The Washington times., 1905-04-21
PATTERSON IS IN
FOR REAL REFORM
Great CONSERVATION Among
Chicago Politicians.
REVENUE POLICY DOOMED
Now Commissioner of Public Works
Goes to Work on Monday.
Father Converted.
REVENUE POLICY DOOMED

CHICAGO. April 21.-The appointment
of Joseph Medill Patterson to the Of
flee of commissioner of public works has
created CONSERVATION among the politi-
clans for revenue only who have for
years thrived off the contracts of the
public service.
Though he is only twenty-six years
old. such is his public record that his
appointment was heralded on every side
as an indication that Mayor Dunno
wants the public service put on an hon.
est and business-like basis at the eX-
pense of building up a personal politi-
cal machine
Goes to Work Monday.
Mr.. Patterson will take hold of his
new work next Monday. He will have
supervision of the water department,
the street cleaning service, garbage re-
rnoyaI, street lighting, sewers, and SINH
lar branches of the municipal service.
besides the control of the letting or
contracts for coal and other supplies
and for the engineering works which
the city has under way Under the
municipal-ownership policy which Mayor
Dunno was elected to carry out the
young man will exercise functions sec.
Q0d III Importance OiiiS ~ liz SNONS ~
the mayor.
Not a small part of his policy will be
8 strict enforcement of the street car
ordinances, the neglect OF which here
sofore is held responsible in large meas
ure for the notoriously abomlnabie
transportation service In Chicago.
Mr. Patterson is not a reformer In the
usual sense of that word. But he has
lofty ideas on the subject OF city gov
ernment, and is known as a practical
fighter of political corruption
Term in the Legislature.
He won his spurs in this field in the
LEGISLATURE, to which he was elected
when only two years out Of Yale II
was the fighting blood of his grand
father, Joe Medill. which he theI
brought back to the paper his grand
father founded. Impatient of the snam'
of men, it even went against his grain
that he held the position of editoria
writer on the Tribune by virtue of favor
from his father, and presently disagree
ing with his father on the subject O
municipal ownership, he resigned an
took the stump for Judge Dunno, am
against the Tribunes candidate. Mr.
Harlan.
the most original and lucid of all tn
arguments for municipal ownership. Tn
young man appeared on the stump witt
Judge Dunno and shared demonStra
tions equaiing those accorded the can
6lidate The elder Patterson, at frs
estranged by his sons revolt, was f
naily numbered among the people VIII
fiocked to hear the young man talk.
Judge Dunne's Appreciation.
In appointing him head of the depart
ment Of public works, Judge Dunn
said that he had been attracted to tn
young man chiefly by his practical un
derstandirs of the problems of munic
pal ownership.
The appointment came to him unst
licited and he accepted it with a du
sense of the Gi11Eicuitie" which confron
him.
The municipal service is in a sad shap
and Mr.. Patterson is making no boas
So far he has refused to talk for publ
cation, his time being given TO stud
of the condition of the department.
Though accepting the first cabinet az
ointment made under the new Demo
cratic administration. Mr.. Patterson he
by no menas deserted the Republica
party. His politics is above party, an
his ambition to serve the municipalit
as IT should be served is above polite
Two years ago NJ. Patterson marie
Florence Higinbotham, daughter Of
H. Higinbotham.