The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-27

which are favorable to efficient man
agement. They go far toward explain
ing the character of the service rend-
erred by the cities which have under
taken the management of certain pub
lie utilities.
The management of British cities is
characterized not only by the degree
0f efficiency attained, but 1t Is also
commonly free from even lnsinuations
of graft or corruption on the part of
public officers. Public opinion is also
$50 alert that actions which in. some
countries are regarded as harmless,
though perhaps not indicative of a
delicate sense of honor, are considered
as disqualifying for public areer. To
sum up, then, the description of Brit
ish city government:
In the first place, British city gov
'ernpent is aristocratic, While Ameri-
can city government is democratic. AS
a result, the British city Is In the
hands of the well-to-do classes; Ameri-
can city government is not.
In the second place, the organization
of the British city is simple; the or
ganization of the American city Is, US
ually, extremely complex AS a conse-
quence the demand on the British vot-
er, although on the average probably
as intelligent as the American voter, is
less than in this country. Practically
the only officer elected by the people
each year in Great Britain is the
municipal councillor chosen in each
ward.
In the third place, municipal govern
ment is out of politics, the spells sys-
tenn is unknown in Great Brltain's cit
les, ana conditions are therefore more
favorable than the United States for
the development of efficient municipal
government.
Finally, the British people are edu-
Gated to the belief that their city gov
eminent should be conducted upright
ly, honestly and without partisanship
and, therefore, they demand that their
officials shall live up to. standards
which are higher than are required of
city officers in the United States. A
higher position in public estimation is
accorder than in the United States to
city officials. Relatively, those of the
higher rank are better paid than in
the United States. The salaries they
receive and the position they occupy
are potent influences in attracting a
good class of men to the municipal
service.
It Is under these conditions that
municipal ownership and operation of
public utilities has attained the re-
suits which have accompanied it in
Great Britain. It is doubtful, to say
the least, whether municipal ownership
and operation could be expected to at
tain the same" results were the condi-
lions different from what they are
now. It is certain that municipal
management would be failure if GER
tain of the conditions were changed
Thus, If the city administration were
not divorced from politics, and if the
spells system were permitted to extend
its bhghting influence over the city adj
ministration, it is certain that munich
pal ownership would, as compared to
what it Is now, both the Inefficient and
a source of loss rather than Of pro-
fit
Recognition of these facts does not
of course necessitate the conclusion
that municipal ownership would be a
failure were it adopted in the United
States. 1t only means rhat If the pol
icy of municipal ownership is entered
upon, the conduct of our city govern
ments must submit to a considerable
change before that policy can be sue
cessful