The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-02
The Country Ripe for Reform

Tho Country Ripe for Reform
Cincinnati, O., Feb. 26-The> pastor
of the Vine Street Congregational
church, Herbert S. Bigelow, discussing
the outlook for social reform, said:
To one who enjoys the drama OF hui
man history these days are anything
but dull. The waves of new public sem
timent are mouting high. AS Lowell
sang of another age. 1.-THE time is
ripe and rotten ripe for change The
magazine is waiting Tor the match.
The late Henry ID. Lloyd declared
that when the people came to under
stand the nature of monopoly they will
no more endure it than slavery on the
Roman empire. One of the hopeful
signs of the times is that the people
are coming at last to understand the
nature of monopoly.
II you are not pleased with the milk
you are getting you can change milk
men. II you are not pleased with the
gas you are getting, you can not pat
ronize another gas company.
II you do not like your grocer you
can go to another, but If you do not
like the service of the street car com.
pany what can you do but walk?
The city of Manistee, Mich, some
six years ago, bought out their private
water company. The manager under
the private company was retained in
the employ of the city. Rates were re-
duced 20 per cent. Besides this saving
to the city, extensive improvements in
the plant have been made and paid for
out of current receipts and a sinking
fund has been carried along which, in
a few years, will retire the bonds.
But the greatest gain is in the fact
that there Is now no private water
company which is interested in main
tanning political machines and seduc-
ing councilmen. The private water
company has been taken out of politics
The operation of water plant by a
city council can not be SO bad as the
operation of city council by private
water company.
Now some of the people of Manistee
are saying: "Why not take the gas and
electric and street railway companies
out of politics? What is the difference
between water company and gas
company" You can not have Compel
ing gas companies. Two telephone COM
panies are nuisance. Electric light
ing and street railway businesses are
likewise monopolistic in their nature.
Here the consumer can not protect
h CD ,e1%
ment by withdrawing his patronage.
Competition does not come into play.
Moreover, the influence of these pri-
vate monopolies, with their dependence
upon councils for their franchises and
valuable privileges, is the source of
three-fourths of all political corruption.
Why not take them all over as most
cities have taken over their water com
panies? This would protect the citi-
zens from extortion and save the coun.
cilmen from temptation.
This plan, like everything human,
would be liable to abuse. But the peo-
pie would be dealing with politicians
whom they have the power to remove.
They would not be dealing with com
panies who could shake twenty-five or
fifty year franchises in their faces and
say: What are you going to do about
it?"
But Conservatism says: IF you be.
gin by owning gas and telephone and
street railway plants. where will you
stop? You will want the city to go
into the grocery business next"
This same argument might be made
against a government postoffice. 1t
might be urged that government ought
not to be permitted to carry our let
tiers for fear it will want to make
our shoes.
The limit that should be set to gov
eminent ownership is obvious. There
| is no need for the government to go
into the shoe business, for in this bust
ness, competition protects the public
| from unfair treatment
| 1t is the duty OF government to leave
as wide a field as possible for private
enterprise. But if railroad or street
railway or gas or water company is an
inc toll 10