The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-24


powers o. the state al the expense OF In
esvisual rights ard individual liberties. II
would seem that there are certain prae-
teal objections 20 municipal ownership
which would render any experiment in
that direction . dangerous one.
Every ore OF these public agencies Is.
Ms rVfle carried on 81 stockholders. who
have invested their own money IN the
enterprises and carry them on for their
own profit II IS proposed to replace this
method by one which. in substance. COM
peis every taxpayer IN the community.
with or without his consent. 70 become
stakeholder In the same institutions. 10
advance from his properly his proper
tionats share OF the whole cost or their
purchase or building, or 10 burden his
property with his propo-tionats share o,
the debt created for the same purpose.
II is a proposition 20 compel compulsory
sharehol6ing by every taxpayer in certain
corporate institutions. IN which he now
ha. the right, Il he desires, 10 invest his
money; with the difference that a share
holder IN such institutions as at present
ncers TO conduct the business IN exact pro-
portion 10 the amount OF his investment.
while under the proposed scheme he viii
have no more 70 say than those who have
never paid a cent Of taxes. and conse-
quenty have never contributed dollar
toward purchasing the property In whose
operation they have a voice.
-
other is, has ii been demonstrated that
the municipal governments OF this coun-
try have been SO economically and SO
efficiently conducted that their powers
should be enlarged TO an enormous ex-
tent, and large number OF new func-
tons be imposed upon them? This ques-
ton hardly requires an answer. Every
one knows that. with rare exceptions. the
municipal governments OF the country
have been wasteful and extravagaut. even
when not actually corrupt; that the pub
Ho pays. as q general rule, far more for
the services rendered 1t than does any
privateor corporation employer; that there
is constant tendency to pile up in
debtedness, TO mortgage the future. TO
anticipate revenues. and generally to pur-
sue a policy which, IN the case of pri-
waite corporation, would inevitably mean
bankruptcy and a receivership in very
brief period. or course, there are periods
OF reaction In the history of every mu-
nicipal government, generally following a
period of unusual extravagance in debt
creating. when there are spasms OF econ
omy and retrenchment. but these latter
manifestations are usually short lived.
1t does not affect the general principle
that cities at times are fortunate in hay
ing a good council of business men whose
administration is highly creditable.
Again. In the various corporations which
1T is designed to absorb into the municipal
corporations men are selected for the re-
sponsibls positions on account OF their
knowledge of and experience in the bust
ness they are carrying on. They hold
their positions by virtue OF their qualifica-
tons and their ability to so conduct the
business that those who have their money
invested therein can receive the largest
returns for the investment. Under the
system OF municipal ownership the super
intendeney and general management Of
such institutions would change with each
election. annually or blennially. the
case may be, and the sole test OF Qualihca-
lions would be ability to command a ma
Jority in the nominating conventions by
virtue OF knowledge OF practical politics.
1t is quite certain that municipal owner
ship OF such institutions, under existing
conditions, would neither result IN i'm
proved methods OF conducting them nor
in profit to the stockholders. the taxpay
ers. It would be an exceptional case
where, under political management, any
such Institution would pay interest upon
the investment, and as they would in
every instance have been purchased or
built with the proceeds OF sale of mu-
nlcipaI bonds the loss would have to be
met by some form OF direct taxation. in
creaslng the burdens Of the taxpayers.
Should the day come when municipal
ownership should ever become practicable.
Il will be after municipal governments
have reached a higher plane than they
are on at present. and when men OF char
acter, ability and standing come to take
such pride in the cities IN which they
reside that they are willing to devote
some portion Of their time and business
ability to the service OF the city, without
further compensation than knowledge
that they are performing the duties OF
good citizenship.
The British cities IN which municipal
ownership has proven successful are
blessed with this character OF municipal
governments. Instead OF rushing into
such experiments under present condI-
lions. 1t would seem desirable for ths
American cities to first seek to bring
about such reforms IN the character and
mana cement OF municipal corporations as
| have IN thu British cities referred 10
rendered municipal ownership both prac-
tiosble and profitable.