The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1921-01-15
5bN. LEN SMALL BECOMES THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF TIL
GREAT STATE OF ILLINOIS.
lConcluded from page u.


Of the state public utilities act, the
ID yulation and control of public utili-
Il S in such cities should, by a pro-
Vision of law, revert to such bodies i'm
Itediately upon the taking effect of
tie repeal of the state public utilities
ait, and until such time as the people
OF such cities may by a referendum
Jbte indicate their desire to submit the
incubation and control of their public
Utilities to a newly created state body
or agency as hereinafter proposed, or
antil they may decide upon some other
Pethod.
"There should, no doubt, be some
state body or agency exercising govern
Mental authority, with powers and jur-
tdictIon similar to the railroad and
warehouse commission which was sup
klanted by the present public utilities
Commission. This may be necessary IN
eases where two or more communities
are served by the same utility. The
law should expressly prohibit such body
Ar agency from setting aside, modify
Sng. or in any manner imPairing any
contract heretofore or hereafter en-
tered into between a public utility
company and the corporate authorities
or people of any municipality, unless
mutually agreed to by the parties TO
such contracts and approved on a refer
endum vote by the people affected.
Such law should also provide for allow
ing any municipality, through action Of
its corporate authorities, or by refer
endum vote Of its citizens, to subject
itself to or withdraw from the juris-
diction of such state body or agency,
either permanently or for a definite
period of time to be fixed by statute.
al earnestly urge that this subject
receive the immediate attention of the
general assembly and that appropriate
legislation be enacted, with the ex-
pressed will of the people uppermost in
mind, and with just regard for the
rights of the public service companies,
their actual investments, and the well
being of their employees concurrently
In mind.
Asks Home Rule for Chicago.
The people Of the City of Chicago
have repeatedly voted in favor of pub
lie ownership of the street car lines,
but the desire of the people for a voice
in the management and control of their
local transportation has been thwarted.
"The inadequate service under pri-
vate ownership and operation, and the
increase in rates authorized ny the pub
lie utilities commission in violation Of
the terms of the eontract-ordinanee
providing for a cent fare intensified
Sthe dissatisfaction with private owner
ship and led to the appointment by the
Mayor of Chicago of commission on
local transportation, authorized by, an
ordinance passed by the City Council
at the request Of the Mayor.
"This commission, after mature de-
liberation, recommends the enactment
Of a law authorizing the creation by
vote of the people, of local transporta-
ton districts under which the people
shall own and operate local transporta-
ton systems through trustees elected
by the people residing in such districts.
believing that the people should
have the power to create such trans
pOrtation districts if they 50 desire, I
respectfully urge the general assembly
promptly to enact legislation to permit
the citizens Of Chicago and vicinity, or
Of any other contiguous territory in the
state, if they so elect, TO establish such
transportation districts, and to provide
for peoples ownership and operation
Of local transportation systemss
Urges Completion Of Hard Roads.
Gone Of the pressing needs Of the
present day is to find means to bring
our city and country populations into
closer relationship to the end that the
advantages enjoyed by one may be aP-
piled to the benefit Of the other. The
United States census Of 1920 reveals
the fact that more than one-hah Of the
Of the entire country re-
sides In Incorporated cities and towns