Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
CHECKS ON OFFICE HOLDERS.
Scientific Supervision of Municipal
Service Corporation.
From

Scientific Supervision of Municipal
Service Corporation.
From Municipal Affairs
Public service corporations do not object
to scientific regulation and supervision
designed solely to safeguard the interests
of the people, and to satisfy the state that
the powers delegated to them are properly
administered. They do object to inves-
LEGATIONS ordered solely for the purpose
of manufacturing political capital, and to
enable some vainglorious demagogue to
pose as defender OF the people against
"monODolies."
The requirements Of scientific regulation
and supervision for political and for pub
lie service corporations are Identical No
requirement Is necessary from the one that
is not necessary from the other, to properly
safeguard the general welfare and promote
the prosperity OF the people. Supervision
by the state Is fundamental. 1t must be
made the basis OF any true educational
work on municipal affairs. designed solely
to aid In the creation and organization Of
public sentiment in favor Of an efficient
and bencficent administration. Investors
in the stocks and bonds of public service
corporations. and in municipal bonds. will
gladly keep even pace with politicians
when they move for progress in this direc-
ton. To the lack of proper state regulation
and supervision, a large share of the mall
administration of cities, the corruption Of
legislators and officials and the existence
of SPECTATORS in politics is due.
One point Is generally overlooked by
municipal ownership advocates when dis
cussng this subject. The power Of regula-
ton must be exercised by the power that
grants the charters under which political
and public service corporations acquire the
right to exist. plea for home rule
without state regulations Is the plea of a
culprit. 1t Is a plea made for a munich
pality that more than all others has re-
quired such regulation to protect its citi-
heinR nlupdarad nv olo1, Int
tration. When paragraphs pertaining to
the government Of cities were being de-
bated in the last constitutional convention
of the state Of New York, this plea for
home rule. for freedom from state regula-
lions, was put forward by delegates from
New York or Brooklyn. They were plainly
told of times when it had been necessary
for the honest, aw-abidng citizens of those
cities to come to Albany and ask legisla-
tors from country districts to save them
from the tyranny and exactions Of cor
rupt organizations that had seized upon
the machinery OF party government and
ruled the cities for an unholy profit They
were told that such occasions might again
arise. and when they came the state should
not be found shorn OF its power The Rra-
tuitous slurs thrown at country legislators;
the contemptuous references to ''regula-
ton from Albany" the tendency to decry
all regulations and supervision of the do
ings of politicians, not conducted by them.
selves. which run all through this brief
asking for municipal ownership of enor-
nous interest the doubling of political
patronage, and OF the total amount Of
money they can collect and disburse for
public account, should be sufficient in itself
to rouse every thoughtful citizen to hercu-
lean efforts to defeat the proposal Pol
itic!ans should be required to administer
the affairs now committed to their care
efficiently and benefcently. before reaching
out for the control of other interests. They
should prove themselves faithful in ruling
over a few things before asking to be made
ruler over many things.