The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-02-02
STREET RAILWAY OWNERSHIP.

At a coincidence of the Berlin, Ger
many, municipal authorities last week
1t was decided that initiatory steps be
taken to acquire the Berlin Street
Railway company, which has practi-
eally monopoly of the streets of Ber-
lin and it's suburbs. The city Is 60
ing TO operate the road and it is es-
timated that it will cost $25,000,0 900
to acquire it. DR.. Walther Weaver
German consul in Chicago, in an inter-
view with the Chicago Record-Herald,
said in part, the following:
1.-THE increased public revenue to
be derived from municipal ownership
probably explains the action of the
authorities in Berlin. l can think OF
no other reason. The street car sys-
TEN there is as near perfect as it
could be, so Improvement in the SER
vice could not be considered. Through
the ownership Of street railways the
German government has GS,en enableu
10 found many additional hospitals,
establish pension funds for working
men and accomplish much in addition
through the vastly increased revenue
which otherwise would have been i'm
possible The street car systems of
Berlin pay Tx percent net on stock
held at 1874, or almost Is per cent on
par value. That will represent an ap-
preciable increase in municipal rev.
enue, and the authorities probably had
in mind the experience of the gem
eral government with steam railroads
"1here hardly can be any deprecia-
tion in the revenue under municipal
ownership. Public officials in Ger
many perform their duties skillfully
and honestly Their training and en-
yironment insure this. Berlin Is gov
erned by board of aldermen elected
by the people, but the elective, fran
chise, in measure, is restricted and
there is no incentive for dishonesty,
while there are many delerments
The aldermen select the executive Of
fcers, but these are appointed for a
fixed period and can be removed only
through court proceedings. There alb
Bolutely is no possibility ;hlt munic-
ipal operation of street car systems
there will become involved in politics,
OR that what you here call graft can
be practiced.
Public officials in Germany must be
qualified by education and experience
before they receive appointment.
Young men must be educated at the
expense OF their parents until they
are 10. Then comes the severe curri-
culum of the gymnasium, and not until
they are 81, as rule, and their char
Rcters in measure have been estab-
hshed, do they meet the requirements
for public appointment. Then they
serve several years without pay.
Such men hardly are the kind to risk
their standing by dishonesty, and be-
cause future advancement depends on
lhcir industry they usually are dill
gent Even the slightest departure
from absolute right would result dis
lsSrousfy, for public officials col
leagues, having decided him guilty
oven Of a wrong not punishable by
law, would refuse longer to associate
with him, and to resign would be his
only course.
"1 herefore cases of public cOrrup-
lion are so infrequent that they can
be said not to exist. ! have in nina
Dne alderman who was charged with
dishonesty because. while street was
being repaired In front of his home,
he used some of the city's cement to
mend broken plaste.ng in his hot sc.
He was sent 10 prison. You probably
realize that the street car systems
of Berlin will be managed honestly
nnder municipal ownership"
Nowadays a house is known by the
l. IA