The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-04-03

returned to- Scotland.
The list of Mayor DUNES legal
advisers, who have endeavored to
inject a modicum Of common sense
in to the traction solution, and who
Joined the ranks Of the supporters
of the compromise franchise is a
long and distinguished one.
What caused the municipal own
ership agitation and the resultant
elevation of Dunno in Chicago. is
what has produced such agitation in
other big cities of the country, bad
service, and disregard of the rights
of the public. Chicago's transporta-
ton system was more than a Jest.
in city growing at startling pace,
the system, already inadequate, de-
Perforated The people could not
stand it longer, and they were will
ing to listen to the voice of the
quacks and agitators. They simply
manifested the weakness of a free.
unthinking people. Recognizing
their legislators as, in the first place,
their representatives, their first con-
ceived specific for the evils was leg
islation, and the most drastic reme-
dy that recommended itself to their
exasperated fancies was municipal
ownership. That would be a blow
that would hurt the traction mag
mates most, and be a balm to their
aggrieved spirits. So, municipal own
ership it was-and Dunno. Then the
traction magnates saw they had
gone too far. and they began to sug-
gest compromise. ending with offer
ing to accept a franchise that would
insure good services. That was all
the people were seeking. So, when
the issue came between municipal
ownership and the principle of pri-
vate ownership. naturally the latter
won.
The people of Chicago turned to
municipal ownership only in their
desperation as the helpless, hope
less invalid turns to the first pana-
cea that Is offered. When they were
proffered in another and more prac-
teal way the very benefit they
sought, they discarded the visionary
dream of Hearstism, and voted for
the franchise. even more significantly
than they did for the Republican can
didate for mayor. On second thought
no American citizen comprehends
commercial enterprise in the scheme
of government. 1t can hardly be i'm
agined That in city like Chicago
the people would expect an admins
tration to operate a street car line
when it has shown it.
self Incapable of maintaining an
honest, efficient police department.
II we had king and under him were
hereditary lords, and all Of them
were dominated with the highest de-
gree Of patriotism and honor, and
all of them were men of the highest
order OF intellect, municipal owner
5hip-nay. its logical consequence
communism-would be practicable.
But since egoism is a factor always to
be considered in human affairs, and
men Will work hardest for their own
interests, we must always expect to |
ind the best service employed in pri-
rate business. and men in public Of
Ice more or less manipulating the
means at hand to the advantage of
themselves and their party. In other
words the more departments and the
more employees under city admin
stration the stronger the machine,
nd the less dependence on popular
upport for maintenance in Office.
There is a time coming when the
cations of public service corpora
ions to the public will be more
thoroughly understood than at pres
mt; but That understanding will be
'orked out in the franchise, not
trough the theory Of municipal own
rship.