The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-08-11

be essentials to succeSs-cOnditions
recognized by the commission as not
generally existing ard as difficult TO
secure.
The remainder of the report IS large
ly a eulogy of the governments or
British municipalities. comparing them
Wit hJhe municipal governments in
the United States, TnfavOrably to the
latter, and summing up that reiter-
ates the points previously made, warns
against the danger of municipal own
ership under such governmental CON
ditiOns as the majority says exist in
the United States. and against the
danger of creating a larger body of
municipal employees, and, at the last,
says: we take no position on the
question of general expediency of pub
lie or private ownership"
No Endorsement.
The report contains no endorsement
of municipal ownership, even under
the conditions claimed to exist in
Glasgow, Manchester and Birming-
ham, whose local governmental condi-
tons are particularly commended,
and stated to be distinctly favorable
to municipal ownership" no state
AHSuI IildI II ID "lSS, CltNn IdhOt-
able governmental conditions; no
claim that it has resulted in good to
the citizens of these well administered
towns or elsewhere.
Municipalities, in their arguments,
have not generally included better
service as a result of municipal own
ership. They have based their hopes
on convincing their readers and hear
ers that profits may be made and local
governments purified. by the munich
paliZatiOn of industries. The report
speaks definitely on these points, and
in fiat contradiction to the municipal
izer's cherished arguments, for IL says:
Eve have come to the conclusion that
municipal ownership should not be I'M
dertaken solely for profit" and we
are unable to recommend municipal
ownership as political panacea."
Tone of Warning.
The report as whole bears evil
dence of an effort to warn the Ameri
can people against municipal owner
ship. without using such terms as
would prevent the pre-committed, bur
now doubling, municipalities from
doubling it. II deals with compliments
to British municipalities: reasons why
such a measure of success as has been
elsewhere claimed to have been at
tanned in Great Britain may not be
expected in the United States, warn.
ings of difficulties and dangers &C.
municipal ownership, and
with the Importance OF the regulation
of public service companies It as
serts that governmental, social and
political conditions in Great Britain
are favorable to success Of municipal
such success and no statement that
similar favorable conditions, which il
states do not here exist, would make
for success in the United States.
That each of the heretofore advo-
Gates of municipal ownership ON tn
committee is willing to sign a report
that does not state that municipal
ownership of these Industries any
where offers a success to be emulated.
or an example to be followed. and
does state it to be condemned by
public opinion in cities that have tried
it, appears complete and negative
answer TO the question: Should
American cities adopt municipal own.
ership of public utatties?"
The minority. having no differences
to compose, is liable to make its re-
port more direct than that Of the
Analysis of the two reports
reveals little difference in eeffct. The
report opposes all municfpai
trading and advocates state control
of public service companies.