Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-21
IN FAVOR OF GEORGETOWN
LOCAL UNIVERSITY WINS IN INTER-
COLLEGIATE DEBATE.
Municipal rs Against Private Owner
ship of Gas and Electric
Plants in Cities.

In an oratorical and logical contest OF
much brilliance the young men representing
Georgetown University vanquished theiI
rivals from the University of Wisconsin In
the Intercollegiate debate held Saturday
evening at the Lafayette Square Opera
House. The winning team from Georgetown
was composed of Messrs. Daniel w. O'Don-
oghue of the District of Columbia, James
H. Higgins of Rhode Island and John ].
Kirby of Massa chusetts. The Wisconsin de-
baters We're Messrs William NJ. McGrath
William Samuel Kies and Theodore w.
BraZeau.
The debate was upon this proposition: I'm
cities of the United States of J0000 popula-
ton or over is private ownership and oper-
alton of electric lighting and gas plants
preferable to a system of municipal owner
ship and operation the municipality to
have the sole right to furnish light for pr1-
vate as we'll as public uses. 1t being con
cedcd that under municipal ownership all
employees shall be appointed under strict
civil service rules?' Mr.. Charles E. Null
hearn of Rhode Island. student of George
town. presided. The judges were Senator
Pettus of Alabama, Senator Perkins OF
California and Senator Ross of Vermont
Wisconsin had the affirmative side of the
question, Georgetown upholding the mega
tive.
The opera house was crowded to the top
for Georgetown and Wisconsin, and the
speakers from both institutions were con-
stantly interrupted by applause.
The Discussion Opens.
Mr.. Mulhearn made a brief Introductory
address and presented Mr.. McGrath of Wis
consin as the first speaker for the affirma-
tive. I'VE admit said Mr.. McGrath in
the course of his argument. that there are
faults in private ownership, as there must
be faults in all human things, but to es-
tablish its cause of action the opposition
must prove that these faults are Inherent
and not Temporary. If they do this their
task vii be but half completed. The bur
den will then he upon them to prove that
municipal ownership and nothing else VIII
cure these faults. The supposed cheapneSs
of municipal operation of any plant Is
usually proved by misleading figures. In
these computations five important items are
generally omitted when the cost of pro-
duction by municipal plants Is stated. They
are interest on the investment, the loss IN
taxes that private corporation would pay,
Insurance. provisions for a sinking fund
and depreciation of property. When these
items are added municipal lighting will be
found invariably more costly than lighting
by private corporations.
Mr.. O'Donoghuc opened for Georgetown
arguing in favor OF municipal ownership.
The business CT lighting city, he said is
naturally 4 monopoly. The expense of COM
petition always falls eventually upon the
consumer. Mr.. o'Donoghue made decided
hit by quoting from the political economy OF
DR.. Ely of Wisconsin to prove this asser-
ton. MIR. ODonoghue then proceeded to re-
late the varieties Of evil which. he said, ex-
list in private corporations. "Municipa! reg
ulatinn of private enterprise, the speaker
concluded. can never he sufficient. The
people must and the people will supply
themselves with the necessities of life. Mu-
nicipal ownership has become necessity,
and there is no other solution to the prob
ler,.
Mr. K!es of Wisconsin was next heard.
The lighting of Streets said he. may be
q legitimate function for municipalities but
for municipalities TO engage in the manu-
facture and sale of lighting to individuals is
inconsistent with the idea of the states.
Around municipal lighting plants under the
system Of office holding in vogue in this
country there is bound to be political cor
ruptIon. The votes of the employees of these
institutions would control elections. Such
ticians and the taxpayers would have to
foot the bills
No Longer an Experiment..
The second speaker for Georgetown was
Mr. Higgins who declared that municipal
ownership is no longer an experiment. He
cited figures from number of cities tend
ing to show the success of municipal light
ing plants. In every such city, he declared,
the price had been greatly reduced Politi-
cal corruption, contended Mr.. Higgins Is
not decreased by private ownership
MIR. Brazeau closed for Wisconsin and Mr.
Kirby for Georgetown.
After a brief consultation the Judges an
nounced their decision TO be in favor of
Georgetown. The immense audience poured
a NAV of