The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-15
Il, assured 10 rs BY, HIS own resurrec.
Municipal Operation Of Public
Utilities. /.

Thnre will be a determined effort MADE
10 dispnraEc in every way the PROPOSE
tion to lease the city Gas works on
| any terms Whatever, no matter how raw
otnble they may 10 for the city. There
are people who have direct interest
| In continuing the present system anu
| who would not expect ary benefit from
vigorous and efficient management OIL
the works. They will certainly oppose
any change for the better. There are
others who will hope to share IN the
large contracts which the city Will have
to make, In It's lame and lmpotcht way
for the great developments and improve
men,s which have been shown 10 be es-
sential to tho continuation of the gas
works. These people will pick un no
crumbs from m able and busness-likc
conduct Of the business, and they VIII
oppose any change for the better
There are still others who have no
personal interest III the subject what
ever, who are idealists and are hoping
that the day may be at hand when
men, full Of their own business, Will
drop It and give their whole mind and
energies to public utilities, lay out broad
gauge plans, have full power to carry
them out and give assiduous attention to
the details OF business in which their
greatest reward will be the appreciation
Of their fellow-citizcns.
This is an ideal condition Of public
affairs which we may some day attain
unto, Tut we are long way OF at
present.
to construct its great subway, It definite
~ settled two fundamental points,
L. That the subway should belong to
the city-that is. that there should DO
municipal ownership Of this public utility.
O. THAT the subway should be built
ana operated by private corporation.
After four years controversy, Boston
has made the same decision in an identi-
cal case.
1t seems to us that the decision Of these
great municipal corporations on matters
so Identical with the case before the
people of Richmond should at least be
persuasive.
Since long before the question was
started here, we have steadfastly held to
the principle of municipal ownership. we
have deplored the reckless and. too often,
corrupt ways, in which the most yalua-
bic municipal franchises were almost
given away. the only pay or penalty being
the sums which were lHpnid to debauch
the, trustees OF tho peoples property.
But upon the question OF municipal
operation we have never had but one opin-
ion, and that is, that the operation of
these public utilities, belonging to the
municipal corporation, should, under care
| fully and safely guarded leases, be oper-
! ated by private individuals, who would
! give their whole time and energies to
| the business and be held to strict at-
| countability by the owners OF the property.
This seems to be a very plain and
reasonable discrimination. Who believes
| that the people Of Richmond would have
tolerated the gas and water we have
| Rad for forty years If the management
of these utilities had been run by pri-
| vate concerns?
We submit to all sorts OF nconven-
| i.nces. and. indeed, expressions, because
we create them ourselves and have no
body else to blame.
But let one scintilla of the sins of
commission or omission, which we do
ourselves, be done by some one else. and
our NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. very calm
hollis over. Knowing this to be the case
1t is somewhat surprising that RESPONSE
BILE men are willing to face the opposi-
ton, which Is inevitable.
IT. however. there Is such great gap
between municipal operation and private
management as TO enable the private per-
sons to meet the requirements of a strin-
gent lease and yet make fair return
for their labor, in the name Of common
sense, why should we object to their
doing for us that which we cannot do
for ourselves?
If lease Is made, every right and in
terest of the city should be most carefully
ard completely protected. The best pos
| sible. contract should be made.
For ourselves, wo know nothing about
| tbs practical operation Of gas plant
| and cont expect to find out any more
| than is necessary to thoroughly safe
guard the rights and interest of the pco-
pie of Richmond and that We will do
| ia tho uttermoSt,
We have heard some comment upon
| the fact that the terms of the PROPOSE.
ton for Leasing the gas plant were dis
closed IL a letter 10 the owner Of The
| Tlmes-D Dispatch We can say authori,a'
lively that Mr.. Bryan has not tho re-
motess personal interest In the gas lease
and never will have, but, when he healt
what the proposed terms were, he very
willingly agreed that they might TX
brought before the public In the form
OF lette rto himself.
| iar