Morning journal and courier., 1891-02-09
COMMUNICATION.
How Far Should n City Go Into Busi-
 

HOW far SttN nesst
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER: Is it not the province of a city corpora
 ton through its charter and governmental
 machinery to have its system as simple as
 possible, not complicated in any respect,
 honestly administered on principles of
 civil service reform and to delegate to re-
 sponsible private management and thrift
 all those enterprises for public conven-
 fence and utility acquiring special capital, provided every just right of the city and
 citizens can be and is properly protected | thereby.
 Is it wise to commit to the uncertain | and often vicious management of 8 politi- cal party, often practically irresponsible | for its mismanagement, those interests | that can be better administered by private co operation of capital that can positively | be made responsible for wrong doings Has the management of the city of New Haven in the past of its finances, viz, the | taxes that have been and are to be levied upon its long suffering and taIpaying | inhabitants to pay the two and | issued, been such as to recommend the plan offered by Mayor Sargent that the city should bond itself for eight to ten mil l lions of dollars more to run electric light | ing gas works, horse railroads and water ! works! Are the average officials placed in | charge of the city's public works generally | the most competent men: Will the ave | rage official look after the expenditure of the public money as if it were
 his own, even if competent to man.
 age! Is not the official usually put in charge rather a political than a business manager! Is he not tempted to strive for an office paying large salary and when in, does he not often use questionable means and public money directly or indirectly to keep himself and party in powerl
 If it is best to attach political methods and politicians to conduct private busi ness, why not have the city buy and
 own Mir. J. B. Sergents hardware man
 ufactory on the ground of eminent usefulness to our citizens. Every window, door and coffin manufacturer can apply
 for municipal control of his business on
 the same basis. But does any sane man
 think the city could manage his factory
 and make money. Is it not a fact
 that the city and citizens are better
 protected to-day and at no more cost
 by the New Haven Water com
 pany so far as its own department extends
 than if the city owned the works. Does not the contract between this city and the Water company prevent the increase of water rates! Would the citizens have such protection if the city supplied wateri No. The city pays certain sum for fire and other purposes to the
 Water company, but does it not get back
 nearly two-thirds of the amount by taxa
 tion of the company! Is not the Water
 company made responsible for damages by
 the bursting of pipes and not giving supply of water, and are not such dam ages quickly and equitably adjusted! Would not the citizens be compelled to sue
 the city for damages from the same cause,
 perhaps at a cost and trouble equal to the
 damage. Could the city make any money
 and pay what the water works
 day, and does any sane man
 suppose these waterworks could be ob-
 tained for less. If the city had them on
 these terms they probably would not get
 a profit of over 34 per cent. per annum
 with present water rates, while the bonds
 issued of three and one-half millions of
 dollars or more would be paying 4l 10 ,
 per cent. interest. The expenses of man
 aging the works by the city would be in
 creased above what they now are. New
 offices with liberal salaries would be
 created-a board of paid water commis-
 sioners, and engineer and assistant ap-
 pointed, also superintendent and assistant
 and so on down to the bottle holder and
 assistants. Under these circumstances could the city carry out civil service re- form. Never. The average politician is
 not equal to the task
 Our present water rates 1 am told, do
 not average more than rates of cities own ing their water works If the city owned
 the works they probably would increase
 the rates in many cases. Let not the citi- zens be deceived in this matter, but read
 the existing contract between the city and | the water company, I have done, and | judge for themselves if it is not best to let well enough alone. CITIZEN"