Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30
Theme Of Mayor Dunno of
Chicago at Boston
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
REVIEWED THE POPULAR MOVE
MENT IN HIS CITY.
he Supported Statements by an Ar
ray Of Statistics-Confde
Predict Success,

sons this afternoon heard Mayor E. F.
Dunno of Chicago deliver an address on
Municipal Ownership at the annual out
Ing Of the Tammany Club. democratic
organization. in Caledonian Grove. West
Roxbury. Former State Senator w. T. A.
Fitzgerald, chairman Of the democratic city
committee, presided, and seated on the plat
form were former Mayor Josiah Quincy.
former Representative John F. Fitzgerald
and a large number Of prominent Boston
democrats.
Prior to the Tammany Clubs gathering
Mayor Dunno was the guest at luncheon
of President Fitzgerald and other Boston
democrats, after which the party proceeded
to the grove in automobiles.
In the course of his Introductory speech
Mr.. Fitzgerald referred to Mayor Dunno
thus:
1.-THE eyes of the people OF the republic
will be trained upon our distinguished guest
OF today. and he carries with him the hopes
and the prayers of every citizen in the coun-
try who believes in municipal ownership of
public utilities"
ownership in European cities, Mayor Dunno
dwelt particularly on the Chicago campaign
in this direction, and said that the move
ment Is not only strong in Chicago. but is
advancing with tremendous strides all over
the United States. and he declared that not
withstanding the fact that all the capitalist
influences of the country and most of the
metropolitan organs are ranged on the side
of the private companies, the time of abso-
lutte municipal ownership Is not very far of.
Reviewed the Movement.
Mayor Dunno reviewed the municipal
ownership movement, citing statistics to
support his statement
II can confidently assert he said, that
1t Is almost invariably the rule that where
utilities are furnished by private companies
they cost from 80 to 100 per cent more than
where the same utilities are furnished by
the public companies
The speaker vigorously defended himself
against statements which had been pub
lished that he had recanted his faith in
n unicipal ownership, saying: Il am glad
to state to you that the cause of municipal
ownership is as ardently espoused by me
today as 1t has been for several years past,
and that 1 am confident of its ultimate
contamination as l have ever been at any
time in my life.
"Since 1 have been indicted into Office"
he continued, I'VE have. by the vigorous
action of our law department, succeeded in
dissolving an injunction which prevented
our taking possession of any portion of the
lines of the present traction company.
whose franchises have expired We have
Instituted quo warranto proceedings in the
name of the people under which the trac-
ton companies will be compelled to disclose
all their rights, and which. in my judg-
most of their rights in the supreme court
Of the state within the next six months.
Asked Price Of Properties.
'The transportation committee of the city
council has called upon the present roads to
name a price for their property, and they
have refused to come down to definite
figures, and we are proceeding vigorously
to map out a municipal line running
through The heart of Chicago, which, if
| built. will not only furnish adequate trans
| portation facilities for one-third to one-half
| OF the people of the city within the next
two years, but will, in my opinion. prove so
| remuneratlve as to pay for its construction
inside of ten years.
The cause of municipal ownership in
| Chicago instead of tagging or dropping by
| the wayside. is being furthered vigorously
and steadfastly. The demand of the people
| is being responded to. The fight between
vested interests and the people is well un
| der way, and backed as we are by public
| sentiment and the Righteousness of our
| cause, | have no fears for the ultimate re-
| suit. That we will have litigation and
| every other sort of obstac les thrown in our
| way by the private companies and the
capitalstic syndfcates of New York and
Chicago Is to be expected.
A Wave of Sentiment.
But the wave of public sentiment in
favor of the ownership of these utilities is
sweeping headlong over the land It first
manifested itself In the great city by the
inland seas. But it is sweeping steadfastly
| and irres:stibly over the whole country.
Chicago is in earnest and when she says
will today, she will say I have done
tomorrow. That morrow, In my opinion
will be but few months away. 1t may
be longer, but the resistless force of pub
lie sentiment can't be withstood.
Il confidently predict, from what know
| of the people of Chicago, that within
| very short time it will have the proud
distinction of being the first city in the
| United States to be actual owner Of its
own municipal street car system. and when
| once that great city has proved that NUM-
| equalization of street car plants is an as
sured success it will mean that hundreds
of other American cities will follow in
| her wake and accomplish an economic rev.
olution to the great advantage of the citi-
zens of this country.