Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-06
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF MUNICIPAL MON.
OP0LIES.

The great danger in public owner
snip OF any enterprise is not public
dishonesty but public neglect. If a
strict account was taken of the losses
sustained in the management of
public institutions, it would be
found that ten dollars are lost through
neglect for the one that is lost
through fraud.
Our telephone, our electric lights,
our public library, our schools, our
city and county affairs are not
conducted with that degree of
diligence and close economy that
would be exercised by prudent man
in the management OF bis own private
affairs, because with most of us,
motives of self-interest are stronger
and more stimulating than those
that appeal to our integrity or local
patriotism.
Such considerations have led many
thinking men to believe that the
masses are utterly united to have
control of public matters: that our
public institutions, from the district
school up to the higest functions of
the nation, would be better managed
il they were in the hands of private
owners Or hereditary rulers who
derive from it their income, pomp
and power. And examples can be
cited in which this would appear to
be true: but broader view of history
shows that communities, like individ
uals, advance in manhood and
civilization exactly in proportion as
they assume control of their own
affairs, and that when public affairs
are turned over to private corpora
tions or hereditary rulers, the people
not only suffer in their manhood and
moral stamina by there dependent
attitude: but the private hereditary
rulers consume more of the peoples
substance than was wasted by
neglectful public ownership.
We only have to so back a century
to find the management of highways,
bridges and ferries in the hands of
corporations; and the same was then
true of the carrying of the nails, the
education of the youth, the care of
other functions that are now under
public control.
Is there anyone so blind to history
as to argue now, that these several
steps from private to public owner
|
that the public have gained nothing
by these changes? And shall we stop
here? Do not the steps we have
taken lead us to suspect that there
is still room to advance farther in
the direction we have been travelling?
And yet it would not be wise to
advance faster than the public is
prepared to take charge of the new
affairs. Every advanced position
taken requires higher intelligence,
higher integrity. more patriotism
and less selfish greed. If these virtues
do not exist, the step forward is but a
step into the mirey ground Of
ignorance and selfiShness in which we
may be swamped. Our people have not
only been keeping up with the times
on the new lines of public ownership
OF local mOnOpOlieS, but we are
actually in advance OF the foremost
cities in Wisconsin. Are we not
going too fast? Have we the firm
ground of public intelligence, integrity
and patriotism to sustain US in our
new position?
The management of our public
library, our schools, our city govern
ment, our telephone, lighting plant
and city works are left in the hands
of few. Public meetings called to
direct the management OF these
institutions are poorly attended.
The vast majority contribute neither
their presence, their goice nor their
vote. Would it not be wise to call a
halt to this movement until we can
arouse our people to more general
and higher local patriotism.
CONSERVATIVE