The representative., 1901-03-07
AN OFFICIAL REPORT
PRIVATE CONTROL MEANS ROBBING
THE PUBLIC.
An Int resting Report Showing i'm De.
tail the Benefits of Public Control
of the Public Utilities.

OA tue TuOI1C Gt1l1tte0.
According to the Chicago American
the inhabitants Of the town of Cicero a
suburb OF Chicago, are intensely inter-
ested in the report made in the town
board OF trustees by the municipal own
ership commission warmly advocating
the ownership by the town Of it's water
and electric lighting plants.
Strong and earnest language is used
by the commission In it's report pleading
for municipal ownership, and facts and
figures are produced to back up the
soundness of it's argument in favor of
city control of those public necessities.
The commission was appointed lit
tie over year ago by the president of
the town Of Cicero, acting under instruc-
tions of the board Of trustees, to delve
deeply and carefully into the practic-
ability Of municipal ownership of the
light and water plants: The commission
consisted Of A. J. Fishcraft, j. W. Rad
ford, H. L. Fearing, s. D. Attridge and
H. R. Hamilton.
PEOPLES MONEY SAVED.
Comparison of facts and figures of
municipalities where light and water are
furnished by private companies with
many cities that have established mu-
nicipal plants" the report says, CON
clusively proves that municipal owner
ship has decided advantage over priv
ate ownership.
'Cities where municipal ownership
has been adopted have saved money to
the people in the operation of water
and electric light plants; they have
brought about cleaner city government,
more honest methods, and, in many in
stances, have better men in the city
councils.
Where the public operation of great
Industrial plants through the agency Of
the city government affects the pockets
OF the taxpayers very sensibly, large tax
payers and capable business men who
had been in the habit of neglecting local
to take an active part and to elect to
public positions men of business training
and fitness.
I'm view of the information and
knowledge which we have obtained in
our investigation, we are unanimously
of the opinion that it is not only desir
able but practicable for the town of
Cicero to own and control its own water
and. electric light plants. Hence we
earnestly recommend that immediate
steps be taken to establish municipal
ownership Of an electric light plant by
and from which it's own needs as we'll
as the needs of the, Inhabitants may be
supplied, and whenever it may be found
feasible to take the necessary steps to
establish a municipal water plant in the
town of Cicero
The report states that in order to in
telligently consider the subject the COM
mission prepared a list of questions in
the form of a circular letter, making
specific inquiries as to essential points
in the water and electric lighting con-
tracts of private corporations supplying
cities in the states of Illinois, Indiana.
Iowa. Michigan and Wisconsin, at the
same time addressing pertinent inquiries
tc such cities in the same states as own
and operate their water and electric
lighting plants.
Replies were received from AZ towns
where water is supplied by private COM
panies. In 81 of these cities it is shown
hot no nrivoto
charge for street sprinkling, sewer flush
ing, etc., while in the annual report Of
the town of Cicero for the fiscal year
ended March 1, 1900, it stated that the
Chicago Suburban Water and Light Co..
which now supplies Cicero under con-
tract, claimed $4,000 for flushing and
sprinkling for the. years 1897, 1898 and
1899
Out of 40 cities in the five states men,
toned which own their municipal water
plants. the average cost per city for site,
building, installation, including mains,
Of the entire establishment, was $415. .431
In 10 of the cities under municipal own
ership the average annual cost to Gus
toners for water in a seven-room dwell
ling is $1O23. while in 10 other towns
under private ownership the cost for the
same size house was 5000, about double
the rate under municipal ownership.
A comparison of charges where meters
are used shows substantially the same
results, and the difference in the charges
indicates to large degree a profit going
to private corporations which would re-
main in the pockets of the consumers
under well-managed municipal owner
ship system.
From careful study OF the matter
from every standpoint the commission
concludes that an equal, If not greater
saving to the consumer can be effected
by town ownership of the electric light
Ing plant. Nuperous instances are cited
10 prove their conclusions to be correct.
In 81 cities out of 64, where the lights
are furnished by private corporation
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