The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-12-05
TaE CONTROL OF MUNICIPAL
FRANCHISES

IN Eeit Culture for June Mr.. Edwin
BurriJt Smith deals with the su0j ct
of municipal franchises. As 80 che
present movement io the direction of
public ownership this writer says:
There is JUST now an increasing
tendency to public ownership and
operation of public enterprises. OF
the ffJy largest cities of the United
States but nine now depend on private
water works, these being San Francisco,
New Orleans. Omaha, Denver, Indian
spolis, New Haven, Paterson, Scran-
ton, and Memphis. While about 200
cities and villages have changed from
private to public ownership, only
about % have returned from public to
private ownership. Over half the
changes to public ownership have been
made since 1890, and only about u
third Of the reverse changes within the
same period. Gas plants are WDed
and operated by 1913 English cities, 338
German cities, by Brussels and Am
sterdam and by IL American cities.
Electric lighting plants are owned and
operated by nearly 800 American mu-
inequalities, by many English and Aus
TRAN cities, and by Is German CITIES.
Fdlly one third OF the English street
railroads are publicly owned and
operated, notably In Glasgow, Leeds,
Sheffield, and London, and but few
expiring franchises are rene wed.
The advan' ages claimed for public
ownership are, 10 part, improved ser
vice, 10 wer RAGS, diffusion OF use, slim.
ulation of industry, and publication OF
politics. The last of these is OF fun
i4mental Importance. The fear is
widely expressed that the further mu
nicipalization Of public enterprises will
lead 20 State socialism also that it will
dangerously increase the raw material
of sooils politics. On the other hand,
it is contended that the municipaliza
ion Of public utilities has gone too far
with success to be nov checked for
fear o! Ssate 90; ialism; also that the
public service corpor alton is really at
the bottom Of municipal misrule in
America.
CORPORATIONS SECRETLY I'm POLITICS."
THE dangerous influence Of politi
cal spoilsmsn is obvious everywhere.
It may we'll be doubted whether thls
influence is as great, as far reaching,
or as dangerous as that Of the public
service corporation The n and tie
methods are known; the merit system,
its adequate remedy, is also knoWn,
aud lis general application in time is
certain. The other is hidden end It's
methods are secret; it's remedy, as
many believe, cannot be found short
of the snuihilasion OF the Ct9nder. The
public service corporation Is every
where In poIitica. Il is a potent, Olsen
a c~untrolling, factor IL does not al
WAYS or even generally directly bride
public officials. It's methods are varioue
ins!diou5. AS the spOIlsmon are
to the wall By the merit system,
thew are more AID m1re allowed 20
mama the employer Of the public ser
vice cogooracilu. Il its employment 10
70 be continued, some form OF the
merit system will yet have 60 be ep-
piled tn It's ser vics. A further large To-
creag, in the public service is not free
from objection; but it is a less v
than a cor porate service secretly con-
By political bosses. At What
cost the secret political influence
of the public service corporation must
be destroyed. This almost certainty
means that this form of corporation
mnst in time give way to municipal
and operation"