New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-13
ONE VIEW or MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP

Writing on THE Trend in American Cities
for the current Contemporary Review" Mr.. j,
w. Martin says: 1.-TWO facts hard 10 reconcile
''are prominent in American cities to-day-the
Continuance of corruption and the trend
toward municipal ownership of monOpolies."
There does indeed, seem to be something aston
ishingly blind in public opinion that it should
be willing to give more power to the corrupt
gangs which rule our cities. But possibly this
seemingly irrational attitude springs from
correct though perhaps not fully formulated
understanding of the source of the most danger
Gus form of municipal corruption. The essay
list thinks it does And whether or not we
agree that municipal ownership under cor
rupt officials is likely TO he any Improvement
on the present system it must he admitted that
turning TO it as a refuge from the existing part
nerships and deals of corporations and poll
ticians is not so unnatural as ON the surface il
might appear.
The growing impression is that the owners
Of or the seekers for public franchises are the
greatest tempters TO official dishonesty. Per
haps in turn they are tempted Perhaps they
do not purchase law any oftener than they pay
blackmail But the fact remains that the
settlement of questions Of privilege and prop
erty between the authorities and private cor
poratlons give rise directly and indirectly to
the greater part of our municipal scandals. 1t
is not surprising then, that people should think
10 stop this traffic entirely by retaining in mu-
nicpal hands these monopoes which provoke
so much rascalty when subject to requirement
by private parties. The situation is thus stated
by Mr.. Martini
The two facts, grave official corruption and
marked trend toward municipal socialism, which
I have shown to distinguish American cities
will appear TO the British citizen TO be mutu-
ally exclusive Representatives and officials
who are financially clean he considers essential
20 extended city operations First honesty,
then larger business. appears to be the proper
order. But that order is impossible in the
States. because the private corporations which
control the city services are a prime cause of
the corruption.
Public ownership offers less temptation to
1obbery and scoundrelism than the surrender Of
public services TO private corporations. The
alternative is not between honesty with private
enterprise and dishonesty with public owner
along with the surrender Of city property and
the retention of valuable rights at the risk Of
constant petty peculatiOn. Neither policy offers
ideal conditions, but the preference is now In
favor OF the smaller thefts. 1t is cheaper for
the city 10 lose small sums annually through
the selection Of workmen for political reasons
than 10 remain in the grasp of private corpora
tlons who can levy exorbtant charges.
This is a view Of the subject which ii be-
hooves our franchise holders to consider. There
is danger that in buying State and municipal
law they may bring about the destruction OF
their own business Undoubtedly the people
we get to govern us have natural tendency to
make as much out of the city payrolls as posi-