The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-14
UNDER MUNICIPAL CONTROL.

To the Editor of the ST. Paul Globe:
Replying to your Interrogation as to how 1 would
eXpend $780, 900 in order make st. Paul ideal
city, had the opportunity to do so. would COM
mence by purchasing the gas and electric lighting
plants. and the telephone and street systems and
placing them under municipal control with civil
service regulations, conducting them upon similar
lines to the postal system, for the benefit of all the
people instead of for private gain. Each employee
should be secure in his position so long he per-
formed his duties faithfully and competently,
matter what his political affiliations might be. 1
would next establish municipal printing plant.
which should print all the stationery necessary for
the proper conduct of the administration at cost In
connection Herewith would establish daily
paper that should report all court and council pro-
ceedings, publish all probate notices. delinquent tax
list shers sales, special assessments and the like
truthfuy chronicling all the happenings in the city,
matter whether they reflect creditably upon any
member of the community not.
would next establish public play grounds for
children especially in the thckly settled parts
of the city. and equip them with swings. see-saws,
etc. 1 would then erect a public library, and
tablish auxiliary reading and distributing
agencies in connection herewith in those parts OF
the city most remote from the library location. so
that the poorer classes would be denied the priv
neges accorded to those fortunately situated.
After this I would construct public bath house.
tial in his home could avail himself of the free
Of cost, whenever he felt the necessity of it.
L would next equip drinking fountains for
and beast, the overflow from above dropping to a
receptacle below, where the CANNES of the city
might quench their thirst.
At prominent eenters I would have public wash
rooms and toilets placed under the thoroughfares.
with attendants to supply towels and keep the places
In ORDER charging nominal fee to the run
ming expenses Of same.
IaEould have receptaees placed at convenient In
tervas along the streets for deposiing waste paper
and other refuse, and would compel every owner
of vacant or improved property to keep clear
of garbage rubbish, weeds and waste materials
would also compel all property owners TO put In
gas, water and sewer connections to every vacant
lot located street that to be paved ma
cadamzed. that it would not be necessary to dis
figure the streets and pavements by tearing them UP
in patches whenever building was to be erected.
L would have as perfect a system Of sanitation
could be devised and make it obligatory upon every
home-owner to have connections made Herewith.
As the building Of driveways is Of benefit to the
rich is the construction cycle paths OF benefit
to the poor and middle classes and these classes
constitute the great majority, would spend about
three times much cycle paths as I did on
drveways, thus giving to each class its Just pro-
portion of benefit in this connection
would establish system of public improve
ments wherein all involuntary idlers could secure
employment without having to resort to begging az
means of subsistence; he that would not
should not eat at the expense of others I would
have open air concerts during the summer months
alternately at Lafayette Smith, Central Rice. Irvine
and Summit parks, and grand concert every Sunday
afternoon and evening at Como park which place or
recreation 1 would have beautifed and utilized to
the utmost. with bath houses and accessories on the
further shore of the lake from the pavilion
L would tax land held for speculation equally
high with land similarly situated upon which the
owner had placed improvements, thus bringing
vacant land within reasonable radius of the city
proper into the market at price which weuid-be
investors could afford to utilize it. This would place
the tax ON ideness instead of industry and De
the greatest incentive to thrift Imaginable Today
the industrious citizen is made to pay for his own
enterprise and at the same time he increases the
value of his speculative neighbours holdings. Could
a system be more unnatural or unjust?
would exempt all manufacturing plants ma
chnery and buildings from taxation thus making it
object for manufacturers to locate in the city
preference to elsewhere. The gain in general pros
perity by this innovation would than offset the
loss In direct taxes.
would follow out the European idea of building
modern municipal lodging houses where the labor
ing element could secure clean, healthy room and
board at such prices as they capable of paying
would have subhospitas erected in near prog
unity to the large manufacturing centers where tenn
porary relief could be given In case of accident and
1 would have societies formed FOR the purpose OF
rendering first aid to the injured" the members OF
which societies should receive instructions under the
city physicians staff In the first rudiments of sur
gerry In the workshop and the factory they would
answer the same purpose the Red Cross does
the field Of battle
would have ample and efficient school ac-
commodations as could be devised. that chilc
should be denied that great boon, education"
that enables them to realize and appreciate the In
justices of the present competitive system.
would by precept and example encourage the
citizens to form cooperative societies for the purpose
Of counteracting the present trust" tendency ant.
preparing them for the Industrial regime found
ed upon. the principle Of universal brotherhood.
r These suggestions. followed to their logical
sequence would. I believe give us an ideal city.
where health and happiness would reign supreme.