The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-12
TIP TO MUNICIPALITIES

"a \ - ~ -
Nov. that tho Philadelphia gas works
havo been leased 20 n private corporation
n proposition IS made also to lease the
CITY Water Works. and Mayor Warwick
in his recent annual message defends his
| action in approving the lease OF the gas
works. but expressed his very decided OPP
position to a lease OF the water works.
thus explaining the difference:
81 believe this lease is in the interest
OF tho community. The gas works under
the agreement can be brought up 20 the
present scientific standards. and will re-
turn o much larger sum Of money into
the treasury OF the city than could have
been returned under municipal manage
ment. IN my Judgment, no municipality
can as successfully conduct a manu-
featuring business as a private corpora
ton. The constant succession Of admin
| 5strations every four years. the conse-
ucnt changes in the heads of departments
and the inability TO continue because Of
these changes q settled definite policy
looking 10 one end, must prove to every
thinking man that these conditions great
Is interfere with the successful operation
Of any manufacturing enterprise. No
private business could prosper under such
a system" On the other hand, "the fur
nishing Of water is 20 my mind clearly a
municipal function. It IS not in any
sense Of the word a manufacturing in
dustry. It is simply the distribution OF
that upon which life and health de-
pend
In this connection we note an interest
ing editorial article in the Philadelphia
Ledger on the subject in hand. The
Ledger's article IS in reply TO complaints
that have been made that the United Gas
Improvement Company. which has
leased the city gas works, has
discharged former employees, and
by way of explanation the Ledger
saws that the company could not live up
TO its contract with the city unless it in
stltuted~ economies, the most important OF
which was the discharge Of a large num-
Der Of superfous employees borne on the
rolls. Before the lease OF the works, the
Ledger socs on, tho operating force con-
sisted Of men employed for their political
influence. ana there were, in consequence,
81 adds many employees who shirked
work and held positions that were little
more than sinecures.
The president Of the company estimates
that there were 100 men in the employ
ment Of tine gas works as operated by
the city. but the company proposes TO do
the same work and better work with a
force 80 per cent. smaller. And this in
conclusion:
The reduction ir the force NJ the gas
works is an object lesson Of tine manner
i'm which the citizens Of Philadelphia
have been made for many years 10 pay
enormous tribute TO the political rings
which have controlled the works. With
the number OF wOrkmen reduced from
200 to 600. the United Gas improvement
company will make and distribute more
and better gas than was possible under
the city's own management. The COM
pany will, of course, make a profit by the
transaction, but tho consumer will get 4
satisfactory illuminant I'm place Of the
inferior article formerly supplied and the
city. 10y maintaining rates, Will get a
profit. The action Of the gas company in
the matter of reducing the number Of
wholly useless employees. mere political
stipendiaries. might be prOhtably 10 tho
city adopted I'm every other department
Of the government, and especially by the
Public Building Commission. among the
worst offenders of them all
This is an object lesson which oil mu-
inequalities nay study 10 their profit.
Under the old system the works were con-
Quoted In such d s~lip-shod manner hat
Philadelphia had the meanest gas
20 such an extent that it was practically
useless when the lease was made. Yet
a private corporation undertakes to renew
the plant and the mains. TO pay the city
a handsome rental for a term OF years,
TO do tho work with COO men where the
city had been employing 200 men, and
guarantee 10 give a hrst-class article OF
gas at a very moderate price.
That is the difference between politics
and business. Under the old system tho
gas works were run as a political ma
chine and for the purpose Of rewarding
those who helped the dominant party to
y win, while under tho new system the
works are run upon strictly economic
principles.
il IS 10 be noted, however. that the city
does not relinquish It's property right In
The gas works. 1t still holds on to the
plant. but instead Of operating it directly.
farms it out 10 a private corporation un-
der the conditions that the company
shall furnish 10 the people the best arti-
clio OF gas at the lowest possible cost
and that 1t divide profits with the mu-
n|iclpality.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
- MS Ann ANERIGANG