The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-01-24
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.

experience or these UOWos dnu OheliuB
the most diverse counsel. Since the
franchises Of our own public service
corporations are about to ~expire-the
water works franchise has about
eighteen months to III and the
electric light, about two years-it
NAV be well worth the while for US
to begin to inquire into the exper-
fence OF other towns. The city coun-
Gil and a citizens committee about a
year ago began an investigation Of
these matters, but no recent report
from them has been made public. A
careful inquiry into these things and
a free discussion of them before they
become a burning issue is certainly
the part of prudence.
or the reports published in the
Mexico newspapers Butler and Fulton
make the most favorable reports and
Huntsville and Macon the most I'M
favorable reports upon the subject of
municipal ownership. The report
from Butler may be discounted be-
cause of the length of the experiment
only ten mouths. They report that
the cost of the lighting has been at
the rate Of 50, 800 per annm 10 excess
OF income, while the best bid by
private operators was $4,000. They
further say that it is believed that
the expense viii be reduced 10 81 900
in excess of income next year. The
report does not show whether the
writer took into account the rapidity
with which an electric light plant
becomes Junk or whether the interest
on the bonds was counted in expense.
Besides the plant had not been long
enough in operation to learn what
effect the patronage may have upon
municipal elections.
The testimony Of Macon is quite as
adverse as that of Butler is favorable.
The experiment there has extended
over a number of years, 1t is a min
ing town with a large population of
irresponsible voters. The writer says
that the experiment there has been a
monumental failure, that it has cor
rupted elections, lowered the standard
of city administration in other
respects, and cost more from year to
year.
In Lexington the cost Of the public
service corporations amounts to five
sixths of the taxes derived from real
and personal property. 1t is two
fifths of the total revenue including
licenses. fines, etc. We pay $4,000
per annum for water and $500 for
light. The people are dissatisfied
with both. The quality Of the water
is as unsatisfactory as the service is in
other respects admirable. The cleo
trio light plant has always been
managed 10 a skinny, hand-to-mouth
manner, II a holt breaks, permission
has to be gotten from Chicago or
New York to buy a new me. The
street service has long been abom
Unable. II the house service had
been as bad the whole thing would
have been discarded long ago.
A situation like this is an admirable
field for the radical and The agitator
And the long Encouragement and
repression Of every effort at public
improvement will only add TO the
violence of the change of sentiment
when it does come II a few men,
the very mes who are best able to
afford the expense and are most
benefited by public improvement, see
fit to halt such enterprises as the
much needed paving Of a few blocks
OF Main street, the time may come
when by overwhelming vote the
city will assume infinitely larger
and more dangerous responsibilities.
The time may come when the
temptation to try municipal owner
ship will be strong; and it seems
emiDently desirable that those who
are looked to for advice upon public
policies should thoroughly acquaint
themselves with the experience o.
other towns similarly situated anC
not rely upon theories evolved from
the inner consciousness.
The recent adoption Of the eight
constitutional amendment afford
ground for the belief that the munlc
ipal ownership theory is growing il
favor, though IL must be admitted
that the increase Of state function
a..u wkr. -. .. ln.un