con-
troll of our street car system. She has
succeeded in the operation of her water
works system, in paying some 3S,00O
600 for its equipment: has loaned So
100000 from that department to the
sewer system. is today giving the
cheapest water of probably any city in
America, and has a cash surplus of
nearly $1.0OOG0O. She has so managed
her electric light plant that she has re-
duced the cost of arc lamps from SIPS
TO about $54 per annum. She is Operat-
ing both departments, as well as her
police. fire and educational department,
without scandal, graft or corruption,
besides cheapening the cost of utilities
furnished to the public. She will have
the same record of success in relation
to her street car system
Judge Dunno reviewed the conditions
in Chicago, which he said had resulted
in tho recent victory for municipal
ownership. The struggle began ten
duced the Legislature to grant so year
franchise. Before, however, the CAPT
talists could have an ordinance passed
by the city council pursuant to the
terms of the state act the people Of
Chicago were upon their feet with fire
in their eyes and determination i'm their
faces" The next Legislature was COM
PEELED to repeal the law and from that
time to this the people of Chicago on
one side and the capitalists on the other
were in life and death struggle for
the possession of the streets.
THE citizens of Chicago" continued
Judge Dunno. have learned that wher-
ever q city in any portion of the civil
lied world has taken over the opera
ton of its water works. gas plant, cleo
trio light plant or street railway sys-
TEN in every case when fairly tried the
cost of this utility to the public has
been reduced. the wages of the men,
who operate them increased, the hours
reduced and more efficient service rem
dered.
1.-THE only two serious objections
raised during the recent struggle in
Chicago against public ownership of the
public utilities are:
First that it would tend to build up
a great political machine. None of the
friends of municipal ownership in Chi
cago, or elsewhere, advocate the owner
ship and operation of any utility by
municipalities, unless in connection,
herewith there is Il civil service law
under which all applicants for position,
irrespectively of politics. will be treat
ed exactly alike. We have such a law
in the city of Chicago, under which, for
several years. it has been practically
impossible for any man to place
friend upon the police. fire, or water
department forces.
THE only other serious objection urg-
ed in Chicago was that the municipali-
ty had no money. There is no force
whatever in the objection. The opera
ton of these utilities. either by public
or private persons. is valuable privil-
cge. We propose to raise all the money
necessary to purchase an up to date
street car system upon certificates
which are special or limited promises
TO nav out of the income collected from
the system.
The sneaker detailed the manner in
which the certificates would be secured
bv the city. by pledges of the receipts.
mortgages on the property. etc, and
said:
private companies in the past have
been able to sell stocks ana bonds ag-
gregating in value Sill ,oC0ooO when Their
tangible property was worth less than
sa7 600. 600. If they could raise four times
the value of the tangible property upon
an expiring franchise. can any sensible
man for a moment hesitate as to what
,uount of money the city of Chicago
can raise upon the securities I have
mentioned"
pErlTION TO VACATE,