New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-03
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
- Is DISCUSSED AT A MASS MEETING
IN PASSAIC.

IN PAssAIC.
.,,. Nov. (speciaD.-A mass meeting was
- ,on,rht at Whitehead's Opera House In this
w ord there was a debate on municipal owner
.r The meeting held under the auspices OF
49, Poard OF Trade and was attended by large
~ ,nsr of interested citizens. The speakers were
- I Johnson. Professor Edward w Bemls. OF
I,sn'.yo,k formerly OF the University OF Chicago.
w" snoke for municipal ownership. and w. J.
-s,c,sco Of Rutland Vt, and f. f. Clock. OF this
n,o argued against the public control OF
lighting plants
SUCCESSFUL AGITATION.
-.. AGITATION for cheaper gas. electric lighting
-ater rates was really started on June ~.
o., Mayor Charles VI. Howe wrote TO the city
~rrcu calling attention TO the high rates for
nn,s and advising that n committee be appointed
40 ,,cs,ssa.e the cost and advisabii,y OF a mu-
,,n.i lighting plant. committee was APP
ma" ~. consisting OF Councilmen John A. Parker.
-, " Oxford and William II. Hornbeck. The
..as. and the Board OF Trade also took the
ro.,sr ND demanding lower water rates as well.
ars asking that municipal water plant be
considered. w.,
-. COS ard Electric Lighting Company O.
&c cas raie from 81 50 net TO 81 % net. which
-. crasent rate. The citizens became interested
-, Tho agitation increased Recently the light
~r company submitted proposition to the Coun-
~, ~erirc q rate Of 81 % net now ard lower
" so,h wear until 1t reaches 81 in 1904. En-
.,,or Walston r. Brown has organized
,anv which offers 81 gas at once. and there is
~. - arother company starting which will offer
- s,en lower rate. The old company offers
,.1ucs the price OF both gas and electric street
lamps well
.,r.,sr,as before accepting the offer Of the old
~,.srv Passaic cannot have a municipal light
49,, rlor+ until the Legislature provides the neces-
orv law but Il IS likely that action will be taken
..b regard 10 water unless the East Jersey
v,s,or company reduces its rates materially All
.bo. has been secured yet is a vague offer OF
lower rates.
PROFESSOR BEMlS'S ADDRESS.
Professor l. W Bemis. of the Bureau OF Eco
ronic Research Of New-York. made an argument
FOR municipal ownership. He said in part:
The growth Of municipal ownership in all al
fact The burden Of explaining Il away lies with
& opponents OF the largest hfty cities IN ine
o. The largest sixty-four places in England ana
wss fPTs rs are towns IN i in scGsnd haye h
class OF plants. In electric light. AmsI!ca mas mas
lSs pun In drea, Britain one-haf Of this form OF
energy Is supplied by municipalities IN gas tnss
but the growing interest in the subject promises
quite an IN the IN, next Sas Few Of ondom
h: supplied 10y municipalities. In street railways
and telegraphs public ownership mas naiu ,,ned
great Roadway in Europe and the agitation i LAST
Another fact TO oe reckoned upon is that nearly
all the changes Of ownership have been ron ON y.
smee Nineteen Of our iarges: cities have changed
from private 70 public ownership OF %s 80 nus
c 10 S' pYv ATE management and that IS now issuing
bonds for return TO public ownership AZ. LAWS
in this country that have abandoned public owner;
ship several times that number can De men, dre@
he ohio has
ton As private ownership has had the start IN
point OF time and on the WHOLE syn and pro-
fessiona talent IN these lines OF business hnpo1s
S san 1ni S be- dae TO ck
pesentaton OF the private ownersnip sac private
,b for cities Gan borrow at
r cent while few private bones even s,dck Bonuses
are added In place Of large m0nop9y b ptSnS pa on
nts Sy prva,e ownership for taxes paving and
extensions. public ownership permlsa 81 r ioM
@ni Of extensions and paving by special asses =;
nen,s abuttng properly owners IN rasIit Of such
hs aSsasaa 'a The o. s"S line
should not have to pay i on ih be Cost when these
- INES greatly enhance the value OF adjoining
isa CIV monopoes should be the means Of collect
Ing large tax indirectly rem ,hf pg exes sbonld
ysaeh more largely than now those able to pay or
zen more important. however than the ECONOMIC
sreunent Tor public ownership and operation are
The political and the ethical reasons prvate owner
S,r erlsls our Wealthies citizens. the supporters
q our churches. colleges Libraries CHARITIES stc,
eminent strong efficient city government en-
6,ugers the profits OF these franchises a.A.
n Uil be easter under public ownership 70 fght
,h, ell Of the spells system. which is In bad odor
even now with most respectable people. than IT Is
under private ownership TO face the insdious sap
ping Of civic vitality on the part OF our leading
~,tizens Mistakes. too. In public ownership can
10 corrected usually by a succeeding administra-
ton but a weak or corrupt city or State govern
men. NAV IN a single session. tie up a community
vii outrageous contracts for generation or
century Public ownership will not bring the mil
lennign ana q, has its dangers. but us tendencles
and general influence are more favorable to good
government as well as 10 financial advantage than
s-y system ~ private regulation that has ever
been attempted.
MIR FRANCIsCO's REPLY.
The speech &C NJ. J. Francisco was IN part as
follows
he ei why a munich