Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-20
The National Civic Federation.

The London letter in Sundays New York
Tribune contained this paragraph
The American commission representing
the National Civic Federation has opened
London office and settled down to an ex-
hauStVe investigation of municipal owner
snip, gas, tramways, electricit" and sup
plies 1t has selected half dozen towns
conspicuous for excellence of gas. tram
way and electric plants, operated either by
local authorities or by private corporations,
ana Will make close examination of the
mechanism. The reports of engineering ex-
perts Will be supplemented by critical anal
ysis of financial results by accountants
The inquiry will be extended to other towns,
and the mechanical resources and economic
results of municipal and private manage
ment Will be carefully compared Incident
ally, the relations Of municipal trading and
local taxation will be brought out. Milo
r. Maltbie Is conducting the work of the
central office with skill and efficiency. j.
W. Sullivan has visited Birmingham. Leiees-
ter Sheffield and Manchester. and has start
ed the work of investigation John B..
Klumpp is examining gas and electric
plants, and R. c. James is studying munic-
ipaI accounts. n. NJ. Crawford. the Hart
ford street railway engineer, and Albert r.
Winchester. superintendent of the South
Norwalk electric works, are expected in
London within a fortnight. A staff of two
accountants from the tramway, gas and
electric engineers has been organized for
carrying on the work under the six Ameri-
can commissioners, and Birmingham, Man
chester. Sheffield. Liverpool Glasgow and
Newcastle will be the towns chosen for
thorough investigation Bristol Leeds,
Dublin and other towns may be included IN
this practical survey of municipal activities
in the united kingdom
The report of James Dalrymple of Gas
gov. the street railway expert, who came
over on the invitation of Mayor Dunno 10
give his opinion as to the municipaIization
of the street railways of Chicago, advised
against the proposition. on the score that
IL would not work to advantage In a city
controlled by political machinery. That
alone Mr. Dalrymple thought would de-
feat the aims of it's advocates. The politi-
clans would seize the service, and use it,
first one side and then the other, to political
rather than to the public advantage
Mayor Dunno was disappointed. and, in
effert, rejected the report, some of his
friends declaring that Mr.. Dalrymple knew
too little of our political institutions to
speak with authority on the subject
Here we have something that should pan
cut better. The men mentioned are not
familiar to our national life. but we may
safely assume that they would not have
been selected for their present duties I'M
less competent to discharge them. And
while discharging them they will be assist
eu, as MT. bdlT9Hip1e was NOT White III
Chicago, by a knowledge of American in
situations. municipal. state and national.
and be able thus to point out in their
reports the aspects of affairs as seen
through that medium If Mr. Dalrymple
saw the proposition too much on one side,
these men should be able to see II on both
sides. and appraise 1t fully and fairly.
We are all interested in the subject and
growing more so all the time. 1t involves
a good deal. and the movement should not
be entered upon In spirit of mere en-
thusiasm, or Impotence with old forms
Which In a measure have failed. Progress
is good thing, but change is not always
progress. There is such thing as Jump
ing from the frying pan into the fire; of
swapping the devil for witch Let us
remember Davy Crockett-although he
never saw a street car or an electric light
and be right before we go ahead