The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-04
'THE WAR ON WEALTH"

A supplement to the Brooklyn Eagle is entitled
Municipal Ownership and the War on Wealth."
being series OF articles written by William H. Null
doom under the pen "Mul" giving the argu-
ments for and against municipal ownership of such
public utilities lighting and street railway trans
portation plants. While there is an air of impair
TALLY about the articles the anmus Of the writer
is displayed in his subtitle which assumes that the
municipalizaton movement is s.war upon wealth"
We recently commented upon the remarkable devel-
opment in recent years of this movement to take
over on public account enterprises that have been
garded as wholly within the field Of private enter
prise, movement that indicates by it's persistence
and its universally the presence forces that win
move resstlessly to the accomplishment of their
purposes. It is well to recognize this potency md
to waste no in stubborn opposition that could
be better given to wise direction.
The notion that this movement is a "war upon
wealth" is palpable absurdity because nowhere
outside the ultra socialists is there proposal
fscate the wealth represented by these investments
Wherever it is discussed it is proposed to pay the
present owners the actual value of their properties
Differences arise, Of course to this value just
they always come when close buyer meets a close
seller; reinforced in these cases. by knowledge OH
the part of the municipal purchaser that the value
of the plant represented by the capital stock and
bonds Is composed, OF less and usually more, of
the right to occupy and operate. which free
gift Of improyident council. But when, either
by negotiation or judicial award, this value is
certained, it is paid and the owners get what their
investment Is worth. Their wealth is unmpared it's
form only is changed
Possibly those who have exploited these munich
pal franchises and gained large wealth thereby may
look upon the movement Of cities to take their
properties upon their wealth, and, by
very easy transition, to regard it upon all
wealth. In this they reinforced by disciples Of
the Proudhon school and those impatient socialists
who refuse to learn the lesson of evolution and
would pluck the fruit before it ripens. These, with
their declamations against the inequality of dstrbu-
ton of wealth, cassed indiscriminatcly with
those who disciples OF the school Of indy idualism,
advocate the mlncipaiizaton OF those utilities which
the entire community, and whose existence de
ponds upon public grant 1t is due to this element
that full and adequate compensation will be made
for properties appropriated to public The
IRENE socialist would simply confscate, his theory
being that the property represents the fruits of rob-
berry.
Another argument, and that deferred indyid-
sualsts long time from giving their assent to this
movement is that public ownership and operation
of these properties should not be entrusted to men
who have other qualifications than their polticaI
acuteness thus making these plants the prey party
struggles and substituting inefficient public for
fcient private service. To this it may be said that
side by side, in advance in anything Of this munlc
ipaizaton movement goes the adoption of the merit
system; sometimes preceding it, as in Chicago. No
stronger incentive to its adoption could be given
than the taking of these large affairs where
business principles and methods must obtain. The
very necency of service would compel its adoption
by an Indignant public. Meantime, before municipa:
ization can be accomplished. this opposition will help
prepare the sure foundation for it by pointing
real obstacles, as well purely imaginary ones
of which the notion that it is "a upon wealth"