The Hawaiian star., 1906-04-14
ARE PERMITTED TO
OPERATE LINES
MAYOR DUNNE BELIEVES HE HAS
FRIENDLY MAJORITY IN COUN-
Gil TO AID HIM IN HIS PLANS.

CHICAGO, April 3.-Under the re-
suit of the city election held today,
in which the question of the municipal
ownership of the street railways was
the vital issue, the city of Chicago can
proceed to acquire and control the
railways, but cannot operate them. At
the same time the voters, while declar-
ing that the city shall not proceed to
operate the railroads, declared that as
u question of policy it would be desir-
able for the city to do so.
Three propositions were submitted to
the voters, the first of which was.
shall the city of Chicago proceetd to
operate street railways"
This proposition required 60 per cent
of the total vote cast i'm order to be-
comet effective. The total vote was ap-
proximately 31171 OF this number
! the proposition to proceed to the inn
mediate operation of the street rail-
ways secured but 12O911 votes, but
/ 1872 short of the necessary three
fifths.
The second proposition involved the
approval of an ordinance previously
passed by the City Council providing
for the issue of street-railway certih-
Gates in the amount not to exceed
$4,000, 600 for the purchase ownership
and maintenance of the street railways
This was carried by 11OOOS to 1of 500.
The third que ion, which was sim
ply on the question of public policy
and has no legal effect whatever is,
"Shall the City Council proceed with
,J,I -,
ership and operation of the street rail-
ways under the Mueller law, instead
of granting franchises to private COM
panies?"
This proposition was carried by ILL.,
S62 to 10S, OPS.
Mayor Dunno construed the passage
of the $75,OOO,OOO certificates and public
policy proposition as victory for mu-
nicipal ownership, but expressed his
disappointment over the defeat of the
proposition for municipal operation. He
said: 81 admit that I am disappointed
because the victory is not complete.
The important proposition however, at
the present time is for the issuance of
the certificates, and this has been car
red / regret, however, very much that
we did not get the necessary majority
to enable US legally to operate the
street railway lines. But this will not
prevent us from going again before the
people, after we have the street rail
way lines. and asking for the necessary
authority to operate. The people will
vote for operation with a big majority
at the proper time"
The election was one of the most in
teresting to Chicago voters that has
been held i'm many years. The vote
r was much larger than had been eX.
1 pected, and all day the contest fol-
and against municipal ownership wa.
bitterly fought Party lines were
largely ignored and the eligibility ot
candidates depended more upon theii
attitude toward municipal operation
of street cars and high license for sa,
looms than upon their party records
OF the thirty-five Aldermen who
were elected today Mayor Dunno claim.
that nineteen are avowed champions OF
municipal ownership, and that he will
have less difficulty in passing measure.
relating to that doctrine through the
City Council than heretofore. The
faction opposed to municipal ownership
declares that they still hold the con.
l troll of the council, and that Mayor
| Dunno will have no greater success il
the future than he has had in the past
Besides the question of municipa
ownership, the issue was made il
many of the Aldermanic contests OF
whether the saloon licenses of the city
, shall be $500 or $1,000. The low figure
, was in existence up to March 5th,
when the City Council by a close vote
and after hard fight passed an or.
dinance raising the amount to $1,000
The liquor interests made a strong
fight against every Alderman who was
up for reelection who had voted fol
the license of $1,000 OF the fifteen mer
against whom they put their influence
twelve were elected and three defeat
ed. OF the nine Aldermen up for re-
election who had voted for the continu.
ance of the $500 license all were re-
turned to their seats in the Council
There is little danger, however that
the high license will be repealed.
The votes in several of the wards
We're so close that it probably will le-
quire the official canvass to determine
p the result, but the probabilities are that
! the Republicans will have a majority
of three or four votes, The old Coun-
Gil consisted of thirty-seven Republi-
cans, thirty-two Democrats and one
, Independent.