The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-12-12
.REPgRT MOI TAINIEI
Civic Federation investigators
Not Influenced by Subscribers.

Professor Parsons. an "a. O. Aaembor
Of the Commission, Denies That Cor
poration Contributions t4ad ANY In.
Husnes on Bts Report = Rsssnts
Newspaper Crteisisms.
Professor fFaGE sarsous. ppesideut
81 the National MumicipaJ owdetsisip
league was recently interviewed by
representative or the Boston Herald
in regard to the testimony before the
public service 'commIsstoB IN New,
York 10 the effect that the MetropolI{
tan Securities company had contribatS
ed $4,000 to the expenses OF the COM
mission which studied the problem OF
municipal ownership here and abroad.
The testimony before the commits
sion" said Mr. Parsons. contained
nothing that in any way reflects on
either the Civic federation or the com
mittce of investigation. The sensation
NJ clements presented by the press
were read into the case by an errone.
Gus Interpretation of some of the facts
stated in the evidence IN connection
with some rema Tks OF August Belmont
in relation to the investigation
a large part OF the funds were, con-
tributed by various corporations and
industrial interests. the Metropolitan
company among the number. and Mr.
Belmont Is quoted as saying that the
result OF the investigations was very
satisfactory Some newspaper man
put those two facts together and con.
cluded that the corporations had got
what they expected and paid for.
AS q matter OF fact. however, MIR.
Belmont's remark meant merely that
the work had been Thoroughly done
and a valuable mass of fact brought
out. How far wrong Is the impression
that corporation centIiputBhs had any
influence on the Character OF the re,
suits may be seen from the fact that
che final resolutions of the commits
sion. summing up the investigation,
are signed by eyGry municipal 6wnet.
ship member Qt the commission.
''Anothsr fact which has a strouS
Searing on Tie case Is that tie super
vision OF the engineers aud experts IN
Great Britain. and the disbursements
of all tie funds aoEpss the water were
inuustcd 10 DR. MIl0 Il Maitbie. now
member Of the New York public
service commission and well known as
4 writer strongly favorable 10 munic
ipal ownership.
The truth is thnt the idea of inves
tigdtinG municipal ownership took
form in the. Civic federation as early
as 1900. or long before Mr. Belmont
became president of the federation.
About half the funds. or over $40
OOl was lr cpatin,o,I
tons from persons all over the coun.
try in amounts ranging from s. up.
and the remainder OF the fund was
contributed by large industrial inter
ests or men connected with them.
''Aii the money vas spent under rho
supervision of committee of Eve, on
which there were two we'll known mu
nicipal ownership Representatives and
the chairman of which was Professor
t;oodnow Of Columbia university
"CLairnaN Ingalls, OF the committee
on investigation. who is also chair
man of the board OF directors OF the
Big Four railroad, IS one OF the fairest |
and most honornSte men in the United |
States, and the investigation from
start 10 finish was conducted without |
u shadow OF influence from the corpo
ration contributions which were made |
10 the finance committee
in fact. the committee on investiSa- |
lion did now know where the money |
came from nor who the contributors
were. with II few trlaIng exceptions.
until the investigation was ali finished
and the report In type.
u wish to say further in all fairness
that while personally do not at all
approve Of many things In the history
Of Mr.. Beimonts corporations there is
no question in my mind but that he
and the Civic federation have acted
with perfect fairness toward this com |
mission ON public ownership.
The engineers md experts worked |
IN pairs. one or each pair representing
municipal ownership and the other
representing private ownership. This
nearly doubled the cost but resulted
In securing body OF facts. signed !!
by experts OF the highest character
and representing both sides OF the.
question This gives the report very
unique character and confcrs on the
statements Of facts so agreed upou
degree OF anthority far beyond that
which attaches to any previous invess
.iEation