Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10

Philadelphia furnishes perhaps the most
conspicuous illustration among American
cities of the value of gas franchise in
a great city even with gas at 81 per thou
sand. and of the profit to the public Te-
sultfng from municipal ownership.
The mayors report for the year 1904
shows that Notwithstanding the price Of
gas was redliC ell from $3.50 to 81 per thou
sand In 1891, the bureau OF gas from 1901
to 1884 increased the capacity of the several
works 2Sl2 per cent, and the holder capac-
lily 1914 per cent, and after paying for
all these permanent improvements and
other expenses, returned a net profit of
nearly s3.OOO,O00. The bureau of gas not
only returned to the city the enormous
profit of $30O0,GoO, but it furnished the
various municipal departments and FOR
street lighting 2,iO1 50S3!S cubic feet of
ga for which the bureau received ne credit
at all, and which had the city been COM
PEELED to Purchase at even one-half the
price paid by private consumers would
have cost s1,649,651.
Three Remedies.
these franchises very clearly. and forcibly
emphasize the fact that such privileges
" hich in many cities are annually the
source of hundreds of thousands of dollars
sof revenue to the public in the capital of
the nation are given away.
They also suggest three remedies for the
cure of existing conditions. The first Is to
bring about competition by charteriDg new
companies under careful restrictions, re-
serving to the District a proper share of
the profits as compensation for the use of
the streets. The second is to reduce the
charges of existing companies and impose
upon then a rate of taxation in proportion
to the value of their franchise. The third
is municipal ownership.
The first is only a partial remedy and
is open to many serious objections that
the Commissioners have already advised
against its adoption, and they see no good
and sufficient reason for changing their
opinion.
The second propo sed remedy should be
provided for, in any event, whether it be
two or rot; for even should the last remedy
be authorized, it is assumed that it cannot
be entered upon Immediately, and must
be undertaken gradually, If at ALL
The tendency almost everywhere is to-
ward municipal ownership, and the system
has, far the Commissioners are add
vised, been successful wherever it has been
tried.
such important cities as Amsterdam, Brus-
sells. Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester
have tried the experiment and demonstrat-
ed its success.
Own the Conduits.
1t may not be desirable or practicable at
present for the District to esta blish gas
plant or an electric light plant for the
manufacture and sale of gas and electric
ity but it can and ought to own every con-
duit and subway in the public streets. 1t
is the exclusive privilege incident to such
ownership that create monopoly in these
companies and give to them large rove
nues which Of right belong to the public.
Such franchises should never be granted to
corporation s, except for limited period to
the highest bidder, under proper restric-
tiors, mad always with some provision for
ultimate ownership by the District, similar
to that which has resulted in so much
profit to Paris and other cities.
In view Of the demands upon the current
revenues for pressing public needs, which
are likely to continue with the growth of
the city, 1T may not be deemed wise by
Congress to enter at this time upon any
extended plan of acquiring existing con-
Quits by the District or of laying new con-
Quits of sufficient capacity to contain all
the telephone, telegraph and electric light
and power wires. which the Commission
and permanent cure for existing evils
growing out of the occupancy of the pub
lie streets by corporations using overhead
wires and which pay nothing for such priv
ilege
Ultimate Ownership.
There should be no permanent partner
ship with corporations in the use Of the
public streets for the purposes mentioned,
and provision should be made to terminate
ali 'Such r1Shts tI-at nave DeSn acquired as
early as practicable. When the District
owns the conduits it will be in receipt of
all the revenues to be derived from the use
of the subways, and will then be able to
permit ell companies to compete for the
privilege Of laying wires therein for public
ard private lighting, as we'll as for teIe-
phone service without injury to the streets
or inconvenience to the public. Until this
! plan can be carried out. the Commissioners
recommend that they be authorized to ad-
vertise for proposals and to rent to the
highest responsible bidder the exclusive
privilege Of laying and maintaining con-
Quits in the public streets and alleys of the
District for period of thirty years. the
conduits to be constructed in accordance