Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-07-26
THINGS TALKED ABOUT
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.

In recent issue the Trenton True liner
iean injected much sound logic in the dis
cusion of municipal ownership, in con-
neetion with the new law just signed by
Governor Stokes permitting municipalities
to own electric light plants. We quote
the article Tor the reason that Woodbury. is
one Of many cities in the state in which
the subject has been agitated.
sIt is theoretically sound that municipal
governments should employ whatever means
are necessary for the full performance OF
their duties to their citizens. Municipal
tiles should own their own water works. be-
cause water is necessary for the protection
Of the lives and property Of the people from
fire and the health of the people from dis
ease.
Electric light plants should be owned
by municipalities because light is necessary
for the proper performance of its police
duties by municipality.
"Yet there are many circumstances under
which it would be in advisable for mum
icipality to either own or operate water or
electric plants.
sIt would be manifestly foolish for city
to establish its own public utility plants if
it can buy water or gas or electricity from
private corporation cheaper than it can
supply ITSELF
''Ib would likewise be foolish for a city
to operate any public works if the people
of that city are SO dulled to their own re-
sponsibilities that they permit political or
ganizations to employ those works for the
perpetuation Of their power.
SIT is generally true that government
that is corrupt without municipal owner
ship would be corrupt with it. IT a govern
ment pays a private concern exorbitant
prices for water, gas or electricity, that same
government would operate municipal plants
extravagantly and corruptly. The only
qualification to this statement is that where
state laws forbid municipal ownership, pri-
yate corporations may extort excessive
prices from municipalities.
New Jersey municipalities have cause
TO rejoice that the state has at last recog-
nized their right to own electric lighting
plants, if they want to The result is al
ready apparent. Even municipalities that
have been reputed to be corrupt are already
pr0fting by that law. The Public Service
corporation has reduced its price for arc
light and to domestic consumers in a num-
ber Of North Jersey towns, and the good
work will probably continue all over the
state. Some municipalities will do well TO
continue to buy their light. It will be
better for Others to erect their own plants.
Some of them can supply themselves with
light at less than $95 per arc light Others
will be victims Of grafters if they try to.
The opinion is general in Woodbury. that
olookr;a Iifrhk sorvioa 10 socurad af an ax-
trayagant price, and the service is not what
the city requires We need more lights
and more light. The five year contract is
about expiring, and Woodbury. should be
in position TO control its own lights be-
fore that time arrives
Our water works have been operated
with great advantage to the city The city
has been liberal with private consumers,
and the works are being paid for at the
rate Of $4,000 per year, and great extern
sions of mains annually made, while the
city has oyer one hundred fire hydrants
free. It was the best investment the city
eyer made
A light plant ought to be equally valu-
able. After few years the income from
private sources would pay the cost and care
for the bonds, and no light tax would ap-
pear in our tax bills. But grafters must
be eliminated in the future as they haYe
been in the past. Its up to the people to
have good government, if they want il.