Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-30

nipples ON the Current Of Life In ths
Metropolis.

Metropolis.
The so-called conservative interests OF
New York ridiculs the idea that municipal
ownership IL a possibility IN the big city
"A socialistlo sbsurdity." expresses the SEN
timent Of people opposed to municipal
ownership and operation Yet these self
satisfied people are unable to see what is
visible or comprehend the fact that New
York City affords larger example of
municipal ownership and operation than
any other city IN the country, and Is
steadily broadening it's activities The city
owns and operates vast system OF water
works owns and leases the Underground
railroad. owns all the bridges connecting
Manhattan and Brooklyn, most Of the dock
privileges. bathing houses, besides the pub
lie schools, hospitals. markets and various
charitable institutions. The latest addition
TO its municipal activities is the ferry be-
tween the Battery and Staten Island The
private company holding the least for the
Staten Island ferry three years ago refused
to give the CITY a Square deal" when II
came time 10 renew the lease. Mayor Seth
Low reported that the city ought 70 own
and operate the ferry itself and he APP
pealed TO the Legislature for the necessary
authority. BY grace of Mr. Lows action
Staten Island is now blessed with the fast
est and finest ferryboats in the world, In
stead OF the ancient craft that had been
running on the line since the vanderbilts
owned II. There are FIVE magnificent ves-
sells, with a speed of nearly twenty miles
an hour when pushed. and representing an
outlay of about 100000. There Is also
under way project to convert into cleo
tricity for street lighting the power de-
veloped by cremating street sweepings.
William p. Selden, professor OF social
economics, summarizes the activities OF the
city in these words; 1.-THE city owns the
public markets and derives a revenue from
their rentals. They come under the direc-
tion OF the finance department We also
run small railroad across the Brooklyn
bridge, which pays for itself. The enumera-
ton Of free benefits given by New York to
its citizens are many. We allow free trans
portation across any of the city bridges.
Under the supervision Of the Board of Edu-
cation we give the children an education
free of charge and also furnish them the
books that are used without charge We
have music in all the parks and recreation
piers free. We run a municipal lodging
house, where, by doing q little work, one
can obtain relief. and II looking for work
wanted. We have free baths for those who
wish TO use them and free libraries for the
studiously inclined In fact there is moth
Ing that municipality can do for its citi-
Gems that is not done in New York in one
form or another. Upon the whole, Il looks
as II we are very near complete practical
municipal ownership. We are experiment.
ing In all directions, and as soon as the ex-
periments are far enough along to assure us
OF success In the management Of our own
AFFAIRS 1t is safe to assume that the city
will gradually take over to it's control all of
its public utilities"
The school OF Fagin, Of which Dickens
tells, is outdone in New York. The
methods OF the latter-day tutors in theft
far surpass in cleverness and adaptability
those the novelist describes Indeed, the
spread OF "Faginlsm" has become a serious
question here. Judges Of the court Of spe-
cial sessions. the district attorneys ONCE
county detectives and the police are making
efforts in every direction to break ND the
bands of young criminals. The principals
Of East Side schools and the teachers are
lending their assistance, and settlement
workers have been enlisted in the cause.
SO common has become the custom OF
instructing boys in larceny that several
East Side school buildings have had an
nexes at their very doors, where thlevery
is taught by adopts. Centres Of Faginism
exist in Stanton, Rivington and Essex
streets Sometimes the instruction Is given
in the hallway ard in the room OF the
hardened young robbers who make a Gus
tom OF inducing boys to become thieves
Certain basement pool and billiard par
lors' are centers for inst Huction In theft
while coffee houses, which are being es-
tablished In large numbers in the narrow
thoroughfares of the East side, are be-
coming places of meeting for masters of
thievery and their pupils.
Inch for inch Manhattan Island is the
most densely populated bit OF ground in
the world. yet the island has proportion
ately more free parks than other cities
Central park is counted a large park. II
has S4S acres. Compare 1t with this mag
nifcent North Bronx chain Of parks-Pel-
ham Bay park with it's 1.756 acres, for In
stance, as large again as Central park.
And then there is Vancortlandt park with
its 1.132 acres, or 2Se acres more than Cen
| trail Then comes Bronx park with 6s1
acres. All of these are really one park by
reason OF the two connecting Pathways
each OF which is to be a park marvel in
itself. There is nothing like 1t anywhere in
the world
"Hanna's Maggie" the woman who used
10 make the historic hash with which the
senator WAS won't 10 reRaia hts frienda in