Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-03
Ownership and Control Of
Public Utilities.
PAYMENT BY RAILWAYS
GAS AND WATER SUPPLY OF THE
CITY.
Every Man Who Pays a Business Tax
Entitled to Vote for Members Of
the Chamber of Commerce.

Municipal ownership of public utilities
promises to work its way into the next ma
tional campaign as important issue. Mr.
William Jennings Bryan and Mayor Tom
Johnson of Cleveland have declared for it,
and other prominent democrats and some
republicans have declared against It. The
Scotch expert, James Dalrymple. came to
the United States at the invitation of Chi
cage and Cleveland to tell the public how
the question has been solved in the land of
the kilties. Now another Scotchman Is on
his way to explain the problem further.
Consul General Skinner at Marselle
sends some interesting information concern
Ing the municipal ownership question in
France, which the bureau of manufactures.
Department of Commerce and Labor, pub
fishes in the current copy of the consular
reports. Mr.. Skinner says:
Private ownership not only of public
utilities. but of the air above the earth and
the water beneath the surface thereof, is
subject in France to restrictions which do
not obtain in America. In practice, gas
works and other public and semi-pubic
utilities are frequently operated and owned
by private corporations. but the concessions
under which they are operated usually limit
this ownership. and reserve to the people at
least a share in any advantage resulting
from improved methods and the Increase of
population. City houses are limited to
height. and while landed proprietors may
do anything they like with the surface
which they own, the hidden contents of the
earth belong to the nation, and be
mined only by first obtaining a concession
from the state. Before any such concession
Is granted due notice is given to the public
and the owner Of the surface derives
particular advantage from that fact in lay
Ing his proposition for a concession before
the national authorities.
Construction of Railroads.
French railroads are constructed by cor
pOrations. and are usually operated under
concessions given for long term of years
with provision by which the state reserves
to itself the right to purchase the lines
coded. and by which at the expiration of
the concessionary period the property
verts automatically to the state. During the
term of the concession. If the private COM
pany owning the property fails-to
sonable interest upon the bonds, the state
makes up the deficiency
The Water Supply.
The city of Marseille owns it's water
works and likewise a very important canal
connecting this city with the river Durance.
In addition to supplying the community
with water. the city supplies the same for
irrigatlng purposes to agriculturists whose
property is within reach of the before
toned canal. There are also in the south
of France. particularly, innumerable irrIga-
ton canals, which are usually the result of
cooperation on the part of the interested
landowners. The state has organized a
government department called the bureau
of agricultural ameliorations. which fur
nishes. upon the request of interested To-
caltties. complete plans for the proper con-
Struct1on of these canals, without charge;
and the law provides that when ma jOrity
Of the landowners within given area hsS'e
determined that the construction Of an ir-
rigation canal is necessary the unwilling
minority must participate in the ex pense of
construction submit to appropriation. If
al ma in {t Ian
troll but a small fraction Of the actual sur
face to be Irrigated they may be outvoted
ny a minority whose landed interests are
greater.
Railroads and Gas.
The gas contract in the city of Mar
sclIe is now held by a private company.
and a new contract constitutes an import
ant local issue. There appears to be no
general demand for Immediate full MT
nicipal ownership. The street railways of
MarseilIe all owned by the Compagnie
Generate Franchise de Tramways. The
service is excellent; there are lines in ey-
cry direction. With the exception of one
circular line of special character, upon
which the fare is 2 cents, the fare IS every
where else cents. No transfers are given
The concession for these lines was original
~ granted by the state TO the city of Mar
seille and by the city conveyed to the op-
Grating company. 1t is to be noted that
the municipality does not exercise a free
hand in municipal matters. but must first
obtain a concession for itself from the ma
tiondl government. The ncssS!on In this
case was signed originally for fifty years
at the end of which period, and by the
sole fact of this expiration the city Will
obtain full ownership of the tracks and
system. including all property occupying
any portion of the public domain.
To Prevent Deterioration.
There are abundant means OF preventing
dol nj he ba laSt
five years OF the concessionary company's
exploitation. in consequence OF willful neg
ligence. Provision is also made for the ac-
QUESTION upon reasonable terms of all build
ings. machinery and rolling stock necessary
for the exploitation of the system. at the
expiration OF the fifty years. In the mean
time, the company must pay to the city an
annual sum OF S19.300 until the annual
ceipts reach St.251 900 whereupon, In addi-
ton 10 this payment the city will also re-
ceive per cent upon the excess of receipts
over Sl.351.ooo, and up TO 81 544 900 When
the receipts reach the last-naned amour;
In any one year, the city viii be entitled to
additional l Per cent upon such excess.
until such excess reaches S193.000. and
thereafter for every additional 1.o09.0J0
francs (Sl930O0) OF annual receipts l per
cent will be added to the city's share.
Control of the Harbor
Tie harbor OF Marseile is likewise CON
tro,led by the state the property of the
nation Inc state EaS leased control of
the most important sections to public
service corporation. which has charge OF
the bonded warehouses. The concession for
the erection OF these warehouses was orig
inaly granted TO the city. and ty the city
assigned to the Compaenie des Docks at
EntrcpOts, which pays the munic pality an
annual rental OF Sl9.30J for this privilege
This company is subject to close supervi-
sion both as to services performed and
charges which may be made for services
Other portions of the city water front are
controlled by the chamber of commerce.
which has built docks and warehouses OF
the most permanent character. and let's
them for the benefit OF the whole COM
munity.
Chambers of Commerce
The chamber OF commerce is itself a rec
ognized branch of the public administra-
ton and Is not private corporation, as is
the case in America In France every man
who pays a business tax or 'patente'' is
entitled TO vote for members of the cham
Der of commerce. and also to transact bust
ness upon the floor OF the bourse. The
chamber of commerce is a Legislative 3
well as an administrative body. communi-
eating officially with the minister of COM