The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-04-06
CAN BUY STREET CARS
BUT MUST NOT OPERATE
c%hicaecans Declare in Favor of Own
ing Street Railways. but Fail to
Pass OPERATING Clause.


Chicago, April S.-Cnder the result
of the city election held yesterday in
which the question OF municipal owner
ship of the street railways was the
vital issue the city of Chicago can pro
coed to acquire and control the rail-
ways, u cannot operate them. AT the
same time the voters, While declaring
that the city shall not proceed to op-
crate the railroads, declared that as Il
question of public policy il would be
desirable for the city to do So
Three propositions We're SUBMITTED to
the voters. the first OF Which was:
Shall the city OF Chicago proceed to
operate street railwaSsH"
This proposition required 60 per cent.
of the total vote cast in order to be-
come effective The total vote was APP
p~roNimately 2S3, 0o0> OF this number the
proposition to proceed TO the immediate
operation Of the street railways secured
120,911 votes, about $4,000 short of the
necessary three-eighths,
The col proposition involved an Or
dinance previously passed by the city
council providing for the issue of street
railway certificates, I'm amount not to
exceed SIS, 600. 900. for the purchase,
ownership and maintenance of he
street railways. This was carried by
about $500 votes. The third question,
which was 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 ownership and operation OF
he street railways under the Mueller
Jaw instead of granting franchises to
private c~ompanies?"
This proposition was carried oy about
1900 votes,
Mayor Dunno construed the passage
- y1-> 80 nnA NAN Nnr. t1rofa oyoH n1h1iH
policy propositions as a victory for mu-
nicipal ownership, but expressed his
disappointment over the defeat Of the
proposition for municipal operation. He
said:
1 admit I am disappointed because
portant proposition, however, at the
present time is for the issuance of the
certificates, and this has been carried
L 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 again going before the people
after we have the street railway lines
and asking for the necessary authority
to operate them. The people will vote
for operation With a big majority at the
proper time.
Following are the correct figures on
the election:
The total vote cast on the question
of municipal ownership was 231,111. OF
this number 120,911 We're cast in favor
of municipal operation of the street
railways and 40. $50 against it.
In order to become binding he propo.
sition to operate the railways should
have received 13S, 703 votes. 1t there.
fore fell short of the required number
b. Ii, 1872 votes.
The proposition to issue $75,O 600, COG
in street railway certificates was car.
ried by a vote OF no, 00S against LOG, 669.
The question of public policy was
carried by u vote of Iii ,S62 against
10S, OPS.
The liquor interests made a strong
fight against every alderman who was
up for reelection Who had voted for
the license of 81, 900. OF the fifteen men
against whom they put their influence
OF the nine aldermen up for r~e-elec-
tion who voted for the $500 license all
were returned to their seats In the
council. There is little danger, how
ever, that the high license will be re-
! pealed.
Republicans Carry Kansas City.
Kansas City, April 4.-The republic
an city ticket, headed by Henry NJ.
Beardsley for mayor, was elected yes
terday. Mr.. Beardsley's majority over
Robert l.. Gregory. democrat, being es-
timated at 1900. The issue of the cam
paign was restriction of public service
franchises, both platforms indorsing the
principle of municipal ownership. h
gas company and the street railway
company are both seeking extensions
of franchises, and the incoming adj
ministration is pledged to insist upon
adequate return for extension, n to
establish a municipal gas plant unless
a reduction of the price of gas is made.
The new administration has a large
majority in each house of the city
council.
Republicans Carry Milwaukee.
Milwaukee, Wis, April 4.-Sheriff NJ.
Becker. republican, was yesterday
elected mayor of Milwaukee owe Da-
vid S. Rose, democrat. who has for the
past eight years been the city's exec
utive head. Unofficial figures give Beck
er a plurality of 1855. Returns indi-
cate the election of the balance of the
republican city ticket. Becker ran on
a platform calling for a greater and
better Milwaukee. a municipal electric
light plant and more railroads.
The complete unofficial vote is as
follows: Becker. republican, 22,565;
Rose, democrat. 21.010; Arnold, social-
-ist-democrat, 16, 720; Becker's plural-
ity, 1865.