The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-08
New York Realty Owners Co.
asa FIFTH AVENUE. NEW YORK.

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trical companies. at the time when their con-
tracts were before the Council for renewal.
In general Prof. Commons finds common
labor better paid by municipalities In Amer
lea than by private companies.
Mr.. Sullivan sums up his observations
with the conclusion that In all but the most
poorly paid forms OF labor and for tram
way employees ~munioipalization has not
raised the wage or improved working oon-
ditions OF the employees above conditions
in the private undertakings. He says:
Little attention has been given In tho report
TO the class OF British mu nioipalizers who
would carry municipal ownership into fields
wherever they imagine promise OF a speedy
remedy for civic abuses or economic better
ment for the masses. II any OF the Utopian
schemes of these municipalities had still
bid fair TO be fulfilled the facts would
have been given passing recognition and
the hopeful outlook touched upon. Rather
are there indications that the tide in
practical municipalization IL turned. Where
advocates once looked for a constant expap-
sion, this has been arrested by disillusion.
Government ownership Of undertakings OF
electricity and light railways covering supra
municipal areas may be called for. but there
the practical political leaders show q dispo-
sition to halt. With regard TO municipal
lodgings. stsa and miscellaneous sup
plies there has been reaction. Platform
demands may be more numerous than ever
with extremely radical theorists who have
the ear of the clamorOus among the hungry
masses. but the recent elections have gone
against the radical sentiment and appropria-
lions from councils and Parliament are com
monty expected to cease or follow slowly.
In America the municipalized enterprises
visited by our labor investigators have been
rich mines for significant facts relating 10
politics rather than to labor, These facts
are not usually among those heretofore EN-
phasiZed by the American advocates Of
municipal ownership. The testimony as TO
political rottenness, root and branch, in SYRIA
Cuse. Allegheny and Wheeling ia conclusive.
The municipal plants examined in these cities.
It Ia to be remembered. were selected as models
by representative municipalities of the conn
mission, Nor is the politico labor situation
in Detroit. Cleveland. Chicago or Richmond
at all settled as well as IL might be. In Cleve-
land the present Mayor in the beginning in
creased his reform forces in the public water
department 80 as to strengthen his vote in thc
primaries an act possible at all times also
under the next and succeeding administrations.
which may be bad where the present Is good
The degree Of purity attained - the present
administration il attributable ? The officials
and the public sentiment ~rr'.sed and not 10
municipalization. In Chicago. where civil
service Is ironclad. the appointment by the
Mayor OF department heads and even OF the
Civil Service Commission itself has more than
once proved a vulnerable point in the civic
armor, with sad results. In Detroit, Glove
land or Chicago the stability OF the munich
pally operated enterprises rests largely on the
Mayor. who. however personally estimable
and statesmanlike. necessarily becomes as a
candidate a relatively good or bad politi-
clan, representing for a brief term a d olicy
that may change with his successor. II il
plain that in this political situation the re-
sultant labor problem Is most difficult. An
employee can only hold Office in uncertainty.
with its consequent evils. This form Of dis
quiet il not usual in private employment.
As to Richmond. its exclusion of black men
suggests a burning race question indeed.
North and South. were municipalizatiOn
generally adopted and Richmond's example
in that respect followed.
Any advantage in wages or hours 20 bs
figured out for the municipal enterprises in-
vestigated In America over the private ones
compared with them looks much like stale
Illustrations Of the soft berths to he found
in public employment. To what extent the
Jobs are political for the employees. single
or collectively. OF a bid for the labor vote
Is constantly a question. A correct view
I'M III 'nese eo,n nsia,uss' ~ wages
,hnan ,maaSan h.a"n ""es
w ~ n",n".ns Nv aa"o ~ n" eA'eu'
80. !" ~ !. 'en''
W a U 10 'opeIiy con-
- y a. a"an ~ leas a"o,h.. Hsuk"'
pe'.on; plINa,e u npnnc'pa piants pu' "a
nnu u'nelenee, reNetsnu, h'ne nouIs mum
,lp'i hS hk".'9' .en III ~ keneanl lao"I mar
~ Wiz ,ne am ."lcas" n'e"ien III 'he
New Haven no municipal undertokInv
hours, eight. public Departments. as against
nine, water works; Philadelphia. United Gas
Improvement Company. better wages and
hours than any city department aud a re-
uuctioh from '"eiNe hoir SHIFTS nhuer NUM-
tlpa' opera''on W e's"' """e' '"e c"hp'hS'
E,,r,her noTnts a. r.. ban, ., ... v,,,
Oh. companies mentioned many timss mora
hands are employed than with the municipali-
ties. good men have been more certain ~
their places; the employees pay no
Gi,ions ma ,o comso,, and t"tnrs nr".rs,ts