New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-23
Literary yNes0s end Criticism.

the doctrine that therefore the government Is
our father Some Of us would be glad TO SEQ
the rest of the genealogical tree. in order that
this mystery OF descent might be made com.
prehensible Absolute communism and beneVo-
lent paternalism differ only in name
The lesser obstacles to municipal ownership
are too numerous TO name. Some are wen
known. such as the unavoidable accession OF IN
competent men to high offices the irresponsi-
biiity OF aldermen in trading upon public credit
the certain Introduction OF methods and enter
rrises catering to the vanity or to the laziness
OF shlftless lower classes, and so on MI Porter
mentions one difficulty, though. which Is peculiar
10 municipal ownership; in England the munici-
palltses. by becoming monopOlists within their
own domains have made corporation among
towns impossible. Nowhere in Great Britain
can there be found single system Of suburban
trolley lines comparable to any Of the dozens
found in the United States. Each town refuses
10 grant franchises TO interurban companies
me same stupid provincialism developed in the
telephone business. before this was nationallzed;
some towns also competed with already estab-
hshed companies, that in certain instances
there were three separate telephone systems
operating in the same town. Worst of ALL the
same dog-in-the-manger policy has been pur-
sued all over England against electrical COM
panies with the result that town councils can
not furnish what they forbid others 20 supply,
and that, for instance. London has only one
seventh as much electricity per capita as New
York and has little hope of getting more.
This study is filled with instances quite as
striking as the above one. all going to show that
the opposition Of American cities to municipal
ownership schemes is justified In every detail
Mr.. Porter has prepared series of interest
ing tables setting forth the tax rates of Ameri-
can states and cities in comparison with foreign
ones; likewise comparisons OF the size and effi-
cheney Of our telephone. gas electricity ana
street railway systems with those of foreign
equipments. Without exception. the conpari-
sons are staggering and fattering. We realize.
after having read the book. that we Americans
have not lost by remaining true 10 those Anglo
Saxon principles of individual freedom which
England herself has experimentay abandoned.
TO her own bitterly heavy cost. We realize that
in land where freedom, in spite OF many abuses,
still means opportunity. shall be spared the
sight Of billiards playing kings and scoundrels
losing as saints and patriots 1T might prove a
great blessing If Mr.. Porters book were cir
culated as missionary pamphlet. Our country
is still free from the municipal ownership folly,
but not safely removed from its infection. The
blight may appear at any time wherever there
are found living together honest Patonc
dreamers, INSCRIPTIONS business men. corrupt
Oficeholders and macontent. unthinking
masses. How long must we wait before this
combination appears? How far must go
to find 1t? If the honest dreamers alone could
be persuaded of their mistake. probably the
combination would be forever broken. The
present book should be in the hands OF just
this class.