Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-07-27
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
"a. influence on the Public Morals Of
Community.


One of the stock arguments against
municipal ownership Of public utilities
as been rriat ii would mean an en-
largcmcnt of the Apoils system. with
all its train Of evils. and would result
In further decentralization Of the public
service and debauchery of the public
morals, says the indianapolis Press.
But now comes Mr.. Il. Fulton Cutting,
vino. in an able article in the spring
number of the quarterly Municipal AT
fairs, undertakes TO overturn that
whole theory and who argues that the
best, if not the only, way to purify the
public service is TO so increase its re-
sponsibilities that the law OF necessity
will create cure for corruption and
inciiiciency.
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
il is To bring the duties of the munich
pality so close to the interests and ey-
cryday life of the people that they will
feel direct responsibility for the prop
or conduct of public functions. He
says:
Now, the municipaliZation OF trans
portaton and lighting in any large city
must inevitably bring its population
into direct touch with the admlnistra
tiun. \ consciousness Of personal rela
tion is awakened. The subjective ele-
oil. ~
our excessive solicitude for individual
ISM is brought to light. II Is true the
sentiment created Is mainly selfish. but
it is nevertheless educational. 1t may
fairly be claimed that the selfish inter
cStS of passengers on the Brooklyn
bridge made il. when operated 10y the
municipalities of New York and Brook
lyu. Il we'll managed and creditable af
fair and practically prohibited the In
reference of spoilSmen. II the city's
first essay in public transportation
could so forcihly demonstrate the value
Of the principle, need there be 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 public"
/ The writer's theory is that the educa
tioaal nllrcncc of municipal owner
ship will not be confined 10 the field OF
/ business or economics. but will widen
! until it includes the social and moral
/ relations of the people. with the fina'
result that all charitable and philan
/ thropic movements will he ged by
/ the whole citizenship, through the mu
nicipality. one advantage of this plan
would be the saving OF money and the
/ greater saving of energy now given In
a more or less haphaZard and exhaust.
/ ing way To these matters. But by far
/ the greatest benefit claimed Is the NOR
nj education of the whole people result.
ing from their community of interest
and their personal contact with and re.
/ sponSibility for the conduct of public
affairs, as thus enlarged and elevated.
/ Whatever may be thought of the ex.
tent to which Mr.. Cutting carries his
principle on which 1t 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
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.
fenSe by the eXcesses OF the
wrongdoing.
The main trouble always is to get the
people enlightened as to the actual
facts. This is because Of the dust
throwing of politicians. When once
they do realize them, their instincts
have been true and their judgments
generally sound as to the best method
of relief. 1t follows that If the people
are brought in closer touch with the
municipalty-if the points Of personal
contact with 1t are multiplied-their In.
terest and knowledge will be increased
their Judgment ripened, their patriot,
ism stimulated and their moral natures
educated, all to their own great benefit
as individuals and citizens and to the
equally great advantage Of the munic.
ipality and the state,