The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-24
Poor Service on Municipal Trans

was compelled 70 admit that the
underground service Us almost equal TO
iae best an my own country, wuIe tine
trans are punk 1 have uuuen on four
OF the Citys car lines. one was operated
hy electricity. on three horses FURNISH
tine motive power.
II you WI. compare the prices charged
by municipal ana private Companies for
eas anu e.ectuc ugnt, grouping the cities
ln tho same locality where Jne price OF
lhel would os aOOuL cquaI. 1 DO nor be-
hcNc that you wall nnd the municipal svs-
lrin any cheaper or any better Jnan tuut
or the private companies.
My experience has been that where the
guy Hvttly It7dlatrs service turnlsucu
10y private company better results are.
optaineu than where the city is tine pro-
queer TX is human naturc for a council
Iorauon than with itself II is here that
inc parable az the mote and the beam
applies.
some Of the operations Of the munich
pohtes here in municipal trading SAVIOR
OF .frenzied finance or wid-catung.
notwithstanding the fact that tho
municipal revenue Of London is probably
greater than that OF any other civ i'm me
word, the County Council Is borrowings
money at The rate Of $1,000 900 n year and
sinking ID in municipal trading enter
prises The operation of steamboats, ON
me Ihanles illustrates how deep some
of il goes down.
The Thames boats cost the munich
panty S'o-'.0uj IN capital outlay. There
has been consistent loss JIM operatIu-
mem lnat Tor the year ending III Ju.e
was more than 100000. That is a strlk-
ing example of taxpayers paying for
municipal biunders through the council
taking mold of that which il has proved
ltsclI inadequate to handle.
The municipalities nave persisted in
borrowing for trading enterprises until
thtN nave brought about sharp advance
in lte rate OF interest charged for muni-
opal loans and coordinate depreciation
ln the market value of their securities.
Ihe advance in rates of interest would
H
iacl that the money has been raised.
mot on the security OF the works bar ON
tne assessed value OF the city itself. on
thc taA-Nl'ld'ng capacity Of the municipal
asset ''
These municipal trading undertakings
go not rest ON solid foundations OF their
own bus on the shoulders Of the tax
pay r and when tine Undertaking proves
failure he pays the bills
Non-Taxpayers Manage Things.
Another menace to municipal trading
Is the growing Importance of municipal
uca ms employers of labor. The people
Who pay taxes arc having less and loss
I'D 90 with the spending of the money
ihc noh-tdNpaycrs elect men who uau-
axe tulnks in the interest Of their own
sha.l class and with utter indifference
70 che taxpayers, large or small
ne labor leaders marshal their forces
%" thr GAS of election 60 No-e only for
men from whom they can demand COM
s'dcrAilon men bound by ante-el.cri
pfomis 81 Naturally wages OF the, union
W'Ihincn go up and the hours Of work
Hrf SHORTENED without any reference a.
Wh'ihrf COB" un"ertaN.ne will paw or to
i'e general condition OF the market TO.
-lf tho urinciule Of muni.iu4i oyH-r4niu
ana tOe disnosal ~ scv-ago ~ secp,s sd-
Ni~fhie' 30 ccrtoinlv dor~ands very we'll
Wis dis stew awsi's any Local authority
Ditto" with Tho crTz. for overrunnfn~ its