The Washington times., 1905-11-20
N. 0. COMMISSION
HARD AT WORK
Committee of Twenty-one
Will Soon Report.
DISCUSSION IN NEW YORK
Commissioner Maefarland Likely to
Attend Neutrality-suspicious.
in Country.
DISCUSSION IN NEW YORK

\ general discussion of municipal
ownership and the operation of public
utilities viii be the object OF a meet
ing OF the recently formed public own
ershiD commission TO be held in New
York city on November 27. The COM
mittee of twenty-one appointed by the
commission TO investigate municipal
ownership conditions in this country and
Europe win be present. and the various
shades of opinion on this subject viii
be aired.
Commissioner II. B. r Macfarland and
F. w. J. McNulty, of this city. the lat
ter president Of the International Broth
erhood of Electrical Workers, have been
notified by Chairman Melville E. In
gals Of the meeting, and Will in all
probability attend.
Recently Organized.
The Public Ownership Commission was
recently organized with Mr.. ingalls,
chairman: John Mitchell president f
the United Mine Workers Of America,
first vice chairman; JOhn q. Ager. sec
ond. vice chairman: Edward A. Moffett,
secretary, and includes in its MEMBER
ship names representing the business
and industrial progress Of the country
The following members of the com
AtllAte VIII DE ltdt4 Ull AAAF WI ASNS
phases OF the subject under discussion:
Henry B. f. Macfarland. president OF
the Board of District Commissioners
f. ". J. NcNulty. president Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Electrical Work
ers: Melville E. ingalls,, Big Four
railroad; Talcott Williams, editorial
writer, the Philadelphia Press: W D.
ManOn president of the Association OF
Street Railway Employees, Detroit
Is-t nh E1Andnnuv Column biei
University, New York; Walton Clark,
Third vice president United Gas I'm
prOYement Company, Shiladelphla Dr
Albert Shaw, editor Review OF Reviews
New York, Edward ~. Bernis, super
jntendent of the gas works, Cleveland
John H. Grey Northwestern University
Evanston. ILL.,; Timothy Healy. presl-
dent Internal atfOnal Brotherhood Station
airy Firemen. New York. Daniel j
keefe, president international Lsang-
shOremen's Association Detroit; Franh
Parsons, president National Public
Ownership League, Boston; John r
Commons. University OF Wisconsin; }
W Sullivan, editor OF clothing Trades
Bulletin; Leo 5. Rowe. University Of
Pennsylvania. Philadelphia; Albert W
Winchester. general superintendent
electrical works. South Norwalk, Conn
Charles L. Edgar, president E1ecssica
Illuminating Company, Boston; Milo X
Raltbie franchise expert and formel
editor OF municipal affairs, New York
Scope of Investigation
A statement has been issued which !,
as follows;
A subcommittee has been at wOrl
preparing a report on the scope an'
methods Of investigation. The repor
provides that considerable number o
plants OF varying sizes, location ant
character be visited IN the United States
and careful investigation be made b.
experts into the detail OF management
This investigation having been com
pleted, the committee viii visit Europe
proceeding 10 England and then to tn
continent. Special topics VIII be re
ferred 10 subcommittee. such as TIT
French system of granting franchises
the leasing of municipality owned work
TO private management, as in vogue il
Germany and Italy. the method Of tax
ing both public and private plants, TIA
Scotch method OF limiting charges o
service 10 actual cost. the sale OF public
franchises at auction. popular control o
grants through the initiative and refer
cndum. and methods Of settling labo
questions
The important noints and those Ikel!
20 produce the most discussion are tn
effect of private and municipal owner
ship on municipal politics, officials. DO
Iitical corruption, wages, hours condi
lions OF labor. character or service ren
dered and financial results and efrec
upon the debt and taxation Of the city