The Van Buren press., 1902-08-30

Grand Rapids, Mich, Aug. 2o'-Two
hundred delegates were present at
me- opening session of the sixth an
anal convention of the League of
lmerican Municipalities, in the fur
,mre exposition building. BY Tues
an it is expected, there will be 200
mare delegates present, making the
,ouvention one Of the largest ever
b,ld by the league. An address of
Welcome by Mayor Palmer of Grand
RsDids opened the morning session.
This was followed by an address by
President Charles S. Ashley, mayor
Of New Bedford, Mass.
Mr.. Ashley said that much thought
and discussion had been given to the
subject of municipal administration
N the members Of the league, and
they had been the cause of pro
,oklng concentrated attention to the
question Of municipal ownership.
Continuing on this topic, he said:
Home rule for cities No dependency
At The city upon the state. Each munich
o,IV should be law unto itself upon
M matters purely local We should have
rght TO own and control the public utii-
q ask you to note that ! say have tho
nght 10 own, for | do not undertake TO
w that at this time In every communi-
b Il would be feasible thing TO exer..
de that right but In tho very nature OF
Angs It is a privilege which we should
rn be longer denied. Competition In the
ions too often means that consolidation
vii follow and the consumer eventually
Ny all the bills.
pure monopoly means that the price
demanded Will be far beyond the fair ca
pcy OF the debtor TO pay,
Regulated monopoly through the IN
aumentality Of the state IL "A farce and
gacticay amounts to legallzed bunco.
The right to enter into the field with
municipal ownership provides a means OIL
aging to the oppressor be square ana
decent with US and we will pay proper
riee to you, If not, we ourselves VIII pay
70 ourselves, buy OF ourselves and the
AMOUNT expended will be that which Is OF
sseIf right ana not what you extort
This would come pretty near regulation
that would regulate, and the regulator IL
The party naturally and rightfully the one
70 do H. An experience OF eight years IN
he mayoralty has brought me face to
face with the state and It's servants as
veil as with the great companies ana
Aelr officers ! am referring to the arbl-
vary acts Of great organizations; to I'M
reasonable schedules and rates OF charges
70 high prices and poor service, TO ever
Asling greed, big profits and soft snaps.
u II Is true that an individual or hrn
d entitled to only what * fair AS re-
Turn on business Investment, II IL equal
y true that great corporations which eN-
NJ BY the license Of the state and are tho
Creatures entirely Of the law, have no IN
nren, right to receive more than what IL
fsh, and Just,
Great public utility monopolles are fer
We IN resources and learned In trlckory,
The Held being granted TO them ostcnslbly
70 protect the people from the ultimate
results Of competitive warfare the sup
Ny Of water being enormous to make a
afge dividend shrink TO figures nominal
Y respectable tho bond issues being
ioaed and all the machinery and devices
ld eonceallng assets having been set IN
bolton, the state In It's wisdom creates us
wafds and bureaus to restrict, regulate
Nd control
And the Qunl'y OF this supervision Ia
pQfi the size and strength of the state 8
tm when raised In behalf Of the Citys
gNplo Is weak I'm the words of the song
lgl can hardly notice II, ut all
90 not urge municipal ownership az
eluO to eNtcrmlnate, but rather as
seahs to a remedy and solution, Win
Y YOU can light and heat your own GIVE
,,9.wchold, and ride In your own streets
sp ways and lead your electric wires
form.
charge no corruption upon the agents
" lhe state, the fault " In the system,
mey are not by the tenor of their APP
ointment, subject 10 any control of the
wv, they come In daily contact with the
%%hpanles and their Representatives ana
My learn to think AZ their visitors
,ssnki they lose their Identity NJ citizens
uuemselVes and have come to regard the
tune W. WV '''"'
uWe us home rule for cities, indcpcnd-
, wy OF the state n matters of purely 10
w, concern, freedom from guardianship
s 'nu lhe rlght TO do as we VIII with our