Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-04
By Associated Press.

CHICAGO, April 3.-Under the result
Of the city election held today in which
the question of 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 declaring that the city
roads, declared that as a question Of
policy it would be desirable for the
city to do so.
Three propositions were submitted to
the voters, the first Of which was:
"Shall the city of Chicago proceed TO
operate street railways?" This proro-
sition required sixty per cent of the
total vote cast in order to become
effective.
The second proposition involved the
approval of an ordinance previously
passed by the city council providing for
the issue of street railway certificates
in amount not to exceed SIS, 600 for
the purchase, ownership and main
tenance of the street railways.
This was carried by about $500 votes.
simply on the question of public policy
and has no legal effect whatever is:
"Shall the city council proceed without
delay to secure the municipal owner
ship and operation of the street rail-
ways under the Mueller law, instead
of granting franchises to private COM
panies?"
This proposition was carried by about
5000 votes.
Mayor Dunno construed the passage
of the $75000,000 certificates and public
policy propositions as victory for
municipal ownership, but he expressed
his disappointment over the defeat of
the proposition for municipal operation.
He said:
Mayor Dunno Disappointed
''I admit that / am disappointed be-
cause the victory is not complete. The
important proposition. however, at the
present time, is for the issuance of the
certificates and this has been carried.
[ regret, however, very much that we
did not get the necessary majority to
enable us to legally operate the street
railway lines. But this will not pre-
vent us from again going before the
pepole after we have the street railway
lines and asking for the necessary au-
thority to operate. The people VIII
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 in many years. The vote was
much larger than had been expected,
and all day the contest for and against
municipal ownership was bitterly
fought. Party lines were largely ig-
nored and the eligibility of candidates
depended more upon their attitude to-
ward municipal operation of street cars
and high license for saloons than upon
their party records.
OF the thirty-five aldermen who were
elected today Mayor Dunno claims that
nineteen are avowed champions of
ownership and that he will
have much less difficulty in passing
measures relating to that doctrine
through the city council than hereto
fore. The faction opposed to municipal
ownership still holds control of the
council and Mayor Dunno will have no
greater success in the future than he
has had in the past.
Besides the question Of municipal
ownership the contest was made in
many of the aldermanic elections as to
whether the saloor licenses shall be
$500 or $1,000. The low figure was in |
existence up to march s. when the city |
council, by a close vote and against a
hard fight, passed an ordinance rails
ing the amount to 1900.
Liquor Dealers Fight
The liquor interests made a strong |
fight against every alderman who was
up for reelection who thad voted for |
the license of $1,000 OF The fifteen men |
against whom they put their influence
twelve We're elected and three &C.
feated. OF the nine aldermen up for re-
election who voted for the continuance
of the $500 license all We're returned 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 re-
uuire the official canvass to determine
the result, but the probabilities are
that the Republicans will have d ma
iority of three or four votes.
The old council consisted Of thirty