New-York tribune., 1907-09-18
REJECTED BY CHICAGO.
NEW CHARTER DEFEATED
Hostile Vote of T1co to One Cast at
Special Election.

Chicago. Sept 1.-THE new charter authorized
by the state Legislature at its last session for
the city of Chicago was rejected by the voters
at to-day's special election by a majority of
more than 5000. Unofficial figures show 80,
446 ballots for the charter and 122.O54 against it,
The total vote polled was 1S1 500 out of
registered vote of 361 96S The light vote
due to some extent to the fact that the election
was a special one. and that the granting of time
off for the purpose Of voting was optional with
employers In the majority of cases voters were
obliged to go 10 the polls before going to work
not at all.
Mayor Busse. who led the fight for the adop-
ton of the charter issued the following state
ment tonight:
It is evident from the result that "a great
majority of the people of Chicago either do not
want charter not sufficiently inter
ested in new charter 10 go to the polls and
vote The very light vote and the majority
against adoption clearly proves that.
think this Indifference has been a mistake.
While the charter contained some provisions
that were disagreeable to this that or the other
special interest or element in the community
yet on the whole it was good thing Tor Chl-
cago. Its adoption would have enabled the ad-
provements which would have been OF lasting
benefit to the city
An analysis of the vote shows that the defeat
of the charter was due in large measure TO
the contention raised by its opponents that taxes
would be raised and that strict Sunday closing
laws would become effective The measure was
voted down in many strongholds of both politi-
cal parties losing in each of the thirty-fve
wards but four. The heaviest adverse vote came
in wards having a large foreign population
For many years Chicago has labored under
the disadvantage of an inadequate system Of
raising revenue. the present charter being
adapted to the needs of city OF not more than
yba cir Of AT
new charter provided for change In the meth
DDS Of taxation. doing away with a number OF
different taxing bodies and concentrating In the
city Council the power Of making tax levies for
city park school and library purposes
The proposed charter also provided that the
city might by a referendum vote. issue bonds
up to : per cent of the total actual valuation of
taxable property in the city, and it Consoli-
dated into one the three park systems, they 10
be conducted under one board appointed by the
Mayor and approved by the council At the
present time the state of Illinois has large
voice in the management of the chicago park
systems although Il contributes nothing what
for their support.
If the new charter had carried the city would
have been divided into fifty wards. each Of them
to be represented in the City Council by one
alderman at salary of $500 year All long
term public utility grants were to be submitted
TO the people on referendum vote: II a petit
ton to that effect were presented by 10 per cent
of the voters.
The opposition to the adoption OF the charter
was chiefly because of the power given the
taxing bodies to levy on property up to as high
as per cent of the assessed valuation Beyond
this no further taxes 70 provided. could be
levied The possibilities of increased taxes
under The new charter were so great. however
that they operated emphaticaly against It's
adoption.