The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-02-24

AL Illdt L nave ever advocated IN the
way of State legislation along the line
of municipal ownership has been
simply grant by the legislature to
the people of cities, villages and count
les to own and operate public utilities if
they may elect by majority vote so
to do.
I believe that the people of COM
munity should not enter lightly into a
municipal enterprise. They should
carefully study the arguments for and
against and, above all, each new pro-
position should be studied alone:
No people should say that they will
own all or will not own any public
utility. There may be as good reasons
ing in another.
There ext SITS, believe, a safe rule to
apply as a first test to an enterprise
in order to determine whether it is
a fit subject for municipal ownership.
1t may be stated as follows:
A Public Grant.
No enterprise should be considered
a subject for municipal ownership un-
less it CD rests upon a public grant
or franchise bestowing a special
privilege; CD is. of such a nature that
to the people at large; CD requires a
very large expenditure of capital for
a plant and equipment, and "a con-
templates performance of it's func-
tions for long period Of time. -
Now, let us analyze this rule with
regard to its four subdivisions, and
we find that it takes us> pretty we'll
over the field of municipal ownership
and municipal politics and citizenship
as we'll.
First, then, why should an enter
prise that rests upon a public grant Or
franchise bestowing a special privilege
not be conducted by private corpo-
ration?
Because it makes necessary the
lodging of the power to grant fran
chises and special privilege in some
council, legislature or other public
body or official. Just as soon as this
is done it arrays against the city a
class of men who otherwise would be
the very best men in the community.
Just as soon as a man becomes the
owner of stock in public service cor
poration he has an interest absolutely
opposed to the interest of the city.
The more "liberal' the franchise the
worse is the bargain for the city and
the public.
The People Benefit.
For this reason the class who should
be our best citizens are best served
by the worst city government. The
merchant, manufacturer, real estate
dealer and mechanic are all benefited
by whatever will tend to reduce the
cost Of car-fare, gas, water, garbage
collection and taxes, while the owner
of stock in street railroad, gas or
water company is directly interested
to have the cost Of these services as
high as may be. -, -
We are familiar with the high-nind-
ed action and attitude of Chambers OF
Commerce and similar semi-public
bodies. This is because they have in
view the common good and are not
distracted by private interests. Give
the Chamber of Commerce. the power
to grant privileges and franchises
whose value runs into millions and 1t
would soon be the scene of dirty
politics and would be filled with
boodlers, who in turn would be backed
and put forward by franchise seekers.
Whenever a franchise is to be given
away, franchise seekers will be: found
wanting it and between the franchise
seeker and his prizeats the middleman,
who Is put forward In order that the
respectable franchise seeke r L nay not