The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-12-01

Il
prominent Democrats of this city,
sends the following communication to
the News on the question of municipal
ownership Of public utilities:
Editor News: The question of mu-
nicipal owner ship OF public service
corporations is before the people of
this country for solution. Directly the
luton, but indirectly they have forced
the issue upon the people. The ques-
ton to be solved is: ''Shall the public
service corporations so control the
people as to make them the servants
OF the corporations, or shall the people
control the corporations, SO that the
corporations are at the service OF the
people?"
The issues between the people and
the public service corporations are
becoming more clearly defined every
day. They arise from the many wrongs
and injustices done the public. These
corporations often become insolent,
domineering, brow-beating and law
defying in their conduct, and look
upon the people as big lot of
chumps, to be plundered at their will.
The people are beginning to look at
some CT the corporations as outlaws
and highwaymen, to be restrained and
punished by the terTors OF the law.
When these public service corpora
tions are giving the people the best
service for the least money, they are
content. The people are very consid
crate, slow to anger and plentious in
mercy; but when they have sold their
birthrlght for a mess Of pottage and
afterwards are insolently imposed upon
their righteous indignation cries out
for redress.
And who dare stand in the way OF
this juggernaut Of public grievances?
These public service corporations
may be said to include waterworks,
heat, light and power plants, tele-
phone plants, garbage plants, street
railways and others arising from pub
lie necessities.
We shall take the Canton street rail-
way as the theme for discussion. The
Democracy of Ohio last June adopted
as part of It's platform of principles
the idea Of home rule, In its vely
broadest sense. This means the
municipal control or ownership of
public utilities by the people, If they
SO desire. If the people are satisfied
with present conditions, all is we'll
and good; II not, that they may have
the right to subject public service cor
porations to their control, at least, II
not ownership.
The first thing to be considered by
the people would be the propriety of
assuming control Of ownership. This
must then be submitted to the people
for their decision at some general
election. This is democratic, and II is
also home rule.
Now we come to the tug of war.
How shall we proceed to acquire the
property? This must be done accord
ing to established rules. The first is
that the public wait until the expira-
tion OF the franchise; the second
would be to purchase the property;
the third. by forfeiture Of the charter
In violating the franchise; and, fourth, |
by the right of eminent domain. The
first, second and third are generally
well understood by the public, but the
fourth needs some explanation so its
meaning can be fully grasped.
The right of eminent domain means
the sovereign right of the state or
people to appropriate private property
for public uses. This is seen where |
private lands are taken for public |
roads. street and other public high |
ways; where private property is taken |
or condemned for sites for public /
buildings; wherever the public good
is paramount to the private rights, !
private property may be taken by the |
richt of eminent domain. This prin-
ciple of eminent domain has been en-
larged upon and also means that rail-
roads and transportation corporations /
may appropriate private property for
their semf-public benefit 1t means
more, 1t means that when the sover- !
eign people of municipality has pub
lie exigencies arising, that must be !
met and settled upon the principle
of the greatest good to the greatest
and that private property.
individual or corporate, must
yield to the public good.
Now comes the protest of the anti