The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-08
Commission Appointed by the
National Civic Federation
To InvestigateMunicipal Owner
ship File Their Reports.
MAKES WAGES BETTER
And Hours of Labor Shorter in
the United States.
Recognition of Labor Unions
Finds Much Favor.

ton extend over nearly two years
and embracing many of the principal
css both of the United States and
Great Britain, the national civic fedora
tion commission on public ownership
and operation has completed it's duties.
The important and interesting reports
on labor conditions are the first to be
made public. There are two reports on
this subject, one by Prof John r. Com
mons, of Wisconsin university. and the
other by J. w. Sullivan, editor of the
( hing Trades Bulletin of New York.
The report of Prof. Commons. under the
title of Labor and Politics." is more
favorable to municipal ownership of
public utilities than is that of Mr.. Sulli-
van, made under the general heading.
1.-The Labor Report" Mr.. Sullivan
makes caustic reference to political rot
tenness, evidence as to which he de-
clares was conclusive in Syracuse. Allie
gheny I'd Wheeling, Prof. Commons.
on the other hand. holds that corruption
under municipal control was no greater
than under private ownership.
Personnel of the Commission.
The committee of investigation of the
commission is composed of twenty-one
members, as follows: w. D. Mahon, pres
ident of Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railways of Ameri-
ca; Prof. John r. Commons. of the Uni
VeTSllY OF wisconsin, d. W. sullivan,
editor of the weekly Bulletin of the
clothing trades, and a prominent labor
leader; Walton Clark. vice president of |
the United Gas Improvement company, |
Philadelphia; Daniel ]. Keefe. president |
of the International Longshoreman |
Marine and Transport Workers assocfa- |
ton; Walter L. Fisher, president of the |
Municipal Voters League of Chicago; |
Melville E. ingalls, (chairman), chairman
of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago |
and st. Louis Railroad company; Prof. |
Frank ]. Goodnow, of Columbia uni
versity; DR.. Albert Shaw (vice chair
MANI, editor of the American Monthly |
Review of Reviews; Edward A. Moffett |
(secretary) editor ofthe t'Bricklayer and |
Mason;"; Edward w. Remis superin-
tendent of waterworks. Cleveland. Ohio;
Milo r. Maltbie. formerly editor of
Municipal Affairs" of New York: Chas
L. Edgar president of the Edison Elec-
trio and Illuminating company. of Bos-
ton; H. B. F. Mcfarland, commissioner
of the District of Columbia; w. ]. Clark,
foreign manager for the General Electric
company, New York City; Timothy
HeaIy, president, International Brother
hood of Stationary Firemen; DIR. Tai
colt Williams. journalist: Prof. John H.
Cray. of Northwestern university; Prof.
al Public Ownership League. and Albert
z. Winchester, general superintendent
of the electric works of the City of
South Norwalk, Conn.
The Committees Investigation.
The commission has made a most
exhaustive investigation of public and
operation of the four leading
public 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 22 last
year and returnd to the United States
in August. Among the cities visited
ST To- |
Tyne, London. Liverpool Norwich,
Birmingham, Dublin.
Leicester and Sheffield. Investigations
in the United States were made in
Chicago. Philadelphia.
Detroit, Indianapolis, Rich
mond, Atlanta. South Norwark SYRIA
cuse, Allegheny, New Haven and Hart
ford A staff of engineers. accountants
and statisticians numbering over
twenty, of national reputation. were
to examine thoroughly every
visited by the committee.
These experts were so chosen. that
In each examination made, both sides
of the municipal ownership question
were represented. Thus. one engineer,
accountant or statistician approach ed
the subject under consideration favor
ably disposed toward municipalization,
while his colleague began his task
holding views in opposition to that
principle.
Municipal Ownership Abroad.
Certain effects of the municipal |
ownership movement in Great Britain s
on the private companies are evident, I
says Prof. Commons The Sheffield /
company, under the farseeing manage :
ment of Sir Frederick Mappin, has di- :
rected its policy for many years with /
the distinct purpose of meeting the !
To avoid agitation 1t has refrained :
from going to parliament for permits !
sion to increase its capital stock. Con- i
it has distributed its large
,Ivrc 7fe t. he Of
prices for gas and betterments to its :
plant. Most instructive of all is the :
attitude of the com panies toward their +
employees. With the sentiment of mu- !
he companies can not afford to risk a i
strike. The Newcastle Gas company +
mas met this situation by willing !
recognition of the gas workers union :
md by a resort to arbitration through :
which wages have been materially q
-aised The South Metropolitan COM +
scheme with astonishing shrewdness :
ind careful attention to details, so that =
avery disaffected workman is silent or I
dismissed. The Sheffield company. al
hough its president had openly at
acked and wrecked trade unions in
lis private business. contented itself .
With gradually undermining the gas
workers. union, through the payment {
II wages and bonuses superior to
hose paid by other private employers !
If the district. and even in the case of
inskilled labor. superior to those paid |
~ the corporation of Sheffield
Influence of Wage-Earners. .
The influence of wage-earners Il
through their unions upon the condi- g
ions of municipal employment in the i
United States has been complicated .
through the presence and activity of n
PRACTICAL politicians In the municipal y
Enterprises investigated. except South s
Iorwalk and Richmond. the eight d
lour day has been established for the
,aSt ten of fifteen years for all en-
,loyes, whereas. in the private COM b