Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-15
TO INVESTIGATE SOCIALISM.

Socialism seems to be attracting a
great deal Of attention IN England, and
as q result Minister Balfour, so II Is
stated, viii appoint a commission TO
inquire into the matter Of municipal
trading. The success Of municipal trad
Ing in certain large municipalities, II is
said, Is encouraging smaller bodies to
embark upon undertakings for which
they possibly are not qualified over a
dozen municipalities have this year APP
piled to parliament for power TO deal
not only with the ordinary sdministra-
ton Of an electrical system, but also
with those developments and access
sores which hitherto have been left
in private hands. This condition Of
things has led to a strong demand for
an impartial investigation into the
probabilities Of the future, and into the
security that ought to be exacted on
behalf OF the rate payers.
The Socialists point with pride to
what they consider splendid illuatra-
lions OF municipal socialism, and one OF
these Illustrations is furnished by Not
tingham. Fifty years ago, It Is claimed.
this ancient English town was not
much larger In area than It was in
1884, when II elected its first mayor Ac-
cordlng to correspondent Of the New
York Tribune, II has developed Won
derfulIy In the last half-century. It's
population has increased threefold its
area has expanded from 1000 acres to
II, 900. The greater portion OF this town
OF 100000 inhabitants Is. it is SAID, as
new as the average American city
Municipal enterprise has been substi-
tuted for company promotion. The
municipality has expended an immense
sum on drainage. street Improvements.
water supply, gas and electric lighting
and an electric street railway service.
1t has established art and natural his
tory museums. free libraries, schools
of design and technical training and a
municipal university -Four hundred
students attend the day classes In this
university and 1900 receive instruction
at night. II Is a training college, a
technical school and an institution for
secondary education combined. Dur
ing perIod when England has fallen
behind Germany and the United States
in secondary education" observes the
Tribune's correspondent, THE munlci-
pallty Of Nottingham has set noble
example Of energy and progressive en-
terprise"
Nottingham, we are further told. has
$751; 900 invested in public utilities. In
Ave years the sum Of $4,000 has been
turned into the Nottingham treasury
after charges for interest and sinking
fund have been met. The charges for
water, gas and electric light are moder-
ate-ihe cost OF gas, for instance, rang
ing from 2s to % cents a thousand feet.
Street ear rare mas Deeh reduced ana
public comfort has been promoted by
improved accommodation. It Is not
denied that these undertakings would
yield larger financial returns under pri-
vate management. But profit, II APP
pears, is only secondary consideration
with municipal socialists. Their aim Is
TO minister to the comfort, welfare
and convenience Of the public" and
this, they claim has been done through
the system OF municipal ownership.
II the investigation is undertaken by
a royal commission. both sides Of the
system, the weak as well as the strong,
VIII undoubtedly be exposed, and the
result OF the inquiry should therefore
be OF considerable interest to this coun-
try. too