Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-05
MUNICIPAL owEERsHIp IN new FORK.


MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP IN NEW FORK.
C1 the strength Of an able report by
Hon. Robert Grier Monroe, commits
sioner of water supply, gas and cleo
tricity for Greater New York, the
authorities Of that city are waging a
vigorous campaign to cur enabling
legislation that will open the way to
the construction and installation of a
municipal electric lighting plant for
the country's metropolis. The recon-
mendation Of Commissioner Monroe for
municipal ownership grows out of an
investigation into the history and con-
dition Of the lighting monopoly in that
city, a review Of which is incorporated
in his report.
From this 1t is made plain that there
never was more than mere nominal
competition in the electric lighting serv-
ice of New York and that in the last
few years the last color Of competition
has been removed by not only the mer-
ger Of all the various electric lighting
concerns, but their establishment in adj
dition of a community of interest with
the gas lighting companies as well. As
a result, New York has been powerless
in the grasp Of a lighting monopoly
which fixed prices as it pleased, both
for street lighting and for commercial
patronage, and went through the forms
Of bidding for city contracts without
varying a hairs breadth from the pre-
arranged figures.
Inquiry into what has been &C.
complished in cities enjoying municipal
ownership seems only to have empha-
sized the predicament in which New
York City finds itself. Official figures
from Chicago, Detroit, Allegheny and
a number of smaller places all testify
to the economy and efficiency of munich
pal installations. Chicago's whole out
lay for capital account and running ex.
penses, covering the sixteen years Of
its operation, is $1,000, 663.O5, while the
estimated cost at current rates of the
electric lighting it has had from It dur
ing the corresponding period Is 1885,
1880, so that 1t has earned all tina,
has been put into it. The showing FOL
Detroit and for Allegheny lie equally
good, although in none of these cite,
does the service extend to supplyins
private consumers, from whom tn,
private lighting companies draw tn,
bulk Of their revenue and the great par
Of their profit.
Commissioner Monroe is not back
ward at all in expressing his position
II believe" he says, addressing tn,
mayor and board Of estimate, "tha
New York with its W plant coul,
provide electric lighting for public use
at a cost much below what is nov
charged the city. Whether REASONABLE
prices a be obtained from privat
: companies or whether the city can wit
! better results maintain and operate It
! own plant is for you to determine.
. do, however, urge hat legislation b
Immediately asked and that you b
given the power to establish and maIr
tain an electric plant for street lieht
e ing, IN case later you decide that It
6 in the interest of the public SO to do.
e SO pertinent did the suggestion seer
e that the movement for a municips
a lighting plant for Greater New Yor
e was at once taken up and appears no,
to be well under way. 1t is eertainI
e the most Interesting development q
municipal ownership sentiment this
s has manifested itself in this countr
and its consequences are sure to /
~far-reaching.