Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1903-02-05
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
Economists Opinions, Formed From
Former Experiences of Missouri,
Concerning State or Municipal
Ownership.

=
by deduction.
One Of the best collections Of facts
aud information, concerning the ques-
tion Of State activity In connection
with industry is Mr.. John w. Millions
"State aid to railways in Missouri
This book is complete and accurate
record OF the experiences Of Missouri
and several other states in giving aid
to railways, being Of the best Ct
evidence from which to deduct any
opinions in regard to municipal or
State ownership.
Although it is concerned only with
railways, yet the methods Of manage
ment are the same as those methods
used in the direction Of an electric
lighting plant and therefore any con-
illusions drawn from this bit of ex-
perience, unless it be from a minor
technical cause, is entirely applicable
co the proposed scheme of municipal
ownership for Mexico.
Notwithstanding nearly all Of those
persons concerned in the question Of
municipal ownership in Mexico have
not the time or the opportunity to
make a study Of this excellent record
of Missouri's experience in giving aid
to railways, nevertheless an opinion
may be obtained from this piece Of in
formation by reading the following
reviews OF Mr.. Millions book,
both reviewers drawing a conclusion
from the materials set forth The
reviews are made by competent
authorities and economists fully
capable Of making the proper deduc-
tions from study Of the book.
The following is from the Nation of
the last week in April, 1897, one Of the
leading authorities in such questions;
"The press OF the University Of Chi
icago issues a very elaborate monograph
by Prof. John w. Million, entitled
State Aid to Railways In Missouri
BY way Of introduction the author re-
views the experiments made by most
OF our states In internal improve
ments and other business enterprises,
the result being, with hardly an ex-
ception, disastrous. There is not a
single case, he says, lin the whole list
of the states attempting the construc-
tion or the assistance in the construc-
tion Of public works between 1925 and
1910 in which there is evidence of COM
manding administrative ability. In
the case Of almost all there Is an abb
sence Of what can be called immacu-
late honesty Although Missouri did
dot fairly begin her experiments until
the middle OF the century, the experi-
ence of other state had no lessons for
her statesmen. After spending many
millions In various railroad enter
prises, the state found the charges in
tolerable, and sold out its interests at
a very heavy loss. The loss, it seems,
was much increased by the venality of
legislators: and in this case, as well as
others, incompetency and corruption
proved to be obstacles fatal to the
success of governmental ventures in
the field of business. Prof. Million
has done his work with great care,
and has furnished valuable body of
evidence on this subject
The following excerpts are taken
from the Chicago evening Post of Jan.
Y, 1898;
We are glad to find, In the economic
studies of the University of Chicago, q
volume giving useful information re-
garding state activity in connection
with railroads. The book is entitled
estate Aid to Railways in Missouri. +"
The results of state aid cannot fail to
throw welcome light upon the larger
problem of government "nationaliza-
tion'' of industrial enterprises. What
then, have been the lessons of our ex-
periences
Thus we see that the causes for the
failure of the various state expert
ments were incompetency, ignorance
and dishonesty. At the very outset
the legislatures neglected to keep In
mind a proper relation between liabil-
tiles and resources, and such an over
sight Is clearly glaring evidence OF un-
fitness. Professor Million asserts that
success for the industrial attempts
was out of the question, owing to the
nature of railway management and the
qualification of state officials for meet
ing the requirements. The managing
of railways requires special training In
scores of different ways, peculiar busi-
ness insight, knowledge of the mar
kets, and so on. Such skill the gov
ernment is unable to command. At
ter the failures in Illinois. Indiana,
Ohio and other states private enter
prise set to work and built roads that
soon proved to be profitable invest
ments In some states, where there
was rivalry between private and pub
lie enterprise, the latter was early left
far behind the former. True, all this
occurred long time ago, but have We
any reason for imagining present-day
lesisli'a=es and officials are more com
petent and faithful? Has there been
any revolution in the methods of state
management, in the nature Of public
officials?
We are, indeed, frequently referred
to the success of government railroad
and telegraphs in European countries
but on this point Professor Million OBJ