Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-19

lndlana; henry I. NOoQll, Massd-
chusetts.
izen Notwithstanding his judiciai
Office, did not disturb his judicial bal
auCe. Throughout his career on the !
bench, he was a worthy example of the
citizen judge.
The suhjugation OF the BOer repub-
hes in the march of British imperial /
ism was equally revolving to him; he
stood by the side of John p Alleged in |
lending aid and encouragement TO the |
victims of that benevolent assimila- |
ton. II was because he felt the surg I,
Ing tide of Jeffersonian democracy.
In April. 1905, after serving Is years !
on the circuit court bench, Judge |
Dunno was elected mayor Of Chicago.
r. was solely at the call Of the people
that the judges sphere of activity in
their behalf was transferred from the
bench to the Office OF mayor of Chi
CagO. The all-impOrtant traction CUES
tiCu was TO be settled within the next
two years. The people chose Dunno
70 settle it for them. How well ne set
tied II for them is a matter of history
He was elected mayor of Chicago over
the strongest man then in the repub-
loau ranks. John Maynard Harlan. by
24.5Is plurality in city which had
been carried six months JetOre for
the republican candidate for presideu:
by 1"g,924 plurality.
He took hold Of the problems with
vigOr and intelligence and he settled
tha traction problem. He settled il
20 the advantage OF the people OF Chi
cago by forcing the great corpora
tons which had previously occupied
the streets of the city without paying
adequate compensation therefor to
divide their profits upon a basis of 80
per cent OF the net revenues for the
city and ~ per cent for the stOckhold-
ers. He thus assured to the CITY an
annual revenue of more than million
dollars and moreover brought l. within
the power Of the municipality 10 ulti-
mately control and operate these pub
lie utilities whenever majority OF the
people shall decide that it is advisable
to do so.
While the settlement of the street
. car question was perhaps the GROWING
achievement Of Judge DUNES actiy-
tiles as mayor. it was not the only
thing ne accomplished for the city. IN
deed, his brief term Of two years was
crowded with achievements that have
TO parallel in modern municipal his
tory.
He secured for Chicago the first en-.
abiing act from the state Legislature
under which the rate OF Gas could be
fixed by the city and through the oper
alton of that law he had the price OF
, gas to consumers reduced from one
dollar to $50 per one thousand cubic
feet.
judge Dunno reorEanized the water
: department OF the city of Chicago anC
placed it upon a sound business basis
When he became mayor he found thai
the packers at the stock yards were
getting water at the fat rate of foul
cents per one thousand gallons and tina
the other two million Inhabitants PAID
rates varying from six to ten cents
The smaller consumer paid the highe,
price. Judge Dunno insisted tha
there be passed an ordinance fxin.
the rate at the uniform rate of sever
. cents per one thousand gallons fo
all consumers of water and after I'll,
city council had acted fayorably upOI
his recommen dation and the city ha,
readjusted its water business OF tn,
new net price, il quickly became an
parent that not only did the smaila
consumer make an appreciable say
ing but that the city's revenue from it
water system was larger than eve
before
He instituted for the first time III,
system Of having the city representa-,
before the board Of assessors and tn
board Of review and through effort
OF the STAFF attached TO the city's 1av
department dug up millions Of bacl
taxes which had been surrepJitiousl
. withheld by wealthy tax-dodgers. From
this source alone the city treasur
gained between 100000 and $4,000
600.
Judge Dunno secured needed ir
: creases in pay for fremeu and polio,
men and for the army Of laborers en-
ployed upon the public works OF Oh
cago.
Judge Dunno kept his finger upo
the financial pulse OF the city govern
.ment firmly and continuously. Whe