Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-09-12
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
It's Influence on the Public Morals of
a Community.

Its Influence on the Public Morals of
q Community.
One OF the stock arguments against
municipal ownership Of public utilities
has been that II would mean an en-
largement OF the spells system, with
all It's train OF evils, and would result
in further generalization OF the public
service and debauchery Of the public
morals, says the indianapolis Press.
But now m Mr.. II. Fulton Cutting.
who. In an able article In the spring
number OF the quarterly Municipal AZ
fairs, undertakes 40 overturn that
whole theory and who argues that the
best, IL not the only. way TO purify the
public service Is to so Increase its re-.
sponslbilities that the law OF necessity
will create a cure for corruption and
ine~fiiclency.
Mr.. Cutting believes that the real
crime committed against society by the
spoils system is moral. not economic"
and that the surest way to overthrow
II Is TO bring the duties of the munich
| Illlll 81 NANHt W Nlt lAh'A'NAN hllu w
eryday life Of the people that they will
feel n direct responsibility for the prop
or conduct of public functions. He
says:
"Now. the munlcIpallzatiou Of trans.
portation and lighting In any large city
must inevitably bring lis population
into direct touch with the administers
ton. A consciousness Of personal rela-
ton Is awakened. The subjective ele-
ment of government, now ohscured by
our excessive sollcltude for Individual.
ism. is brought TO light. II is true the
sentiment created Is mainly selfish, but
1t is nevertheless educational, II may
fairly be claimed that the selfish inter-
ests Of passengers on thr brooklyn
bridge made II, when operated by the
municipalities Of New York aud Brook
lyn, n we'll managed and crrlitable af-
fair and practically prohibited the in
reference OF spoilsmen. II the clty's
first essay in public transportation
could so forclbly demonstrate the value
Of the principle. need there he any
fear Of extending Its operation to the
entire civil system and at the same
time increasing the direct participation
in government by the vast army of the
travelling publlcT"
The writer's theory is that the educa-
tional influence of municipal owner
ship will not be confined to the field OF
business or economies, but will widen
until II includes the social and moral
relations Of the people, with the final
result that all charitable and philan-
thropic movements will be managed by
the whole citizenship, through the mu-
nicipallty. One advantage Of this plan
would be the saving of money md the
greater saving OF energy now given In
a more or less %haphazard and exhaust
Ing way to these matters. But 10y far
the greatest benefit claimed Is the NOR
nj education of the whole people result
ing from their community Of interest
and tieir personal contact with and re.
sponsibility for the conduct Of public
. affairs, rs thus enlarged and elevated.
Whatever may be thought Of the ex-
4 tent to which Mr.. Cutting carries his
4 theory, 1t must be admitted that the
|, principle on which II Is based Is philo-
sophie, as tested by history. 1t Is pro-
verbal that reforms never begin at the
top. On the contrary, they always
r come from abuses that have so touched
the understanding and conscience OF
the people that the necessity for reform
Is generally recognized. The public
! has been driven TO reform In self de.
5 Tense by the very excesses Of the
wrongdoing.
The main trouble always is to get til,
people enlightened as to the actua
facts. This Is because of the dust
throwing Of politicians. When once
they do realize them. their instinct:
have been true and their judgment,
h generally sound as TO the best method
n Of relief. II follows that IL the people
are brought In closer touch with til,
municipality-if the points of persona
contact with II are multiplled-theIr In
II terest and knowledge will be increased
h their judgment ripcned, their patriot
ism stimulated and their moral nature,
G educated, all to their own great benefl
. as individuals and citizens and to tn,
equally great advantage Of the munic
y ipality and the state.