Morning journal and courier., 1881-11-02

chase part of the general tendency going on in our country toward centralizaticn of pow CT. Is it not self-evident that the more property and kinds of business our city gov ernment owns, the greater becomes it's power over the life, property and liberty of it's in- habitants :? And 'men cannot break the law of equal freedom without penalties ir some way or other coming round to them. Being themselves members of the community, they are affected by whatever affects it.''
 Nor SrooKHoLDERSaSoR AN OFFIGE-SEEKER.
 InstractIve Experience of the People Of
 Cincinnatf-what They Think of ssCnY .Management.''
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 During a residence Of thirty years in Gin cinnati our attention often attracted by the papers to the subject of the mismanage- ment of the city waterworks. Even within the last month a Cincinnati newspaper comes to us with a vail upon the same watery topic, we might call it a tear!
 These complaints in the long past confirm ed us in our opinion of the miserable policy of government doing any business that can be done by individuals. The especial prov lnce of government is to repress crime and to protect life, liberty and property. Taxa ton should be solely for these purposes taxation aside from these is an infringement and tyranny upon the natural, heaven-given rights of man. Thomas Jefferson having in mind this great truth, coined the maxim, That government is the best which grows the least"
 From the bitter but unequaned school of experience the citizens of Cincinnati have long ere this learned the lesson which the wise and genial Dr. Franklin gave more than one hundred years since, viz, ''Whatever business is done by g government costs far more than what is done by individuals. :" Hence when the project was agitated some oft tO hiIu fba works, and so enter into the business of man. ufacturing and selling gas, the citizens large ly shook their heads in protest. Still further the citizens expressed themselves. It was about running railroad. Ten years since, for the better development of the city, it seemed necessary that railroad should be
 built to Chattanooga, Tennessee This to open up speedy communication with the great cotton region of the South No cor poration would do this. So the citizens, out of their fancied necessities, voted to build the railroad, authorizing for this purpose the issue of ten millions in city bonds. The road was built. The ten millions had swelled by successive votes to twenty milions-double what had been expected. Taxes to meet ln- terest on the bonds went up! up. Many were alarmed. They found they had got an elephant-a big, hungry elephant. A debt of twenty millions and eternal taxes. The next question was, Shall the city man age it ?' And the citizens exclaimed No what, open 8 new nest for politicians '' So they leased the elephant to business men to do the best they could under the cir cumstances, in 8 measure to ease their shoulders of burden, city debt of 20 mil lions and eternal taxes.
 And what is true in kind of railroad man. age1nent is true in the management of the waterworks, of any business that can fair ly come within the province of personal own ership. We grant that the city, if it purchase lI-- lr-- under the management of upright men. But after all they will be servants uncertain of holding their positions, even through most faithful service, for they will be subject to the chances of accident, and may be to the intrigues of the baser sort If the waterworks remain as now, then it's managers will not be servants in the busi- ness, but masters of the business, exercising the sleepless vigilance, the accumulated ex- perience, the far reaching foresight, the wise economy, the judicious planning that never can come in any business excepting through the power and interest of personal owner ship. No mere salaried man can ever give such. He can have neither the power nor the interest, nor the constant mental stimu- Jus of an owner, who will give not only his business hours but will often carry into the sleeping hours of night his thoughts upon the subject. And hence it is 8 private com pany may run waterworks and pay them 
 at low rates, while government, working through it's seEvAntsy will ia ths-leag run be compelled to exact high rates.
 If the city accepts the proposition of the company she can at option at any time in the future have the right to purchase the water works, with a positive guarantee that the basis of rates shall never be raised. With this power retained oppressive water rates will not be tolerated. The power resting with our citizens to at any time purchase the waterworks at a fair valuation by appraisers appointed by the Superior Court will be an eternal rod, ia rod in pickle" to keep the company on their good behavior with all their pumping engines, flowing pipes and hill nestling fountains
 And of all things let our city get free from debt How proud we should be if we could say sNew Haven owes not dollar of bonded debt" Buy the waterworks and our bonded debt is at once lifted into the millions and as for the taxes that will be consequent there on what mortal can foretell It is easy to get into debt; but to get out is 'no laughing matter.'' H. H..