The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-09-24
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
Farming Out Public Franchises Might do
for the Turks but IL n Contrary
90 the Spirit of Democracy

is PUBIC 6cINlCe ludl luFOAsCo ehS
rse of public property and requires the
exercise of public functions.
The community itself may perform
this communal service or give to a
private company the right to do SO |
clothing it with certain special and ex-
cirsive privileges and the necessary |
authority to exercise them. In other
words, grant to a private corporation
use of public property and tie author
ity to exploit the public for private
profit.
Electric lighting from central sta
lions is now clearly recognized by the
general public as a monopolistic in
dlstry not subject to the laws OF COM
petition. We hear no more about its
abuses being righted in time by com
petition. Everywhere and always, pre-
tended competition results in combina-
ton and increased charges for the SER
vice much greater than the naturally
increased cost of same that results
from duplication of plants and lines.
Neither do we now hear from intelli-
gent opponents Of municipal owner
slip the query once SO common, why
hot have municip-l butcher shops, mu-
nicipal groceries, etc. The butcher or
81 ocer does not require special priv
ileges and has none. MonOpolies
would be equally as Objectionable in
those lines. ExtortiOn, incivility or
iEcapcity in such competitive bust
nesses meet swift and certain punish
nent, while good will and gain Is de-
pendent upon ability, industry and fair
dealing.
The burden of proof is upon those
who insist that public property shall
be- used by privileged few for pri-
vate profit. Naturally, public prop
erty should be used for public pur-
poses and be controlled by the people
through officials accountable to them
for their public acts.
The building up of privileged class
BY alternating community rights, con-
ctntrating such rights into the hands
Of few, is un-American. 1t is re-
vival Of similar practices that for
time prevailed in the colonial days.
until condemned along with involun-
tary servitude, public lotteries AMI
other public evils imposed upon the
struggling colonists by Charles the
second and his profligate favorites. IN
their effort to replace the growing
democracy with an aristocratic sys-
tenn. It was "a sort of renaissance Oh
feudalism," as the Rev. Edward Ever
EFT Hale expresses it.
To adopt mu~ icipal ownership for
any public utility is not new or radi-
cal. 1t is simply following in the foot
ofot xyhn
dom has been verified during the IN
telvening years by the injustice ane
corruption that have resulted from re-
versing the policy and granting 10
private corporations, powers and priv
ileges that belong to communities. AS
the late Governor Pingree cnce said,
"The corporations are responsible for
nearly all the thieving and boodlins
from which Our cities suffer"
Detroit's public plant has nov
lighted the city eight years. The first
year the cost wa, less than the loves
plice ever secured from private COM
pany or ever offered by private COM
Eany.
The lowest contract price was
s12S.S7 the lowest contract price OF.
fered was $1,000 per 1000 p. c. arc
light per year on a 10 years contract
The cost from the public plant thu
first year was s100.50. 1t has steadil.
declined since to S63.S2 last year, add
ms depreciation, lost taxes and in
teIest on the investment to cash cost
This is my 81 tn year on the light
Ing commission, and l can say, speak
lis from that experience, that TIL
dangers and obstacles alleged to bese
such a municipal undertaking and tina
are portrayed with such energy b.
those interested in concealing the rea
cost of electric lights, are mere fan
cies. We have not felt them nor seel
them.
The city will have gained in tel
years operation more than the entir
value of the plant Cat least $SO0,000) a
a clear profit over what its light
would have cost on the lowest te
years bid from private company.
We were told that a public plan
could not give decent service, be
cause 1t would be run by city polite
ians.
Tho number of Iamp hours repOrte