Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-11-11
SOCIALISM IS GROWING.

The Topeka Advocate and News has COM
piled the sayings of few prominent men-
mayors of cities of the United states--on the
subject of municipal ownership of water-works,
electric light plants, street railways, etc. Be-
low we give items gathered by the Advocate
and News They show very plainly that the
idea OF municipal ownership, which means So
calsm in limited degree, is rapidly gaining
ground in this country:
every city," says D. NJ. Akin the mayor
of Evansville, Ind, ''shoud own its own fran
chises so far as practicable. On that general
principle stand"
Mayor w. K. Andrews, of Roanoke, Va,
gives this testimony: 81 believe in municipal
ownership all the way through. 1t is a great
mistake to dispose of franchises to private par
ties on any conditions
Concerning municipal ownership against
private ownership Mayor ]. A. johnson, of
Fargo, N. D., says: 81 have studied this
question long and carefully, and some time ago
came to the firm conclusion that cities should
own all franchises, except, possibly street rail-
ways. But now include them Also"
The mayor of Binghanlton, N. Y, Geo. E.
Green states: municipal ownership of tran
chises under right conditions, preventing un-
scrupulous political manipuatons, is most de-
sirable. The granting of franchises in perpet-
uity to private corporations void Of protective
and ,proGt-saving stipulations is radically
wrong"
d, ]. Michigan, the well-known Republican
mayor OF Des Moines, Iowa, pledged to this:
CT am pledged to fight for municipal control,
if not ownership, of the franchises, for l know
that the cities can do the work better and
cheaper than private parties can. The senti-
ment for municipal ownership is very strong,
as illustrated in our city recently, when the
question OF building city lighting plant car
ried by majority of nearly 3 to I.
San Francisco's mayor, J. d. Phelan, is Oh
record regarding municipal ownership as fol-
lows: at is clearly the city's right and duty
to construct and operate street railways. If
with the corporations, then it has this alterna-
tive, which it should not fail to employ. Pri-
vate fortunes should not be suffered to be made
out of public property and the necessities of
the people"
S. NJ. Jones, the present mayor of Toledo,
says: 81 am unqualifedly in favor of munich
pal ownership of franchises. We do not have
it in Toledo, but it is coming. Public senti-
ment was strong in Toledo year or two ago
that it quenched proposition to extend
street railroad franchise. That is not the only
sign we have had here. The sentiment here as
elsewhere is against the giving away or the dis
position to private parties of public franchises
at any price"
"The city of Anderson, Ind.," says the
Coming Nation, 'has held for months that if it
gained the ownership OF the water-works, the
electric light plants and the street railways
there would be no need to levy cents taxation.
Working upon this plan, the citizens have
gained possession of the water works and street
lighting plant, and recently closed deal
whereby they gain possession of the CONNER
cial lighting plants. The income from these
plants will amount to $40, 900 annually. Steps
are being taken to gain possession of the other
public service plants.