The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-08
Civic Federation Report
Deals With Ownership
in Richmond.
IN MANY CITIES
Experts Show Results OF Long
Study and Favor and Oppose
Ownership by Government.
Rotten in Spots Be
cause Of Political
Activity.

NEW YORK, July 7--After an in-
vestlgation extending over nearly two
Years and embracing many OF the prin-
icipal cities both of the United States
and Great Britain, the National Civic
Federation Commission on Public Own
Eership and Operation has completed its
duties. The important and interesting
reports on labor conditions are the
first to be made public There ars
two reports on this subject, one by Pro-
fessor John r. Commons, of Wisconsin
| university, and the other by j. w. Sui
l.livan, editor of the Clothing Trades
Bulletin" OF New York. The report
of Labor and Politics. Is more favor
able to municipal ownership of public
utilities than is that Of Mr.. Sullivan,
made under the general heading. THE
Labor Report Mr.. Sullivan N tkes
caustic reference to political rotten
ness. evidence as to which he declares
was conclusive in Syracuse. Alle-8
gheny and Wheeling. Professor Com
mons, on the other hand, holds that
corruption under municipal control
was no greater than under private
| ownership.
The committee of investigation OF
| the commission Is composed OF twen-
Ity-one members. as follows: W.gD. Ma
hon, president OF Amnlgamated AS
ISOLATION of Street and Electric Rail-
ways of America; Professor John r.
! Commons, of4the University Of Wiscon-
sin: j. w. Sullivan. editor of the week
4 ly Bulletin OF the clothing trades,
and prominent labor leader; Walton
Clark, vice-presitlent of the United Gas
4 Improvement Company. Philadelphia;
/ lDanielSJ.s Keefe, president OF the In-
1 ternational Longshoreman, Marine and
Transport Workers, Association; Wal
i ter u. Fisher, president of the Num-
4 cipal Voters League, of Chicago; Nell
\ vile Il. 1ngralls (chairman), chair
d man of the Cleveland, Cincinnati. Chi
4 eago and ST. jIIouist Railroad Company;
:, Professor Frank j. Goodnow, of CO.
i lumbia University; DR.. Albeit Shaw
II I(vice-chairman), editor of the Amer
Blican Monthly Review of Reviews: Ed
i ward A. Moffett (secretary). editor Of
\ the 'Bricklayer and Mason; Edward
4 w. Bemis, superintendent of Water
Il Works, Cleveland. Ohio; Milo r, Malt
bic. formerly editor of "Municipal Az
4 fairs" of New York; Charles L. Edgar,
. president Of the Edison Electric and
3 illuminating Company, OF Boston: III.
II B. T. Macfarland, Commissioner Of the
: District of Columbia; w. j. Clark.
foreign manager for the General Elec-
! trio Company. New York City; Timo-
Z thy Healy, president, International
. Brotherhood OF Stationary Firemen;
I DR.. TaIcott Williams, journalist; +. u
AlcNulty, president. International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.:
Professor John II. Gray, of Northwest.
: Iern University; Professor Frank Par
Isons president OF the National Public
!, Ownership League, and Albert E. Win
chester, general superintendent OF. the
: electric works OF the city OF South
Norwalk, Conn.
The Committees Investigation.
! The commission has made most
!. exhaustive investigation of public and
private operation of the four leading
pubic utilities, gas, water, electric
!, lighting and power, and street rail-
ways In all the cities visited both In
America and Great Britain. Fifteen
! members of the Investigating commit
: tee sailed for Europe on May 22d last
! year and returned to the United States
\ In August. Among the cities visited
: abroad We're Glasgow, Newcastle-on-
Tyne London. Liverpool, Norwich.
. Manchester Birmingham. Dublin.
Leicester and Sheffield. Investigations
in the United States were made In
y Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia.
r Wheeling. Detroit, Indianapolis, Rich
mond, Atlanta. South Norwalk. Syra-
cuse, Allegheny. New Haven and Hart
ford. A staff of engineers, accountants
and statistcians. numbering over twen-
ty, OF national reputation. were ems
ployed to examine thoroughly every
undertaking visited by the committee.
These experts We're so chosen that in
each examination made, both sides of
the municipal ownership question were
> represented. Thus, one engineer, ac-
q countant or statistician approached the
: subject under consideration favorably
disposed toward municipalization. while
! his colleague began his task holding
q views in opposition to that principle.
: Influence OF Wage Farmers.
/. The Influence OF wage-esrnera
: through their Unions upon the condi-
q Itlons OF municipal employment In the
! Hunted States has been complicated
5 through, the presence and activity OF
> practical politicians. 1n@the municipal
= enterprises investigated, except South
Z Norwalk and Richmond. the eight-holu
9 day has been established for the past
ten or fifteen years for all employees
Z whereas, In the private companies the
:. Ishours are longer or have more recently
Ibeen reduced for portion. but not all
y Of their employees In the more skilled
% - branches OF work. This advantages IN
! municipal undertakings mas been
II brought about. not by definite labor
9 party, hut by the Influence OF wage
= enrners as voters upon the municipal
- officials.
i Professor Commons's Views.
The views expressed by Professor
Commons are IN many respects favor,
able to municipal ownership. he
D. finds however. that the proper method
/. OF dealing with employees IL the mosi
y. dlfIicult and critical problem or muni'
20 cipal ownership, and he faNers reeogr
Il, ,r milton OF organized labor as a safe
Il guard against the pressure OF oatsids
d (politicaD recommendations
le Politics.
= In tho course or his report frofssso1
u, Commons said 8s5 VI B
~ II take 1t, that the Key to the Rhols
= question of municipal or private o~n.