The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-07-23

cars is almost completely obscured
by these advertising signs.
The cars and plants of all the sys-
TENS under consideration were found
to e adequate, modern and efficient.
Repairs are well kept up, the plants
are clean and neat, the works are pro-
perly ventilated inc complaints are
properly attended to. Re Glasgow
cars and buildings (public) are espec-
tally attractive.
Financial.
Analysing the financial conditions
of the public aid private traction sys-
in Great Britain, Professod Par
sons declares that the municipal sys-
tenn at Glasgow has about 81, 00O, 900
more assets than liabilities, but that
the London United, a private company
has SIG, 200 of capitalization and
$780, 900 of tangible assets. The
Dublin Ulited, also a priv%e company
has S4,500,000 of capital in excess of
tangible assets. The three municipal
titles together nave $2,56O,000 more
physical assets nan liabilities, while
the companies have SIS, $50, 900 more
liabilities than assets. In addition to
the payment of regular taxes, just as
if they were private concerns, the four
municipal plalts-Glasgow, Manches-
ter, Liverpool and london County
Council-have paid nearly $4,O0O,00O
in relief of general taxation. the be
neits of the profits of the municipal
systems are shared by STAT, 1894 per-
sons, while the profits of the private
companies are divided between the
stockholders who number less than
eight thousand.
Political.
Discussing the political results of
municipal ownership in Great Britain.
Professor Parsons says:
There has been an increase of po-
litical and social efficiency as well as
of economic efficiency. Under tne
company's regime, democracy was at
a discount; popular sovereignty was
below par. The people found they
could not control their own streets,
nor C fair treatment of labor il
public service industries, nor obtain
rapid transit and other vital improve
ments on reasonable terms. The tram
ways owners, with the power of pri-
vate monopoly in their hands, overrul-
ed the will of h people. The com
panies behave much better now. Not
only has the fear of speedy municipal
ization in case they did not satisfy
the new standards the educated
public sentiment developed by NUM-
cipal operation made a strong impress
sion on the remaining companies, but
they have also been stimulated by mu
nicipal example to do their best to ri
val the advancement made by public
arrangements. They give over consid-
Grafton to public opinion, and pay
more regard to the public interest in
the conduct of their business. But the
dominance of public interest, so far as
it has eel secured either in public
or private systems, is in large meas
municipal operation. For some pur-
poses n power to municipalize is al
most as effective as municipalization
itself. Under the pressure of new
standards n an educated public sea
timent developed by municipal opera
ton in the full publicity created by 1t
in respect to all tramway costs and
methods, the present companies at
their best are managed with so much
regard and to the commol interest
that a casual observation might lead
n to think there is nothing to be
gained by further municipaliZation.
Yet the cities and towns continue to
mu1icipalize tne tramways. They be-
lieve that a well managed public tram
way is better from the public stand
point han even the best private sys-
tenn, for several reasons: ID 1t Sc
cures to the public the profits taken
from the public through their pa
tronage of p~ublic-service monopolies
operating under franchises granted
to the public; CD it tends to lower
fares and widens distribution of the
benefits of the service-a public plant
is more apt to regard a surplus as a
reason for reduction of charges; 80
it aims primarily at service, while a
company management must aim at
dividends-it is benefit for all versus
profit for a few as the fundamental
motive and purpose; (4.) it gives the
municipality direct and complete con-
troll of its streets in place of indirect
and partial control; 60 it eliminat-
es the opposition of interest between
the owners I'M the public, which may
at any time give rise to difficulty, dis
pute and obstruction of h public will
and interest; (6.) it makes the mana
gers the direct agents and employees
of the people instead of the agents
of a company and paid by private ar
ties to work for the interest 4 obey
the instructions of those paTties@a
city as well as an individual can con-
troll its own servants n make them
obey its will and wish better than the
servants of some other person; Cd
it adds a new field for civic activity
and the development of civic interests
and motives and the habits of thought
and action on which good citizenship
depends"