New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-16

SOCIALISM AMP MrNICfPAL TRANWAYS.
Recent letters from our London correspondent
have described the systems OF local transit pre-
yailing in a number OF British towns. They
have shown that there what Is called state SO
ciolisn prevails. The municipalities own the
tramways and either operate them themselves
or lease them for short terms oi years 10 prl-
yate corporations. Financial results vary. SOME
towns make profit Others run the tramways
at a loss But in other respects the results are
uniform The employees are better paid ana bet
ter treated Than under private ownership OF the
lines. and fares are far lower and accommoda-
lions for passengers ncomparably better tnan
I'm America A cent n mile Is the usual rare, anu
A seat is provided for every passenger
Yes but il Is Socialism cry some; seeing ABOVE
every municipal streetcar the red nag oi 'he
Commune The objection IS an idle one. III II
he a good thing let us have IL, Socialism or no
Socialism. But. as a matter Of fact. 1t IS not
Socialism We may call It State Socialism. for
want Of = better term but il has nothing in com
mon with Socialism in the ordinary inierpreta-
lion of that word 1t IS exectly at par with
municipal operation of waterworks, which we
have here. and Of the Brooklyn Bridge, which
ualjsts: and with State ownership Of the canals
and with National ownership and operation or
the postofiice system. If it is Socialism, so are
they. and the Commune is already at hand
But these are not Socialism. They are merely
public or municipal or State ownership OF
certain things that from their very nature
pertain TO public use. The radical as
tinction between Indivdualism and Social
ism is this: The former would have the
state perform all public works. and the IN
dividual all private works while the latter would
have the State do all and would deny the right
Of private initiative altogether Now, the streets
are public property Every one recognizes mat.
No man can build and work railroad on them
without charter; without, that Is, permission
TO use public property exclusively. II the munlc-
ipality or State has a right TO grant such per
mission IL has also right TO withhold 1t ana
TO keep for itself the privilege of thus using lis
own property. whether for railroad tracks, or
gas pipes. electric wires. or anything else.
In reserving for itself all such franchises 1t l.
not abolishing nor infringing upon private en-
terprise 1t Is merely declining 10 lease its prop
crty or 10 farm ont its business 10 others
Surely il should BE- evident 10 all that there *
a radical distinction between operating a rail
road on public property and for public patron
age and operating Il cotton mill or button fac
tory on private property and for private patron
age The one who does the former enjoys eX-
elusive privileges on public property-is In fact,
Il natural monopoliSt The one who does The
latter enjoys 10 such privileges and exercises
no such monopoly The State may. of course,
grant to individuals and to corporations fran
chiscs TO perform for it any and all Of its func-
tons. So II might let out by private contract
the whole task of government. Legislature,
courts. police and all. But if ii prefers TO retain
all for its own control and exercise. II is within
its evident and proper right. Socalled Stale
Socialism 10 that extent is not Socialism. There
is no danger Of municipal tramwnys carrying
us TO the Commune.