The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-25
TO FIND BEST WAY.
Municipal Ownership ConYen-
tiOn Begins Session.

New 0Tk, FEB. 20.-Ihe convention
on municipal ownership of franchises
which is to continue for three days
opened here today. There was a good
attendance The delegates were vel
coined by John G. Agar, who in his
address. held that the conditions in
American cities are such as to make
the thoughtful and patriotic seek some
method Of improvement.
This convention has been called
he said, for the purpose of furnishing
facts and information and of organic
ing a permanent bureau for the coIlec-
ton and distribution of such municipal
statistics relating to the best method
of supplying commercial wants"
The first paper read, Recent History
of Municipal Ownership in the United
States was prepared under the direc-
ton of the late Charles Waldo Has
kins, dean of the New York University
School of Commerce. and was read by
Joseph z. Johnson, the present dean of
the school
Clinton Rogers Woodruff of Phila-
delphia. made the next address in
which he said in part:
What Is the cause of the undenia
Bile growth of popular interest in the
municipal ownership of public service
franchises I reply that the movement
is primarily due to the popular indig
nation at the corruptness and degra-
dation incident to the policy of private
ownership. The people are awakening
to an appreciation of the dangers Turk
ing in the shadows of such relation
ships as now exist between city gov
ernments and private corporations.
There is an ethical reaction against
such practice as 1 have briefly men
toned and it is manifesting itself IN
demand for municipal ownership.
tAs yet I doubt whether there is any
very general feeling on the essential I'M
propriety and immortality of policy
which permits private concerns to enjoy
public privileges for their private profit.
What inherent right has any individ-
ual to become rich through the grant OF
a municipal franchise or privilege.
Il have used the term municipal own
ership throughout my remarks as dis
tinguished from private ownership. 4
! have not used it to include or imply Hu-
/ niciDaI operation That is another ques-
ton For some time to come in most
places we will have to utilize pri-
waite concerns and their experience and
/ business capacity but only as agents
and not as principals.
In other words the compensation Of
! private concerns must he limited to a far
return for the services rendered and no
more"
discussion referred to the success of
municipal ownership Of the waterworks
in this city The paper on Comparison
of F1uroDean and American Methods and
/ Results prepared by Robert P. Porter,
director of the eleventh census of the
+ United States, was read by John +.
Martin secretary of the association.
Mr. Porter said in part:
THE establishment of enormous bu-
reaucracies and the creation of a priv
lodged class of employees constitute a
menace to the public veal. Reflect for
q moment what an organization like
Tammany would become if. in addition
to the present force of officials, an army
of industrial employees should be added.
We read the following in the London
Daily News in relation to a recent NUM-
~ in Rirv7ai11 a sff was
not dignified to see leading corporation
officials marshaling bands of corpora
ton xorkmen into the polling area and
explicitly instructing them how to vote
in favor Of the bill
THE town clerk of Birmingham said
recently he would like to see all cOrpor-
alton employees disfranchised.
whatever selfish interests first pro
NOTED the campaign against municipal
trading the movement Is rapidly gain
ing ground and the attitude of munich
nal officials throughout England has I'M
dergone a decided change.
besides the numerous industries az
rresent being carried on by British mu-
nicipaIities we find among the powers
applied for are the manufacture OF
steam engines. dynamos, gas ana eiec-
trio fittings, paving materials, cold air
stora pc ice making, concert rooms. milk
sl1prlv cycle tracks. etc Tram car
facfoTies have been established, munic-
ipaI telephones are being undertaken
and municipal banks and bank notes
DaWn brOkering, bakeries and public
houses have been suggested
IN America we find that the time and
ability Of those willing to take part IN
such work fully absorbed in performing
the regular functions OF municipal gov
eminent They have not yet entered
into trade When one realizes how
strong IS the temptation to jobbery I'M
der existing conditions it is perhaps
fortunate for the taxpayer that the con
stitutionaI debt limit, together with thu