The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-30
CONGRESS OF MAYORS.
Second Day Of the Conference ct
Columbus.
AN ADDRESS BY JOSIAH QUINCY.
He Presented DiRercnces Bctwecn
Federal, state. Urban and Rural
Reconsideration.


tionai conference Of mayors and council
men that aroused great interest among
the delegates was the reading OF a paper
| contributed by Nathan Stratus OF New
York on tho Influence OF Pure Milk
supply on the Death Rate Of Children"
II was IL o'clock when the conference
was called to order this morning The
first speaker was Mayor Silas Drake Of
Lincoln, N. j., Tho Boom Town that has
three women delegates from It's council.
He introduced 10 the convention Major j.
A. johnson OF Fargo, who argued for uni
iorinity OF State laws pertaining TO mu-
nieipal organizations and urged upon the
conference tho forming OF permanent
committee on legislation, one from each
sta'e 10 formulate plan whereby the
LEGISLATORS may make their municipal laws
uniform as to police powers, the control Of
The social evil. gambling and the rcforma-
| ton OF criminals.
The appearance upon tho platform OF
Hon. Josiah Quincy, mayor OF Boston Yves
greeted with welcoming applause HIS
address waa scheduled as Municipal AZ
tairs as Administered la Boston" hut Its
scope was much wider II presented
clear analysis OF the differences between
Feuerai. State, urban and rural admins
ration and defined tho possibilities Of
municipal public service almost limitless
After the noon adjournment there was no
further session of tho convention. The at
tornoon and evening We're given over to
sightseeing and the entertainment OF the
delegates
When the convention meets tomorrow
the report cf the committee on permanent
organization rs likely 10 cause sharp dis
cussion. Friends Of II. i. Gilkersun pub
iihher or CITY Government. are malSing a
persistent canvass for his election az sal
aired secretary OF the permanent orEanisa-
ton. but az both he and his publication are
pronounced advocates OF muncipal own
eishir OF public service plants much oppo-
titlon Is developed. The conservative ele-
ment In the conference believes that any
permanent organization that may be Of
fectel should not be operated In tho inter
est OF either side of this question.
Mayor John Mac Vicar OF Des Molncs
read paper entitled, street Lighting;
~ Contract. Municipal Control or Munl-
cipal ownership which," lie nad when
he undertook TO Investigate the question
OF municipal ownership ne was about as
wen informed upon the subject as was
the farmers good wife who asked her
husband To- bring home some electric
plants that they might bv raising their
own lights, save kerosene. The local
companies made a vigorous campaign to
defeat the proposition authorizing munich
pal ownership OF plant IN Des Molncs,
money and political influence being freely
used, but the vote WAC favorable by nearly
three to one. The plant IL not yet built
owing TO suta threatened by prominent
TAX payers under the direction md advice
OF the attorneys Of the local companies
while We now generally ooncedc tho
justice Of municipal ownership OF water
works aud are about rendy to II dorse
municipal street lighting. We hesitate TO
ing further and declaring Cor city owner
ship OF such natural monopolieS M gas
and street railways. However. we are
rapidly coming TO believe IN the sound
ness OF this principle Our newspapers
aud periodicals are teeming With iDtolli-
GENT information on the subject OF munic-
ipal ownership, No sentiment should be
allowed TO stand in the way OF utilizing
these nonopolleB for the benefit OF the
whole people, although Il be Mt the OK
ponse Of private gain.
The private lighting company IN Its
efforts TO retain a profitable contract. sys-
tomRtically ondeayors to demonstrate that
they are furnishing light as cheaply as
1t Ia possible to furnish It. They ridicue
the estimates OF competent engineers and
critiolse the showing OF municipal com
panies They argue the imnogalbility OF The
city economically or honestly operating at
plant because OF the element OF politics
that enters into It's management and the
manufacturers OF apparatus VIII frequent
iy substantiate their statements. These
statements are plausible TO tho verge OF
being convincing. and cause cne TO hesitate
before investing in municipal plant.
But careful Inquiry into the conditions
enyircping these institutions shows watcred
stock unproductive Investments and inef-
ficiency OF apparatus. which Will fully ex-
plain the high cost OF production. Com
pare such plant with the results obtained
from improved apparatus, judiclous sclec-
ton OF machinery. which will insure high
economy OF operation that a properly
designed plant with modern appliances can
produce. and a very different result Will
ha had