Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-04
Peculiar Result of Refer
endum Vote on Moot
ed Question.
BOND ISSUE LEGAL
Operation Clause Fails of Nee
essary Three-fifths---Re-
suits Elsewhere.

Chicago, April r. Under the
result of the city election held yes
terday. in which the question of muni
cipal 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 decla--
ing that the city shall not proceed -
operate the railroads. declared that as
a question of public policy it would b :
desirable for the city to do so.
Three Propositions Submitted.
Three propositions were submitted
to the voters, the first of which was:
Shall the city of Chicago proceed TO
operate street railways?
This proposition required 90 per cent
of the total vote cast in order to De-
come effective The total vote cast IN
the question of municipal ownership
was 231,171 OF this number 12O,9t1
were cast in favor of municipal opera
tion of the street railways and 11O,26O
against it. In order to become binding
the proposition to operate the rail-
ways should have received 13S, ,TO2
votes. 1t therefore fell short of TIE
required number by 1872 votes.
Second Bond Issue.
The second proposition involved the
approval of an ordinance previously
passed by the city council providing
for the issue of street railway certifi-
Gates in amount not to exceed SIS, ,0O0.-
600. for the purchase, ownership and
maintenance of the street railways
The third question, which was SIM
ply 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 coli
cerns?"
The proposition to issue $75 5000, 900
in street railway certificates was car.
ried by vote of 11O.OOS, against 1O6.-
699. The question of public policy was
carried by a vote of 111,S62 to los ops.
Dunno Disappointed.
Mayor Dunno construed the passage
of the S75, 900 900 certificate and public
policy propositions as a victory for
municipal ownership. but expressed
his disappointment over the defeat of
the proposition of the municipal oper-
alton.
On saloon License.
Besides the question of municipal |
ownership the issue was made in many |
of the aldermanic contests of whether |
the saloon licenses of the city shall be |
$500 or $1,000. The liquor interests |
made strong fight against every aId-
erman who was up for reelection who
had voted for the license of $1,000. OF |
the Is men against whom they have IT,
fiuence II were elected and three de-
feated. OF the nine aldermen for re-
election who voted for the continuance
of the $500 license, all were returned
to their seats in the council. There Is
little danger, however. that the high
license will be repealed.
Victory for Ownership.
Springfield. ILL.,, April 4.-The caTse
of municipal ownership received
great impetus here when Frank H
Bode, democrat who made his race
on the ownership platform, was elect
ed alderman in the Fifth ward, which
has gone two to one for the republican
ticket for the last 30 years.
The democrats scored heavily all
over the city, electing five aldermen
against three for the republicans The
other democrats elected are J. J. Rath-
bone. J. Fl. .O'Brien, Gus Fehr, and J.
III. McCreery, in the First. Third, Sixth
and Seventh wards, respectively. The
republicans elected are S. II. Twyman,
Nels Allyn, and r. a. Higgins, in the
Second, Fourth and Fifth wards. re-
spectively Higgins is elected to fill n
vacancy.
0O-Cent Gas ut GaIesburg.
Galesburg, Ill, April 4.-As the re-
suit of better organization the liberal
party made a clean sweep in the cleo
ton, electing every candidate by pro-
nounced majorities over the united cit
liens. The most bitterly fought bat
ties were in the Sixth ward, where
Professor II. V. Neal of Knox college
was beaten for alderman by Alderman
Harry Griffith; in the Seventh war;.
where ex-State Deputy Factory Inspec-
tor William Elm was elected alderman
by 113 majority, and in the Fifth war I,
where DIR. Will Malley, who was bitter
ly opposed because he believes Illegal