Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-04
CITY OWNERSHIP
Of Street Railways Voted
by Chicago People
But They Also Say City Can
not Operate Roads.
Kansas City, No., and Milwaukee, Wis.,,
Carried by The Republicans.

Chicago, April 3.--Under the result
of the city election held today in
which the question of municipal owner
ship 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 Shall not proceed To operate
Inc railroads, declared that as n ques-
tion of public safety it would BE- de-
| sirable for the city to SO DO.
Three propositions We're submitted
to the voters. the first Of which was:
"Shall the city Of Chico 90 proceed to
operate street railWays"''
This proposition required 60 per cent
of the total Vnt" cast, in order to BE-
come cfftctiVc. The total vote was ap-
proxim2tcly 231,17l. OF this number the
proposition to proceed to the operation
of the street railways secured but
l-0,5Il votes. 1872 short of the neces-
s;.ry thI @c-lifths.
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 $75,000000 for
the public ownership and maintenance
Of the street railways. This was car
ried by about 3400 votes.
The third proposition. which was
| simply on tn" question Of public policy
and has no legal effect Whatever is
shall tie city council proceed without
| delay to secure the municipal owner
| snip and operation Of the street rail
ways under thc Mueller law instead Of
granting franchises 10 private COM
! panies?"
| This proposition was carried by about
$500 votes.
| Mayor Dunno construed the passage
of the $l5,00o000 certificates and public
| policy propositions as a victory fol.
municipal ownership but expressed
his disappointment over the defeat of
the proposition for municipal operation
He said:
II admit that am disappointed bccause
| the victory is no. complete. The import
| ant proposition, however. at the pre- sen,
I time is for !he issuance of the certificates
and this has hrnn cn.ricd | regret verv
| much that We did not get the nc.crgai.,,
! aiority to enable us to legally ou"rat.
| tho street railway lines. Bpt ihis will
not prevent US from again goin.- before,
I the people after we have the sire ct rail
way lires and asking fo~ the necessary
authority 10 operate. The people Will
/ vote for operation with a big majority n :
the proper time
| OF the 81 aldermen elected today Mayo"
J Dunno claims that 10 are avowed cham
piCns of municipal ownership and til 1t
he will have much less difficulty in pass
ing measures relating to that doctrine
through the city cohucii than has been
lis fortune hcrc; lfore
| Til" faction opposed to municipal own
ership declares that they still hold thy
/ control of the council and that Maynr
Dunno VIII have no greater success Il tie
future than he has had in the past. BE-.
( sides the question of municipal owner
I slip, the issue was D!ade in many Of the
aldcrmanic contests Of whether the 81.
4 !oon licenses, OF Tho city shall b.; 500 Or
$1,000. Tie low figure WAS in existcnc.
M to March 3 when the city council h.
a close vote ANA att: J, hard fight passed
IN ordinance raising III" amount to 5000
The liquor interests made a strong fight
against every alderman who had voted
4 for the license Of $1,000. OF the II me-,
against whom they put their influence |.
/ were elected and three defeated. OF the
| min" aldermen up for recollection WhJ
voted for the continuance Of the so" Ii
/ oense all were returned TO their seats il
the council. There is little danger. how
over, that the high license will be re-
peaiad.
| The old council consisted Of - Repuhl-
cans, 3 Democrats and independent.