The San Francisco call., 1906-04-06
THE CHICAGO VOTE.

HE result of the vote on public ownership operation
Chicago shows very and uncertaip of the public
mind When AIayor took Office year ago he
Chicago would have municipal ownership and
Darymp superintendent OF municipal railways of Glasgow to
come and could be done. Mr. Daymp took
annie time to investigate and then reported Mayor that
ALL the public interests were to be con-
This report seems to have unanswerab in its con-
of the proposition that the Mayor has never
made public If he published then continued his
campaign municipal ownership and operation he would have
been compelled the conclusions of Daymple As he
this may be fairly concluded that the arguments OF the
Sconan were unanserable Still be said that entire
nkness people required the publication of the report AS
them their interest in it OF more impor-
than the Mayors pride OF opinion
At the recent election the questions of public ownership and
OF the railways were submitted separately The
OF the railroads asuredte Mayor that they were
willing sell the city, taking its certificates of Indebtedness in
security payment That submitted the people propo
Soooooo securities tor the purchase OF the
received IIoooS votes to 100000 against it.
carrying by small majority of 3339 The proposition that the
city operate the roads when acquired needed 90 cent affirmative
majority OF only
o5 of the The third proposition
relating the subject had no legal effect whatever and was
merely advisory Shall the city without delay acquire and
operate the street railroads. majority of 1887 As
the operation OF the roads was included IN the hFst proposition tat
failed of the needed per but received majority of Io65L
is OF the cose of the ballot that in this advisory
of the tide Chicago. The feel
ing favor of public ownership and operation has declined in the
doubt the decline has been influenced by the
published Of Mr. Dalmp The OF the street rail-
roads nave curing ne year PeLlecled ana haea @ n many my
the required by the rapid growth OF the CITY, and
have assumed passive attitude toward municipal ownership This
element
motive for supporting municipal ownership Another thing
that has somewhat sobered the public mind the bad condition Of
the municipal supply which keeps before the people the
adequacy municipal ownership operation public
utilities
The Mayor has the with the consent of the City
Council S5oOoooo and apply then far
they will the purchase OF existing roads If this is DONE
the property be leased private corporations for operation
But there admonory clause in this question submitted and
carried 1t includes the maintenance of the roads This all
repairs and bettements and If the the roads
and then lease hem retaining the responsibility for their man
there left open endless expense endless
dispute the city fail make the almost daily repairs better
needed accidents result the lessee will
respond damages the city the other hand pass
the lessee ncalcuable quantity which will
affect the paid the city the easehod So the whole
complicated the minds of the have
been confused The only straight deduction that the municipal
ownership and operation of public utilities declining popularity.
The very full and there but little stake besides the
question OF public ownership and operation of public utilities
1t will observed point considered at
all The S75oooooo in securities authorized by small majority
burden the general fund Proper policy requires that they
should have been based entirely the property that be bought
with them Whenever Mayor Dunno the other
municipal ownership the full courage of their
making each public plant carry credit
operation will be persuaded of their sincerity policy
will then and till then be position for testing