The Washington herald., 1907-10-10

New York, oct. 9.-Members Of the
National Civic Federauons committee.
which studied the problem Of municipal
ownership here and abroad may be al
most as Interested as some stockholders
in the Metropolitan Securities Company
to learn that the. Metropolitan contrib
uted $500 toward their expenses.
This was brought out by the testimony
Of +. w. Sayer. treasurer OF the Metro
politan Company at to-day's session OF
the public service commission. during
the investigation of Inter-1Iet. affairs.
The money was paid by the Metropoll-
tan to August Belmont as president OF
the federation. Mr.. Belmont in making
"a third and final call upon the Metro
poltan Company for $3.50. wrote to H.
H. Vreeland.
The work, as far as I understand
is very unsatisfactory
Apparently the N5,e5 was paid under
a guarantee by Thomas r. RYAN that
the Metropolitan interests would stand
behind the federation on the municipal
ownership proposition 10 the extent Of
S2JeJ.
The feder8ti0n's committee OF ten set
sail from New York for Great Britain
on May 22, 1876, and was studying con
ditions there until August Of that year.
In the meantime others were sizing UP
the situation in American cities. Among
those who made the trip abroad were
Prof. John r. Commons. Of the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin; Walton Clark. vice
president OF tie United Gas Improve
ment Company of Philadelphia: Prof.
Frank Parsons. Of Boston, Talcott VIII
hams, Ralph NJ. Easily, F. J. McNulty,
and Frank J. Goodnow.
split on the Issue.
Advocates for and against municipal
ownership We're evenly divided on the com
mittee The symposium which the com
mittee got out began with an installment
on July Of the present year and con-
tinued in weekly instaIlments until about
August /. The views Of the committee
men varied widely, but the majority de-
cided among other things. that public
utilities whether in public or private
hands, are best conducted under a system
Of legalized and regulated monopoly. Mel
vile f Ingalls,. chairman of the Big -Four
Railroads board Of directors. was head
Of the public ownership committee.
Mr.. Belmont's correspondence with Mr..
Vreeland indicates that the entire $4,000
which was necessary for the expenses of
The committee. had been guaranteed be
tore the consideration OF the question be-
gan. What the Public Service Commission
viii want to know now Is whether the
interests were also behind
he undertaking.
Prominent Men Directors.
The federation's letter paper. on which |
dr, Belmont asked for and acknowledged /
he Metropolitan's payments, contains
hese names. among others, as members |
# the executive committee:
Grover Cleveland Andrew Carnegie. |
n. Bliss, Oscar S. Straus |
Charles W Elliott. Seth Low. Bishop |
Tohn Ireland, Bishop Henry c. Potter. At |
pIOFN GeneIdl OhdIieS }. bOnapdTte, |
David r. Francis Isaac n. Seligman, |
James Speyer. Edward Macy. Ralph NJ |
1asley. on the part Of the public. and |
samuel GOmpers, John Mitchell. and /
lbout a dozen others on the part Of the /
yage-earners. The employers are also /
represented by separate group.
Made in Three Payments.
The Metropolitan's first payment Of
5,0C0 was made on May T. Three days /
ater Mr. Belmont wrote Mr. VreeIand /
his letter:
4 have received your letter OF May 4. /
enclosing check for 5000 as a special |
on behalf of the New York /
5ity Railway Company toward the ex-
,enses Of the municipal ownership in
-estigation. As this amount is only a
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