The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-29
EvoLTIoN OF THE IDEAL CITY.

From speech delivered by Tom l. Johnson mayor o
! Cleveland Ohio.
The subject too vast too far-reachng too important
for 10 fully discuss it this time will therefore
touch upon two topics paramount just
refer the public ownership Of municipal monopolie'
and equal and just taxation Of the citizens of city
The prompt solutions of these questions will, think
bring about ideal city hope for
In the FIRST place municipal monopocs consist OF rights
and special privileges the public and highways
which i'm the nature OF the be possessed by all
the people and can only be enjoyed by few.
a constant struggle goes TO obtain such privileges
with result Of checking aud rctarding for long time
necessary public Improvements Rival claimants not strong
enough obtain what they wint often succeed IN checknat
ing each other at the OF denying to the public need
ed advantages
Only a slight observation Of and reflection upon the
needs Of people crowded together in city facility Of
moving about to communication to supply Of artificial
light is needed to satisfy any candid that such bust
nessc5 IN her nature mouopolistic.
I'm other words they be best carried with the best
results to the public under single management and with
single opicy. Where competition prevails in such
businesses almost invariably the public service inefficient
and detective. Wherever there is unity the condition OF
things is much better
My proposition this subject to enlarge the functions
of municipalities that the of transportation and
communication and the supply OF water and light shall be
furnished by public authority and by private enterprise
and extend this principle it's logical result OF taking under
public administration all businesses which require the
of any special right privilege We have already started
on this road and made considerable progress.
Is d *
In many cities the water supply is public business in
some cities and electric light manufactured and fur
nishcd by public authority many cities of Europe and
Australia street railroads owned and operated by the
public
Way not go in this direction till there shall be no
private property special grants franchises and till
nil business requiring such grants shall be carried by the
municipalities:
Under present conditions the adoption OF this policy
the Inv he rirhl-
water gas electric light and power supply the telephone
and the street railroads
he evils which great many timid people as likely
to arise from charging the scope Of the Of mn
pacs trivial in comparison with the evils which are in
sgparabIc from the present system.
As long the great rewards which these nionopoies Of
fer to private enterprise possible your industries viii be
hmpered your politics viii be corrupted with bribery and
fraud aud your people viii have to pay unnecessarily HIGH
prices for these kind OF services and they viii be subjected
to daily and hourly Inconvenience and vc>aton owing to
the poor quality OF the service
would not advocate any disregard of existing rights or
coudscaton existing property INoad be mo- ,ol
ton OF existing rights for cities their m powers So as
to compel the private to bear the same pro-
portion OF public burdens according thl value OF their
property including franchises owners OF other kinds
OF private property have to bear.
II would be no violation OF existing rights where the
power had not been bartered away Tor the cities OR fine
states to regulate fares and rates of compensation so as to
make their yield only fair return the actual investment
made rather than upon fictitious capitalization based
mainly upon franchises or special privilege values.
In short municipalities ought not to hesitate TO d., what
private persons i'm business do as matter of course, Tbc
should respect the grants which they have made accorl
to their true limits but doing this they should take a
tage OF every right that left themselves TO get rid of the
present system aud substitute therefor regime of public
ownership and operation.
Every taxpayer ought be interested in lust and eo
taxation Tor the happiness and welfare of the peope and m
prosperity and safety of the State depend iipon mat m
equal taxation Under the existing laws and the methods
executing them IN Ohio have lands assessed ar An
per cent OF their real value
Ihe homes OF the small owners of CITY real estst. ,
taxed at 90 per cent of their real value Steam railroads
assessed at about % cent Of their real value and hence
pay only about onetbird of their fair share of taxes ~ ~
pared with the farmers and small property owners d +L
State. '' '"N''S Oh the
Street railroads and other public service eornora,o m
INC property OF the people and keeping up their pric for
service make immense profits but they value their nr
Is Junk when returning it for taxation and 50 nav 49,
e'eth OF Their tair share OF taxes as comnared viii, g
ITS ana small property owners. BY reason OF the fat 49,
"uch OF inc taxable property in the State uni,sty 49, ,
aNaton the property Of the honest and helpless l.; tl
much higher rate than it would be if ali nroocrt No.
3sty assessed, as the constitution OF the STATE d.,
Inc property OF great corporations is almost mt
mus inc burden OF taxation is borne on all mont, /
hNe' out uniusy thrown upon the property of tb 49,
II and small home owner ~ " ''~ t''ul- 7
lhese are not party questions They are oro..i,..
,o"esy' fairness aud justice, and the people viii ]
hem Alright. 'f'e VIII answer I