The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-16

| South Norwalk, Conn.,
Detroit, Mich.
Danvers, Mass.
| Holyoke, Mass.
| Westfield, Mass.
Marblehead, Mass.
| Peabody, Mass.
Taunton, Mass.
Chicopee, Mass.
| North Attleboro, Mass.
! Private
Northampton Electric Light Co.,
Northampton, Mass.
Fitchburg Gas and Electric Co.,
Fitchburg, Mass.
Salem Electric Co., Salem, Mass.
Beverly Gas and Electric Co., Bev-
erly, Mass.
Gardner Electric Light Co., Gardner.
Mass.
Abingdon and Rockland Electric
Light and Power Co., Abingdon, Mass.
Attleboro Steam and E!,e.ric Co.,
Attleboro, Mass.
The Review by MIR, Edgar and Mr.,
Clark.
Mr.. Edgar and Mr.. Clark agree in
setting forth numerous objections to
manipulation, very important ere
being that in several British cities
which have tried public ownership, 1t
has been found that The organization
of municipal worktnen constitutes a Sc
rious threat against fhe municipality
itself and as a result the disfran-
chisement of city employees Is being Sc
riously considered In England. Were
municipal employees In this country to
organize, under extended city control
of public utilities, the writers declare
the remaining voters would find them
selves beneath "a tyranav of democrat
cy which is no less Calling to the in
dividual oppressed and no less detri-
mental to the welfare of the state tnan
is the tyranny of despot.' The re-
medy proposed In England, difran-
chisement, Is declared to be ''unthinka-
BILE in the United States. Under pub
lie ownership Of public utilities. it Is
declared those in control of the gov
eminent are submitted to continuous
temptations; first through the oppor-
tunity to build up political machine
with the city employee as a basis, and
second, through the opportunity to un.
duly favor contractors, with the ex-
pectation. Of either financial or pollti-
cal benefit to themselves.
There is little about municipal
trading to attract men of the first
class" Mr.. Edgar and Mr.. Clark unite
In saying, I'VE have not found evid-
ence in the United States that the per-
sonnet of the city government Of Chi
cago (referring to Mayor DUNES adj
ministration) of Wheeling is superior
to that of Atlanta or Norfolk, or that
the Introduction of municipal water
and electric plants In Detroit has
brought a higher type of citizenship
into the governing body than we find
in New Haven which has neither"
Gas Undertakings.
Three American gas plants were ex-
amined by the investigating commit
tee and experts. These were at
Wheeling, where the plant is operated
by the city and Atlanta and Norfolk
where there is private ownership and
operation. In addition the committee
visited the Philadelphia gas works and
the labor investigators visited the
Richmond, Va, gas works. As to the
price charged the consumers, it was
found to be rs cents per thousand feet
net at Wheeling, $1O0 net at Atlanta
and $1.00 net at Norfolk, the munich
pal plant thus selling at the lowest
price, To offset this, however, Messrs
Edgar and Clark point out that in At
lanta there is free installation Of SER
vice, at Norfolk partially free instak-
lation, while at Wheeling charge Is
made for the service pipe from the
curb to the meter and for the setting
Of the meter.
In comparing the public and private
gas service, the reviewers say:
IF we consider together the price
the Wheeling consumer pays for gas
and the character Of the service rend,
cred, we may not doubt that he get!
less of net result per dollar expended
than does the gas consumer in Atlanta
or Norfolk. Low and varying pres
sure, uncertain candle power, influenc
ed at times by dash of natural ga.
(at Wheeling), will bring troubles t.
studying children that, while not fac
tors in financial calculations, have
proper place in this inquiry. Wheel
| ing's gas plant is not an importan
factor In the well-being Of Wheeling
citizens. What with fast meters
charges for service and meter set
ting, absence Of any gratultious work
the admixture Of 15-cent, S-candl,
power natural gas, insufficient ant
irregular pressure, and general ineff1
cheney in the complaint department
Wheeling gas is dear commodity a
any price. Our experts found nothin.
to praise in Wheeling S service and lit
tie to criticise in the service Of tn
companies at Norfolk and Atlanta.
In general, it may be said, so far a
condition of plant and operating efici
ency is concerned, there could not wei
be worse condition of affairs thar
the engineers report as existing a
Wheeling. In the other tw
cities the record regarding condition
of plant, and regarding the variou
points Of practice mentioned above il
the case Of Wheeling, while 1t contain
a few points of criticism, is on tn
whole satisfactory. In both cases tn
plant is pronounced to be modern an
kept in an orderly condition"
The labor situation at the plants ex
amined is compared to the advantag