Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-10-12
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP

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icipality has an Inherent right to enter into
any enterprise necessary to the fufllment
of the duties it owes it's citizens.
Every municipality is bound to protect
the people who reside within its bounds,
in their lives property and health, and it
naturally follows that whether the statues
OF the State recognize shat fact or not, the
municipalities have the right to construct
and maintain such works as will enable
them to best extend much protection.
The people Of New York have for years
been held bound by gang Of capitalistic
politicians, members of both parties, that
has reaped enormous profits from contracts
made with that city for light. The people,
in the meantime have been forced to pay
for the light used in their homes and places
OF business rate relative to that paid by
the city. The lighting companies being in
combine there has been no competition
and the city government and people haye
had to pay whatsoever price the lighting
trust chose to serve them
The price has, in the usual course Of
events, been as high as the combine felt
itself safe in demanding, and the qualify as
poor as the people would accept.
But there is an awakening of civic virtue
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some years ago. The leaven has since been
working and among other things the people
discovered that the city government can
make light for its own needs for less money
than it Is paying the lighting combine and
they have concluded that if the city can
save itself money it can also save money for
the private consumers by constructing and
operating municipal lighting plants
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issue in New York this campaign in much
the same way that equal taxation is the
issue in the northern part of New Jersey
all parties demand it in their platforms
No matter who wins, it is probable that
New York Will 60 into business Of making
light for its own use and the use of its citi-
zens just as Trenton is In the water bust
ness.
Municipal ownership is also local issue
in many municipalities ia New Jersey.
The New Jersey statutes permit local GOV
ernments to construct and operate water
plants, sewer plants, garbage consumption
plants, but not lighting plants The posi-
ton OF the State is illogical II a city can
construct aud maintain creanatories to con
sumo its garbage as health measure; water
works for protection against fire and to guar
antee pure supply for the health of its
people, it manifestly has the right to light
its streets for the protection Of its citizens
from the assaults Of thugs, and their homes
from he depredations OF robbers.
That New Jersey has not recognized this
police right of the municipalities is discred
table to 1t. The Democrats of Essex and
other counties have declared in favor of re-
moving this diseredit. It is a matter in
which the people of the whole State should
have a vital interest Some municipalities
may find it more advantageous to buy their
light, but the Stat should recoguIze the
principle, and as the people become more
enlightened and more insistent, they will
secure that recognition. True American.
We publish the above article in full be-
cause we have had some experience along
that line in Woodbury.. In July, 1902,
Woodbury. City Council entered into FIVE
years contract with the Public Service
Corporation TO light the streets Of Wood
bnry, and under that contract the cost Of
street lighting is $4,000 per year Much
of the time the service has been unsatis-
factory. > year ago City Council appoint
ed legislative committee to prepare bill
permitting Woodbury. to construct it's own
light plant. This committee had the city
Solicitor, Hon. J. Boyd Ayis{ prepare a bill
to meet the needs, and i was introduced
among the first bills Of the last session of
the legislature. Speaker Avis referred the
bill to a committee, and there it slept
throughout the session.
BY reason Of his position as Speaker Mr.
Avis had almost supreme control of legisla-
tion; he could incorporate the Borough of
Pitman against the protest of Mantua and
Glassboro townships, the Pitman Grove
Camp Meeting Association and unanimous
protest of the N. J. Annual Conference
representing over 800 ministers, and many
residents Of Pitman; he could secure legis-
lation asked Tor by the Fishermen's Associa-
tion and the State Grange, but when his
home city asked the privilege Of saving
money 10 the taxpayers and properly light
ing its streets, Mr.. Avis was helpless TO aid
them
Many people are asking the question: if the
Pablo Service Corporation had desired the
defeat Of the Pitman, and Fish and Agri-
cultural bills would they now be laws and
il the Public Service Corporation had de-
sired the enactment Of the Woodbury. Light
BILL would it have been killed in Commit
tee?
1t is plain to people who desire to see,
that it has come to this, that the Public
Service Corporation is more powerful in
New jersey than the people.
And it IS plain, that Hon. John Boyd
Avis was more anxious to serve the inter-
ests of the Public Service Corporation in
the last legislature than the people Of
Woodbury., whose representative and paid
attorney he was.
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