New-York tribune., 1905-12-13
A FAILURE ABROAD.
Professor Roberts Tells President of
Municipal O7cnership Schemes.
EFron The Tribune Bur.au.l ]


Washington Dec '12-Municipal ownership OF
utilities abroad is a failure and is bound to be
abandoned within few years according to Pro
fessor Frank II. Roberts OF the University OF Coio-
RADIO who has Just returned from an extended tour
abroad Professor Roberts was introduced to Presl-
dent Roosevelt at the White House Saturday oy
Representative Mondell of wyoming. In his coli
versation with the President Professor Roberts
predicted that the failure of the municipal owner
ship would inevitably bring about Crisis
in Englands affairs which would fall not far short
of revolution.
THE thinking politicians in England, even Of the
Conservative party" said Professor Roberts "ad-
init privately that municipal ownership has falied'
and further acknowledge that within ten years
their party will be declaring against the scheme.
But now they feel forced to go along with the tide
and publicly declare adherence to a propasanda
they know to be Unwtse, unsafe, and utterly un-
businesslike. In my trip abroad as semi-ofhcisi
investigator the Governor of Colorado, visited
London; Liverpool, Glasgow. Manchester. Brussels
Amsterdam Antwerp, Hamburg and Berlin. as
we'll as A number Of smaller places adjacent to
each Of the larger cities. I had most satisfac-
tory trip except at Liverpool, where my nands
were tied in a peculiar manner At Liverpool as
at other places I visited, showed my credenuaiS
TO the leading citizens These credentials. CONSIST
ing of large expanse of parchment with huge
seal and much engraving, signed by the Governor
and the Secretary of State of Colorado always Sc
cured me access to the records ana the men
wished to see. but at Liverpool they WoFkco eNeii
better than had hoped expected. You would nave
s,1pposed was the President of tho United states
or at least his Secretary of state Committees Wero
appointed to entertain me- boat ana "h0le
procession of carriages placed at my disposal
and perfect round of entertainments was sot w
for my especial benefit. After being treated in
such a perfectly royal manner it would have been
anifestly ill-bred OF to dig into the depths OF
the municipal ownership situation there. 1t would
have been like breaking bread with a man. and
then insulting his wife. What did see in Liver
pool convinced me, however. that the municipal
ownership scheme there is tainted with what we
call graft in this country.
From all that could make out, the entire n1u-
n,ctpsl ownership system in England and on the
Continent is unbusinesslike In the extrene In the
first place nearly all the towns failing 70 MAKE
provision for depreciation Of the plants-ng
in order to make better showing FOR the scneuIe
at present For instance, In a number OF towns the
sinking fund set aside Is per cent or Even G ~ o
servative business concerns in this country, ana
they are not putting by any more than tney I oeeIL
necessary. In Glasgow, wheTe tne SUI i&lIWeSs
ore making a great success under municipal owner
ship-on paper-I found that the city soyer9nlmenC m
did much Of the work which ought 70 nave Deel
work that the streetCar company haa 20 90 10 PGI
its lines into a locality not yet tapped. the WORK
stood in tho way, and even repaved the streets.
Not a cent was charged against the street railway
company. In many of the English towns the n1V
ntCipal ownership scheme mas caused tnc tdA l1ee =
10 soar wear by year. until 1t has become a
terrible burden. Some of the towns nave sus1
tained such drain that housenoloefe are ooLS3Te 3 =
their landlords For instance. II the renter paSs
fI2 year in rent he will pay faS year in taxes
and the end is bound to be revolution something
closely bordering upon IL