The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-28
ABLE REPLY TO PINGREE
CHARLES +. YERKEs OPPOSES
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
He Contends the Best Interests of the
People Would BE Served by Gre
ating Political Machines.

CHICAGO, Jan. 27-At the monthly din
ner of the Marquette Club tonight Gov.
Hazen S. Pingree of Michigan. and Charles
T. Yerkes, of Chicago, took opposite sides
in the discussion of the subject Munich
pal Ownership and Operation of Street
Railways" Seats for about two hundred
guests had been provided. but so great was
the interest manifested twice as many were
provided when the speaking began. Gov
ernor Pingree was the first speaker. His adj
dress was in line with his well-known views
on the subject. Prof. j. Lawrence Laugh
lin. of the University of Chicago, followed
Governor Pingree, taking ground also in
favor of municipal ownership.
Chas. 7. Yerkes the street-railway mag
nate, closed the discussion, speaking
against municipal ownership. He said:
There can be no doubt in the unbiased
mind that if the great corporations of any
large community were run by the gov
eminent. whether it be municipal or other
wise. that great political machine would
be formed and that it would almost be
an impossibility to disrupt that machine.
The number of persons who would be sub
servient to the leaders could only be esti-
mated by the courage for iniquity that
would be contained i'm the minds of those
leaders. The merit system. if fairly estab-
lished, would give to some extent an in
telligence in the operating department, but
We all know, particularly In Chicago, that
civil service is practically myth.
1.-The tendency of municipal politics
toward jobbery, place-trading and absolute
l,-l. ,4I l,,,t
were the civil-service law properly enforced
and the merit system firmly established
the service would be inferior TO that of a
private corporation. 1t is simply impossible
for any industry to be carried on success
fully without its head being an intelligent
person, free from any political affiliations
in selecting or nominating the employees
and those especially interested In the sue
cess of said industry. No inexperienced Of
fee holder would be as apt TO try new
things or make such experiment as the
head of private corporation, and 1t should
be so, for no municipality, can afford 10
spend the vast amount of money necessary
for these experiments and take the chances
of failure.
Mr.. Yerkes. referring to the benefits that
electric traction has conferred on the pub
lie of the United States in the removal OF
the working classes from the crowded areas
to healthy suburban homes, said: can
any one believe that under municipal con-
troll these great extensions OF lines coulo
have been consummated? Experience
teaches us that where the municipality has
had control of the street-car lines they
have always declined to make such extern
sions. The fact is, municipal
ity cannot and will not go into
expenditures sufficient to produce these re-
suits. and / believe it is your opinion, as
well as mine, that IL the city of Chicago
had been operating our street-railroads for
the past fifteen years the mileage would
not have been one-quarter of what 1T is at
the present. Bit, above all, 1 claim that
municipal ownership is contrary to the
principles of our free government and detri-
mental to the growth of our country and
our progress as a free people. Let me ask,
what has built up this country to the con-
dition and position 1T occupies to-day? Is 1T
not that every man. woman and child who
has the means is able to invest the product
of his thrift in whatever way he may de-
sire? Let the corporations deal fairly
with the municipality and the municipality
with the corporations. 1t is this condition
we need and not municipal ownership"