New-York tribune., 1905-10-23
TALK CITY OWNERSHIP.
Large Cro5od in Harlem Opera
House Hears Both Sides.

large crowd gathered in the Harlem Opera
House yesterday, where tho Rev. Dr.. Madison {.
Peters has for several Sundays held discussion
on public questions. 10 hear John Ford, Bird s.
Coler and John Martin tell why they favored mu-
nieipal ownership and f B. Thuber, president Of
the Civic Association of New-Yor. speak against it.
1T was not a political affair. but pIre and sim
pie discussion of public question of tho moment.
only at one time there air OF politics about
the meeting and that was when Mr Coler referred
10 Mayor McClellans statement that the debt limit
vas 50 far up that the city could not go ahead
Win public improvements. It was the signal for
an outburst or hearty applause.
John Ford said there was TO better time than
sunday to discuss municipal ownership, because It
mad in il practical Christianity.
Municipal ownership Will accomplish two great
ulngs.' Mr.. Ford said, 'jf il doesn't accomplish
anything else at the present lime According to
pans made by the present city government. it is
going TO give away nineteen subwayS of
Sz'VOO,00o,00o They not to be laid out serve
Tue people but to serve private corporations If
the people decide the coming election to try
municipal ownership will to it that the sub
ways are laid out for the benefit of the people We
VIII to It that they laid out so that the
people in the congested parts of the city Wiz be
given chance to reach the oreu parts within The
city limits and enjoy such life as God Wllea the!
'''The second thing that municipal ownership will
accomplish is the purihcat ton OF pubd's M, II
where Senator's are bought like salt 10 defeat
So-cent gas bills: no more boarding OF members
OF the legislature by insurance companies and no
more underhande1 work of franchise hoidtnS cor
porations
Bird S. Coler said that the city owred al! it's
ferries hundred years ago, lnd the income from
those ferries alone betrayed all the citys expenses
There was reason in his nllnd why the city to-
CAY should not all the ferries.
Municipal ownership is, therefore, said Mr. %
Ter, mot a new thing. In modern times the water
question is the Oldest municipal idea that has been
developed and put in continuous operation AS We
al know. it has been 4 big success and OK ehor-
."The Mavor has said that the debt limit is far
up that we cannot so ahead with public improve
nents I don't wish to turn this meeting INTO 4
political affair." but ! wish to say that We nave
enough money. and don't let any one bluff you INTO
believing anything to the contrary. We have enough
money 10 take over gas, electric lighting rapid
transit and the ferries.
r r Thurber said that in a country with uni
versal suffrage it was desirable to limit the number
of public officials 10 the smallest possible number
for political reasons and there We're also economic
reasons which apply especially to lighting traction
and other public service corporations winch are
large huyers of materials employ large numbers or
persons and require high order Of administrative
ability He commended that there would be more
opportunities for graf for the poi1tlclan than
under present conditions.