The labor world., 1899-03-25
by ID. \. Petre.
x 7 i. have sometimes to get ont
y " side our own narrow lines Oh


study Of other peoples met hods OF con
drcting their public affairs, to discover
our backwar,IncsS in the introduction
OF newer systems for the betterlncnt
of society at large. The question as tc
hnw the nat iOnal government. the scv-
rral states and the various municipaii-
ties within Them, shall afford better
and more unique system for the con-
duct Of public affairs is the question
at issue. Under the plan so largely in
vogue in our cities, the princi pal OF
granting private franchises, has too
largely obtained. These special gifts
to private enterprise as Il rule Oile all
monopoly have operated to their spc-
rial benefit, and have fixed high
charge upon all of the users and con-
snmers. Under this system the aim
of the ownrrs of these special fran
chisc, is to bond their holdings (us-
1Ially for several times the cost Of
ronstruction) which means that they
have to provide an additional income
to meet interest charges: this of
course the public have 10 pay in the
shape of extra rents; and should a
particular municipality, at some sub
soqnent period seek to acquire the
property with the view to cheapening
charges they are confronted with the
elephant bond. and it's consort inter-
est. What now! the people say, how
are we going to be bettered when we
shall have to meet the same fixed
charges? Suddenly, however, a few
thinking themselves to be solons
Though by many considered = = :: ;:
I won't say what) come forward and
contend that the public should not
acquire a property at fabulous and
padded prices; and then commences
, .'~as.r'::>ssstA! ,..,rTah on the part Of the
franchise grabbers, they say, hold on,
catch thief, etc, ETC., this is the eN-
perience that most of us have wit
messed: but how about the other thief
That does not count. Thus these pri-
vate franchises have worked no end
of i'll feeling and countless litigation,
which the people in the long run have
to pay for. My prelude has perhaps
been too extended, but after perusing
the following figures and very inter
esting conditions that prevail in many
other countries, in respect to public
ownership, I trust my previous re.
marks will not prove uninteresting
Before proceeding further, however
one remark may be to the point. II
is common saying, when one refers
to other countries that they are old
or institutions, while we are in our
infancy;" for sooth it seems to the
writer that this is child-lile excuse
as if with bright examples before us
we could not read wisdom out o
chaos. I will now proceed to show NJ
some of the manifold benefits whicl
have accrued to the public not only
in other countries, but in our owr
America, under a system of public
ownership. We will imagine our
selves in the City Of Glasgow, Scot
land, Il town Of no mean pretension!
and containing a population of honest
capable and industrious people, ant
l will seek to show wherein the public
have been benefited in various ways
under Il system which in this countr,
would he termed paternalism (by poll
1icians). In 1869 the city Of Glasgow
acquired its own gas plant when ga
was being sold TO consumers at Sill
per thousand feet: it is now furnish
in" its patrons at zoe per thousant
and setting aside sinking fund tt
meet its Indebtedness as it become
due. Notwithstanding the fact tha
oaS coal has become learer. The cit,
has also begun to supply its custom
crS with yaS-cooking stoves; in 1S9:
ha\in" rented out some 5000 to pri
vatr persons. When we come to mino
au>iliaricS we find public wash houses
in which persons can do their washing
by the payllcnt Of 4c an hour; it i
also true that this city conducts
general laundry business. What
howl would go mp here if such an i'll
au~ura1on would be set a-foot. ant
sill this movement is of large benc
fit to the people and of profit to tn
city Ohr peoplc). Another strang
symptom which strengthens the com
mon pulse in this phenomenal city. j
the conduct of city boarding houses
which are open to all ut the loves
rates consistent with cleanliness, {,