The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-20
STRIKES BOSTON
A Movement For the Municipal
Ownership
And Operation of Public Utili-
ties.
GETS A GREAT BOOST
Il the ssCenter of Culture and
Intelligence"
JETS A GREAT BOOST
Many Distinguished Citizens
Speak For the Cause.

advocates last evening in LOrimer hall,
fremont Temple, in a public meeting
under the auspices of the Citizens COM
mittee.
While the hall was not crowded,
there was a good sized audience, with
quite a sprinkling of the gentler sex.
There was no lack of enthusiasm. John
E. Russell and George Fred Williams
We're given a great reception.
Mr.. Robert Treat Paine, Jr., presided
in very graceful manner, and the
speakers, besides those already men
toned, were Mr. Edwin d. Mead, Mr..
Harvey N. Shepard, Prof. Frank Par
sons, and Walter L. Ramsdell, mayor
of Lynn.
telegram was received from Col.
Thomas Wentworth Higgfnson, who re
GREETED not being able to speak, on ac-
count of the bad condition of his voice.
In a neat little Introductory address,
Mr.. Robert Treat Paine, Jr., explained
the purposes of the meeting. We have
taken up this movement in this state,
he said, because it concerns the welfare
of the peOple-the whole people. After
explaining that municipal ownership
does not necessarily mean municipal
operation" and presenting the good re-
suits of both ownership and control, Mr..
Paine introduced Mr.. Edwin D. Mead.
Mr.. Mead quoted DR.. DepeW as say
ing that the settlement of the railway
tariffs of this country was a matter a
hundred times greater concerning the
return of prosperity to the country at
large, than was the tariff legislation,
whatever it might be.
MI AlCdQ was sure lower IaGSS would
be a long ways off, if accomplished at
all, unless the street railways came IN
der municipal control He fhOWed how
under private ownership the elevated
railway had the privilege of eXacting
five cent fares for 80 years. That was
the proposition sOberly submitted to
the people of Massachusetts. After
showing the wonderfully good results
of the municipal ownership and control
of street railways in Glasgow, Mr.. Mead
closed by saying he was sure the people
Of ton 4
even greater results. (Applause)
Mr.. Harvey N. Shepard said because
one believed in the ownership of the
rails, 1t does not follow that the opera
ton of the railway by the municipality
was favored The city owned the streets
why not, then, own the rails? To prop
erly keep the streets the city should
own every part of their surface. CAP
plause) There was no great reason
why the rails should be owned by pri-
Vate individuals. / am in favor of both
municipal ownership and municipal op-
Grafton. (Applause.)
Mr. Shepard cited the good results of
municipal control of the water system,
and thought gas and electric light
plants should be handled the same way
to secure the best results alike to the
individual and to the state, city and
town In fact, such a condition, said
he, is inevitable. He cited, as did also
Mr.. Mead, the good management of the
government in its postal service, to al
lay any fears on the score of the gov
eminent not being able to render as
good a service as any private corpora
ton.
Prof Frank Parsons said that the
early requirement by the city of the
street railway meant a benefit for all
concerned. 1t will result, he went on
to say, in lower fares, better service
better paid men, and far better treat
ment of the railways employees. If the
city owned the railway it would be-
perhaps, better to lease the road under
an arrangement that would secure re-
duced fares instead of a payment of
franchise in a percentage of receipts
or in a cash payment to the city as
such a reduction benefits all whether
taxpaying or not. Public ownership he
concluded, is but diffusion of benefit
1t is far different from what might be
expected of Morgan syndicate. Gap
plause)
George Fred Williams made a very
earnest speech, and eHcted considera-
bic applause and enthusiasm. He said
in part:
1t is an easy thing not to be a re-
former. applause and laughter) I
am continually surprised that so impat-
lent person as a refOrmer should have
the patience to undertake reform. CAP
plause and laughter.) I am glad it has
been my honor to be invited to the first
public meeting, 1 think, in Boston on
behalf of municipal ownership. I am
proud to be at the beginning of such a
movement, to be with YOU before the
movement became popular
Public ownership, municipal ownership
of what? OF public business. The s-bo-
Htion of what? The private control of
public business CRenewed applausa0 1t
matters not under what political or econ
whether it is socialism or individualisrn.
If it is a good thing we want it. Great
This movement toward public ownership
| OF pubic business IS for the protection
Of lndivtdualism- The difficulty with
which We are now eOntending is the bat
| tie against monopoly of all kinds. That
/ monopoly has entrenched itself with gov
/ eminent permission in the pathway of
| the individual SO that the individual
| cannot do the work which belongs to the
/ individual under free government.
The city is individual 1t is a cor
! pOrate person established by law with
/ personal rights and personal duties. AS
I the individual owns a carriage, 50 let the
| public own its carriage If the individual
! lights his home, why should not the peo-
! pie light their own home I do not care
( what Glasgow has done. Great enthus-
/ iasm and applause.)
| 1t is pity that in a republic which in
tends to have within its center the prob
/ lem of manhood that we must look to
! Englanu I9f Slgnso OF progress. Are We not
/ freenen OF Boston, able to undertake this
! problem? own the tracks. what for? I
! would not have public ownership without
/ puDIic opera ton Bupi1c ownership with
out public operation is a machination of
/ the enemy. 1t IS better for the city gov
! eminent TO own and operate public works
| than that public works should own and
| operate the city government (Applause.)
/ When the private Observation-Disclosures
control the public voice, what safety has
! the people? Private ownership has
| brought US to the point that all of the
/ ms trumentalitieS set UP in the name Oe
| the people to protect the people are now
/ instrumental for the protection and safe.
/ guard of the corporations themselves. We
! have had a little experiment in the half
4 way operation of the public business. We
! and have given it over into the hands of
/ private corporation. We have appealed
! to a commission established by the state
( to protect the public rights, only to ind
/ that commission approving = contract.
| which, but q few days after, in a public
| report, Is repudiated.
No; f-st strike down the commissions.