The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-05-25
MUNICIPAL SOCIALISM
IN CITY or GLASGOW.
New Orleans Times Democrat
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ~ z z 2

There Is DC city in the world. per-
haps. in which the practice OF munic-
ipal socialism has eeen so greatly e4-
tended as In Glasgow, Scotland III
that city every public utility mas been
taken over by the community IL has
been charged against this system or
socialism that IL would naturally lee
TO core .ption In :. nni ip. matters,
aud recent interview 18th a Glasgow
mag, ate ny the Caicagn Chronicle
is of interest in this connection.
Rcde.ick Scott, the magistrate IN
question, declared inat there was NJ
such thing as corruption in the munich
Pal affairs of that city. He expressed
surprise when asked the question and
answered:
--How could there be corruption? |
! represent a woIkingmaL's ward II
/ give one of my constituents cigar
or a drink am by that act itself DIS
qualified from being a candidate. II
a friend of mine lends me his carriage
to take voters to the polls that is all
very well. but IL any friend of mir ,
hires a carriage for the same purpose.
the act, even without my knowledge
OF approval, disqual:fies me.
1 - HO ROAAtiNdt OiAbPtAOh -
Glasgow. Il is. not possible under thu
corrupt practice act, and public opi7-
ion would condemn the least sign OF Il.
Our Theory in Glasgow is that any
service that is a monopoly. that serves
all the people AID occupies the public
streets. should be owned and admins
tered by the people. Water, gas
trans and the like come under this
! ha-
TEN in Great Brit ain, and afte- paying
all operating expenses and every obi
/ CATION. they net the municipality 81,
coo, 900 annually"
The fact that Glasgow gets prof
of one million dollars annually frog
its street railway system, notwiti
standing IL runs special cars at certain
hours in the day to convey working
= men to and from their labors at ;
one-cent fare, Is not the most promiS
ing view of the situation as stated b.
!, Squire Scott. The important part o
his statement refers 10 the conditio:
OF public sentiment in the city. II il
: that sentiment: that keeps corruptioi
II away from Official life. and il is tina
sentiment which is unfortunately lack
ing In the cities OF this country. DC
casiOEally in American cities We hay'
= reform movement. brought about b.
! some abnormal evidence of corruption
III municipal Affairs, but that move
I ment is usually directed against til
Y particular 0fense complained of. an
expends It's force in the correction G
the Isolated evil Public sentimen
:, does net carefully guard the welfar
OF the community as it should. an
|, when corruption becomes so rampan
e that there is rebellion against 1t. tn
+ process begins anew in a small wa
q and grows steadily until the mex
revolution comes.
What is needed first in the reform c
municipal politics in this country /
y the creation OF fine public sentiment
Z which will neither excuse small no
! large offenseS. The giving Of cisa
to a vote may appear to be vena
q offense. at the most, but il permitte
t. 1t will surely lead TO more importar
il I brides which the laws take cognizanc
of, but not publfc sentiment Tn
bride taker is held in contempt, bu
the bribe giver Is not, his act bein
n considered merely matter OF bus
81 ness. Were such men debar-ed froi
n holding office the practice would ceas,
and municipal government would be {
once rid of a corrupting inf1ueac,
-e But the public senti-est is not her,
m Only few weeks a 20 the voters CT
Massachusetts district eIeeted to ~
legislature a man who was serving
term in Jail for aud against the cit
ID in the matter Of civil service e.
ly animation. There would, perhap
ii have been howl If this man had bee
:, admitted TO the lie gisiature and ha
taken a bride TO put Through son
IS measure that proved unpopular, bl
20 had he done SO, would he not hav
as represented his constituents, WI
knew the sort OF man they were cleo
ing?