The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-17
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP IN TOLEDO

1 4 AYOR GOLDEN RULE JONES of Toledo,
M O.. is out with an article in the Municipal
- journal and Engineer In which he denies that
the leasing by that city % It's plant 10 private
corporation upsets the theory that municipal owner
ship of public utilities IS blessing. The transfer in
the opinion of Mayor Jones' does not prove the failure
soft municipal ownership, but of municipal govern
mt.
IN the course of his argument Mr.. Jones says some
things. One of thers IS that the laws framed
the benefit of individuals, rather than of the whole
eople BY individuals he means aggregatOns of cap
itai as well single business men. Under the laws
it was impossible for Toledo tap the southern Ohio
gas fields after the supply in the north, to which the
city's pipes ran, had been exhausted
Therefore. the Only reasonable thing to do was to
furn the practically worthless plant to private
corporation which could and did the southern
supply. Only few years before the municipal plant
bulls the city granted franchises for the same
purpose to two private companies, Mayor Jones very
justly points that it unfair for the municipality
IL engage in competition with those companies in the
hlst place When their franchises were given them
they had right to projection, and they had right to
charge bad faith when they didn't get it. The proper
way would have been for the city to buy the plants.
This not done, and of course the competition was
ruinous even while the citys plant had abundant
supply of gas.
In support of his municipal ownership theory the
mayor points the waterworks. The figures show that
Toledo IS getting its water more cheaply under NUM-
cpal ownership than it could IN any other Way. The
same thing IS true OF other cities that their water
works. like state of facts would be found if cities
owned their lighting plants, provided no private COM
petition existed
Opponents Of municipal ownership can find no com
fort IN fair study OF The Toledo situation The gas
test obviously unfair one, and should not be used
as an argument Mayor Jones and other eminent think
believe the time is coming when great cities viii
evay public utility within their borders At pres
ent the laws such that municipal ownership is.
perhaps, impractcabe, but the laws will be amended
Some day when our ideal shall have enlarged -
Mayor Jones concludes, 'and instead of thinking Of
success as something that rich man, we shall
think Of city fu of healthy, ablebodied fathers and
mothers and happy, Joyous children. Then, we shall
work together for the good of all rather than to pursue
mistaken policy OF seeking the good of one individual
through the exploitation plumber of the rest Then
every species of property that Is socially produced viii
be socially owned. Thea the good u the whole com
munity viii be our chief concern, and gas water street
railways light telephone, telegraph and every species
Of public necessity viii be administered in the interest
Of the people and the service rendered at actual cost
for shall realize that the business of life Is the build
ing of nation, rather than the making of a few ndi-
viduals rich"