The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-08
dunno TO KEEP
HIS PLEDGES
Talks to New Workers on City
Ownership.
CHlcAGO'S SUCCESSES OUTLINED
Controls Water Works and Electric Lights,
and Departments Operate Without
Scandal Street Car Senlcs TO Come

New York. April s-Fresh from his
triumph in the municipal election. mayor
elect Edward r. Dunno Of Chicago came
10 New York yesterday and last night
addressed a large meeting in Cooper Union
under the auspices of the Municipal
Ownership league in this city.
He ted his hearers how he expected
10 carry out his pledges made in his re-
cant campaign in Chicago 10 attain mu-
niczpap ownership OF the benefits, as he
conceived them, OF city control OF public
utilities, and he closed with congratula-
ficms 10 the local league on being pioneers
an the movement IN New York. His
epeech was Enthusiastically received.
Recent agitation In New York for mu-
ysctpal ownership added interest TO Judge
Durrnes utterauces. James Graham Phelps
Stokes. vice president OF the league. pre-
aided, and introduced Chicagos mayor
elect. Judge Dunno said IN part:
MADE BIG SAVINGS.
"Men OF the east, we bring you tdings
OF great Joy from the men OF the west.
The exploitation OF public property by
priyate capital. with its attendant gteed.
extortdon and corruption. has had its day
in American cities, but that day IL about
to end. Next Monday Chicago starts upon
her mission OF dislodging private capital
from the control OF our street car system.
She has succeeded in the opera tion OF
her water works system. in paying some
s3s 900, 900 for fits equipment; has loaned
IS OoO, 900 from that department to the
sewer system; Is today giving the cheap
est water OF probably any city in America
and has a cash surplus OF nearly $1,000
Q1,a hao mar electric
1irht plant that she has reduced the cost
Of arc lamps from $l25 to about $54 per
annum.
'.she In operating both departments. as
we'll as her police. fro aud educational
departments, without scandal. graft or
corruption, besides cheapening the cost
of utilities furnished to the public
'she will have the same record OF sue
cess I'm relation TO her street car system.
You mon OF New York may surpass us
in wealth. and. II may be. in culture, but
Chicago. in our judgment, Is the nerve
centre OF America and the leader OF econ
omic thought and action. Chicago Is the
only city in America that has declared
by an overwhelming majority In favor or
the municipalfzation OF her street car
system and what Chicago wills she does.
srRUGGI.E FOR THE STREETS.
Judge Dunno reviewed the conditions
in Chicago which, he said. had resulted
in tho recent victory for municipal owner
ship. The struggle began ten years ago,
when private capitalists induced the legis-
lature to grant 50-year- franchises.
Before. however tho capitalists could
have an ordinance passed by the city
council pursuant 10 the terms OF the
state act the people OF Chicago we're upon
their feet with fire in their eyes and
determination in their faces"
The next Legislature was compelled 10
repeal the law, and from that time to
this the people OF Chicago on one side
and the capitalists on the other We're in
Q life and death struggle for the pos
session OF the streets.
'-rhe citizens OF Chicago" continued
Judge Dunno. shave been edcuated up
TO the fact that municipality can op-
crate any Of the public utilities with much
greater Satisfaction 10 the people than
can the same utilities be operated by
private capitalists.
They have learned that wherever a
city I'm any portion OF the civilized world
has taken over the operation of it's water
works, gas plant. electric light plant or
street railway system, IN every case when
fairly tried the cost OF this utility 10 the
pubic has been reduced the wages OF
she mon who operate them Increased. the
hours reduced and more efficient service
rendered.
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
The only two serious objections raised
during the recent struggle in Chicago
esaipst public ownership OF the public
utilities are
''F1rst-That IL would tend To build up
q great political machine. None OF the
friends OF municipal ownership in Chi
cago or elsewhere advocates the owner
ship and operation OF any untility by mu-
nicipalties unless in connection shere-
with there Is h civil service law under
which applications for positions. irrespec-
tive OF politics. will be treated exactly
alike.
I'VE have such law In the city OF
Chicago. under which for several years Il
has been practically impossible for any
man TO place friend upon the police.
fire or water department. forces
THE only other serious objection urged
in Chicago was that the municipality
had no money. There r. 10 force what |
ever in tho objection. The operation OF
these utilities. either by public or private
persons. is a valuable privilege. We pro-
pose 20 raise all the money necessary 20
purchase an up-to-date street car system
upon certificates which are special or lin
tied promises 70 pay out Of ths income
collected from the system"