The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-10-02
THE DOCTORS
DON 7 AGREE
American League of Mu-
inequalities Fail to Settle
the Question.

Chicago, Sept. 2S.-The delegates to
the League of American Municipali-
ties had for the final days session a
warm discussion of the municipal
ownership question, during which con-
siderable feeling was evinced. At the
conclusion of the debate the conven-
ton refused to put itself on record
either "for or against municipal own
ersrip of public utilities" A resolu-
ton by Mayor McCaskrin, of Rock
Island, ILL.,, and support by Mayor
Dunno, of Chicago. and others, de-
manding vote on the question by
the delegates to the convention was
killed in the committee on resolutions
and the delegates Immediately follow
ed this action by tabling the report
of the committee on constitution and
bylaws, recommending change. A
resolution was adopted declaring for
national standard hose couplings and
hydrant fittings, as recommended by
the National Board of Underwriters
attention being called to the lesson
taught by the great Baltimore fire,
when a number of engines sent by
neighboring cities were rendered prac-
tically worthless owing to the fact
that proper connection with hydrants
could not be made. The league elect
ed Mayor Edward F. Dunno, of Chica-
go, president for the ensuing year,
he receiving "a votes against 20 for
Mayor Timanus, of Baltimore. On mo-
ton of the latter gentleman, the cleo
ton was made unanimous.
DON'T BELIEVE IN 1T.
Professor Frank Parsons, president
of the Boston Municipal Ownership
league, in his address ON that question
declared that after inspection of mu-
nicipal ownership in 100 European and
so American cities, he is convinced
that dissatisfaction prevails in extent
to the existence of private ownership
of public utilities. Satisfaction pre-
walls where there is municipal owner
ship. Governor Pingree, of Michigan,
once told the speaker that nine-tenths
of the bribery in politics was the re-
suit of private ownership of utilities.
Prof. Parsons said that under munich
pal ownership we would get away from
one kind OF corruption, but might run
into another-that of the "spoils sys-
tenn"
However" said he, IF we get rid
of the boodler by the ownership of
utility corporations, we will weaken
the entire boodling system; then we
could get rid of the spoils system"
ANOTHER ANTI.
Prof. Frank Roberts, of Denver. fol-
lowed with an anti-municipal owner
ship speech. He described a tour of
English cities, studying tax and rev.
enue statistics of the municipalities.
He declared his belief in the inability
of cities to operate such public SER
vice utilities successfully. Taxes
are growing higher constantly as pub
lie ownership extends in England" he
declared, "and this has a bad effect in
both ways, for 1t lessons the credit of
the towns, forcing them to sell their
bonds at a much lower rate than if
the city was in the business of govern
ment only. The whole truth has not
been told by the advocates of munich
pal ownership" said Prof. Roberts in
conclusion. Its effect upon labor and
taxes are never more than limited at.
What the report of that committee
that went abroad to investigate is to
be l do not know. but / don't think
1t will reach the truth In every city
the committee members were met by
the men interested and dined and
feted."
Prof. Parker said that wherever the
idea of municipal ownership is adopt
ed, 1t extends to other branches of
socialistic propaganda. He also as
serted that reports from a number of
British cities showed 1t in an unfav-
oTable light