Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-22
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
Showing Of Advantages of Public Own
ership.

The question Of public ownership, Of
public utilities is fast absorbing at
tcntion, says the National Rural, and
when untrammeled by partisanship or
self-interest the people are rapidly
reaching the conclusion that II affords
a solution to many problems. In the
first instance, II would De one Of the
most effective means that could be
adopted for doing away with much Of
the prevalent political corruption, by
removing the most prolific source OF
temptation,
As long as legislatures have power
to grant special privileges in the way
Of valuable franchises, or have control
over corporations holding such fran
chises with power TO extend or curtall
their powers, the temptation on the
part Of corporations seeking such fran
chises 70 buy them or extend their priv.
ileges by hribing legislators. or the
temptation on the part Of the irrespon.
slble legislators to sandbag corpora.
lions, will exist. Also the temptation
on the part Of such franchise corpora
lions 10 control elections In 'their own
interests VIII be prevalent. The
temptation also to corrupt jurles and
judges TO avoid paying damages In
damage suits. such as now exists, would
be destroyed.
Every thinking person will recognize
that these are the most fruitful sources
Of corruption In our political system,
affecting all legislative bodies, from the
Insignificant town boards to Congress
itself,
Secondly, the principal basis under
lying the success OF monopoly-namely
railway rebates and determinations,
without which but very few monopolles
could exlst-would be destroyed. Stand
ard OIL and the coal combines undOubt-
edly owe their existence TO discrimina-
ton in their favor by the railroads and
other transportation lines. The same
Is true Of others.
The argument advanced by Mr.. Paul
Morton, In his testimony before the In
dustrial commission in favor Of pools,
Is really an argument for public owner
ship. He said that a legalized system
Of pooling contracts put premium on
honesty and makes II expensive for rail-
roads TO make any OF the dlscrimina-
lions or rebates which are now the
cause Of so much complaint before the
commission" He stated also that II
would protect small shippers and small
towns TO an extent which Is not posi-
BILE under the present methods. I'm
doubtedly this is true. The weakness.
however, lies in the fact that the pub
lie dare not trust such a formidable
power In the hands OF few men, who,
experience teaches. would use such a
power to benefit the few as against the
many. The public Is perfectly willing
TO trust itself. and II Is safe only to
trust such formidable power TO peo-
pies government responsible directly
to the people.
Under public ownership Il would be
impossible for a few big firms in Chi
cago TO get together every night, as
testimony before the industrial COM
mission shows they now do, and fix the
price OF grain for the next day, which
can only be done through cooperation
Of the railways. II Is true the inter-
state commerce commission and The
laws are very pronounced against Civ
ing rebates. but the railroads secretly
violate these laws.
II also stands TO reason that public
ownership would greatly reduce the
cost Of service. The vast sums which
every railway and other public corpor-
lions now provide for the purpose OF
influencing elections. maintaining lob
bles and brlbing legislators. also the
salaries OF the many high-prlced law
yers. many OF whom draw salaries
equal to that Of the President OF the
United States. the waste OF competition,
and especially the money which the
roads must now OF necessity earn to
pay dividends on enormous issues OF
watered stock, would be saved to the
public.