The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-08

PUBLIC ownership IS
THRIVING IN: EUROPE
Working Glass Members of
Parliament from Abroad
on. Way to St. Louis.
Tell Something About the
Progress Of Municipal
Ownership in Europe.

Washington. D. c.. Oct. 6.-Some Of
the working class members Ct Par
lament from Europe on their way to
the Interpartiamentary Congress at the
st. Louis Exposition told some very
interesting things about the progress
of the Labor and Economic movement
in their respective countries, they were
ardent trade unionists and firm be-
levers that the problems Of labor could
never be solved until the working
classes themselves attempted the solu-
ton. They told of the great sue
cess and progress made in the munich
palization of public utilities, and how
this form of cooperative effort on
the part of the workers was doing
good on a more extensive scale than
had been dreamt Of by it's projectors.
One gentleman from Germany gave
some very interesting details of
municipal ownership in German
city about the size Of Lynn, Mass,
called Freiburg. According to this
gentleman's report this city some
years ago took it into it's head that
it would own itself and once having
grasped the idea it proceeded to do
after another until today the following
businesses are managed by the city
government:
l. -Four hundred cottages, each with
a little garden. Over $4,000 has been
spent by the city to give the poorer
citizens better homes.
2. Electric street cars. The fare to
any part of the city is 21a cents.
8. Fifty advertising boards. All
outdoors advertising Is controlled by
the city. The rate is 10 cents a day
per square foot.
4. All pawnshops. The city owns
all the pawnshops and charges a low
rate Of interest. It does not try to
make any profit out of the necessities
Of the poor, but runs the paWnshops
at cost.
5. Savings bank The city owns the
only savings bank in Freiburg. It has
over $5,00O,000 in the treasury. If a
spell of hard times comes, the savings
bank helps business by lending money
at cheap rates.
6. Theater. The principal theater in
Freiburg is owned by the city. The
citizens regard the theater as part of
their educational system. 1t is used
to instruct as well as to amuse.
T. Restaurant There are public
restaurants in Freiburg which serve
breakfasts and suppers for cents and
dinners for 81 cents. If you wish
you can get a good cup of coffee and
tMoss thick slices Of bread tor 21k.cents.
8. Burial Of the dead .~ The city: has
taken over the undertaking business,
so that poor people will not be over
charged. The cost of a funeral in
F<reiburg runs from S. to $32. A
handsome HAL of the Dead" has been
built in the cemetery, and all bodies
are kept in it for fortye eight hours to
make sure that no one will be buried
alive.
8. Farms and forests. The city has
bought large tracts of land near the
city, so that work may be given to
any workman who need open air jobs
for their health.
10. Correct time. A. $4,000 electric
clock has been placed in the city hall
This clock connects with eighty five
other clocks in different parts Of the
city and keeps them all in harmony.
H. Electric light. The city manu-
features all it's own electricity, both
for light and power.
-. Architects. Freiburg pays a
salary to the best architect in the
city, so that all public buildings shall
be tremendously planned.
The gentleman who gave these very
interesting details expressed himself
on the question Of public ownership
in a manner which can not fail to in
terest his fellow workers in this coun-
try During an interview he said:
"Citizens Of Freiburg do not be-
lieve that city should be run for the
profit Of a few great corporations.
All it's institutions should be managed
so as to benefit all the people.
1.-The idea Of having a corporation
streets seems absurd to us, although
it is the custom In America. We
think more of having happy citizens
than of making dividends.
Even from business point OF
view, public ownership is the best. In
every case we have saved money by
buying out the corporations.
What is city government for?
Is it only for street cleaning aid gar
bage- hauling? We do not believe so
It is for the culture and Improvement
of all the people. It should take into
it's hands all the things that are neces-
sary to the welfare of the citizens
F'reiburg is an cid city. It's univer-
sity was built before the discovery OF
America. But it is more up-to-dat
and enterprising in the matter of city
government than any city in this new
country.
If we can gain anything from the
experience of others, the experience
Of the citizens of Freiburg ought tc
act as an incentive to the working
men of every city and town in this
country to go and do likewise. What
seems impracticable and far distant
now will look entirely different when