Salt Lake Telegram | 1905-04-07 | Page 4 | Municipal Ownership Idea Growing

Municipal Ownership Idea Growing. In the city election in Chicago this Veek, both parties were committed to municipal ownership of the street railways of that city. The only difference was as to the meth6ds of j bringing this about. Dunne, the Democratic candidate for Mayor, pronounced pro-nounced himself for immediate purchase of the traction lines under the law passed for that purpose, pur-pose, while Harlan, the Republican nominee, advocated advo-cated gradual acquirement. I Dunne was elected by a plurality approximating 25,000, whereas the Republicans Re-publicans carried Chicago in the last Presidential ( lection by more than 100,000. , The impression of the people was that the Harlan Har-lan plan meant the gradual shelving of municipal ownership. This was not relished. They had made up their minds that the means of urban transportation transporta-tion should be owned by the city and they would tolerate no delay or evasion. Partisan politics cut little figure in the result. .. , Chicago hasicdiS owned its vater.' works.: There have been scandals in the water department, thefts from the city and other "things which-are pointed out by the opponents of municipal ownership of public utilities to discredit that idea, but the people of Chicago are evidently satisfied "..with-the experiment, experi-ment, else why should they be so clamorous about taking over the traction lines? The municipal ownershiD idea is frrowinc. A. A. - Z O Salt Lake should take a lesson from this. She should not allow herself to be tied hand and foot by a great corporation owning four of the principal public utilities. In any franchise that is granted there should be a provision whereby these utilities shall revert to the city under reasonable conditions.