The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-25

| their industries and the relief Of con-
| sumers Municipal insurance schemes
are finding favor, and there Is consid-
| cradle agitation in favor of municipal
| savings banks and brokerage establish
ments for the disposal Of local securi-
ties. A number of cities supply steril-
| lied milk for children, and the ultimate
mnnicipalization of the entire milk sup
ply is being urged. Glasgow maintains
an institution for the cure Of Inc briates.
:Wolverhampton sells ice to the traders
Of the town. Most Of the cities own
markets which yield large revenue.
Torquay breeds rabbits on a water pre-
serve and enjoys therefrom a revenue
in reduction Of the taxes; the city also
has undertaken sheep farming. Tun-
bridge Wells grows hops for sale. Liv-
erpool cultivates beets. Many cities
operate large sewage farms on which
are grown vegetable supplies for the
families Of the members of the fire,
police and other departments. The town
council Of Glasgow has acquired num-
Der of large halls where concerts and
other entertainments for the public are
given Music in the parks is very gen
orally provided by municipal support.
| Baths have been established in num-
Der Of towns.
"In Great Britain, as in America,
free libraries, schools Of art, museums
and technical schools are widely pro-
noted. The vestry Of Battersea boasts
a polytechnic school, which holds even
ing classes in art and domestic indus
try. It also maintains an orchestra.
The institution is managed as city
club.'
Chicago Not a Pioneer.
This rapid development Of the mu-
nicipal ownership idea In British cities
has been going on without very much
being known about it on this side of
the water. People in Chicago, for ex-
ample, who have thought that they were
blazing their way thru what was almost
a virgin forest when they decided to
buy up the street railways, will have
much to learn from British experience
Chicago, and the rest of the United
States, already know something Of what
Glasgow has done in the way Of street
railway control, but it is very evident
that they have not known that Glasgow
was merely type merely one OF
many cities which have taken over the
; street car lines. What has been done
there has been done widely over Britain
and the municipal ownership idea is be-
ing extended at a pace that is alarm
ing to many good British subjects. But
In spite Of criticism the extension goes
on, and it is believed in Washington
that W. j. Bryan, when he returns home
next fall, after a study around the
world Of municipal ownership, will FIND
nothing more interesting to tell us
} about than what he has seen in Great
} Britain. This essay Of DR.. Howe IS is
but a foretaste of what Bryan will
bring us.
The Opposition to M. o.
The British opposition to municipal,
ownership is summed up by DR.. Howe
under several heads.
First-Municipal ownership is a men
J ace because it piles up large public
debt.
Second-That because of municipal
ownership the tax rate, in order to pay
for the investments made, has been in
Third-That this burden is especial,
felt by manufacturers, merchants ani
the other capitalistic classes, but mus
, in the end fall upon the laborers In tn,
, form Of higher rents, etc.
Fourth-The municipal /. ownership
whether Intentionally or not, plays int
the hands of the socialists, and there
fore ought to be discouraged i -
, Observation-Disclosures generally ha
, | hoo, oorrio1 to ,nwiso Ion rths asno
cially in the small communities. -
; Sixth-That too many municipa
: plants are being conducted with view
, to making a profit. @z -
Seventh-That the increasing magni
tude Of the enterprise tends to built
r up powerful bureaucracy. -
These criticisms are examined in de
, tail by DR.. Howe, who presents hi
conclusions as to each Of them. 9
i T. The Defense.
The defenders of municipal owner
ship in Great Britain are not slow t,
, reply. to their critics and to state tn,
reasons why they believe in the cit,
owning as many as possible of the pub
lie utilities. These reasons are thu
, summed up: ~ -, ~
First-Municipal ownership stimu
lates public spirit, promotes good citi
zenship and arouses local patriotism
Second--Public operation is consist
ent with the best interests of the com
, munity. 1t permits city administrator
r to be co-ordinated, and the service O
the street railways, electricity, gas an,
water undertakings to be made to serv
one another, and the community.
:, Third-Public ownership has greatl
;, cheapened the cost of service, whethe
of gas, electricity or transportation
The same is true of telephones.
Fourth--Municipal ownership la
: proved financial success. Already il
{ many cities it has, out of its earnings
! paid off part of its Indebtedness an,
in many instances reduced the loca
!, taxes.
1 Fifth-Municipa ownership has i'm
proved the condition Of labor by in
l creasing wages. shortening hours an
: estab lishing cordial relationship be
! tween the public and its servants.
y; Sixth-Municipal ownership is sui
ject to public sentiment. Every vote
is critic and can make his infuenc
felt This makes the industry respor
j Esive to public demands.
DR.. Howe's Conclusions.
$ After making an examination 8
] these claims in defense of municipal
| ownership, DIR. Howe writes his owl
conclusion, from which quote in part