The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-04-02
NUGGETS OF SOUND SENSE.
Beware Of the Entering Wedge Of So.
eiaiisn-Puhhe ownersn,p.

-NHNtS " hHs Entering Weu9e OF so.
eiaiism-Pubne ownersnip.
In recording the defeat OF a munich
pal waterworks scheme in Raleigh. \.
c., after an educational campaign OF
several months duration. the Evening
Times OF that city gives an analysis OF
municipal ownership which is well
worth the careful study OF all wiia
have at heart the welfare IT their
cities. omitting references to local
conditions the editorial reads as FOL
lows:
Municipal ownership ia contrary to
the fundamental doctrines of the Dem.
ocratic parry. which opposes central
lied parental government and cries out
for the free lom of individuals. The
function Of ne government is to gov
ern. regulate and execute the laws
made by the l,eople and not to engage
In trading apl irafticking for speenIa-
tive gain TIL miserable failure which
the. state HACKED by all rs power and
public treasury. made in the trailing
business while It owned and operated
pink roads. canals and railroads is a
blatant wariln- agains. municipal
ownership
Municipal ownership is tie first step
in socialism. which straneles Individual
enterprise. deter the Investment or
capital in orr Lefty and retards. In
dustrial progress. When. once started
there is no limit Z, ifs scope until there
becomes large Increase In municipal
debt and taxes md an impairment Of
municipal credit When a city en-
cages in municipal ownership 1t rum
The. risk OF constant suits for damages
while the state and county are. de
prlved of taxes uhon that much prop
erly.
While many towns owning water
works publish rateswhich appear 10 he
cheap. they are ~ many Instances de-.
ceptlye for the reasous ihat. in addition
to the rates, taxt4 arr levied .lnlon the
people To pay fiteres Oh bonds. which
when added 10 the rates make the
consumer pay more .than the. rates
charged by private plmtS. Many Of
these municipal plants examined by
experts according To- the business rules
Of examining The affairs ~ private cor
porations would be proved to lie run
ming at il loss instead " profit, as
claimed.
hinder municipal ownership the
chance Of the. laboring man for en-.
ployment depends not upou his merits,
hut upon his political Influence and
pun and If he is not able 10 use pub
lie water he still has 10 pay taxes for
the benefit Of the rich man who does.
sTherc is no more reason for munich
pal ownership Of water than mere is
for butcher shops. bakeries clothing
stores. drug stores, livery stables. etc,
and under' the system OF municipal gov
eminent in this country II Is i fertile
source of graft. political corrmtion and
bossism, catchy slogan for political
campaign, slick article with which 10
deceive the people and on which To
ride into Office and n machine 10 per-
petuate the control of the boss. 1t has
been APPLY called that vivid >afYron
gold brick under whose Glitterug tin.
sci turks delusion and a snare
Municipal ownership is dead! Long
live good common business sense"
1t is curious fact that the board OF
aldermen which voted unanimously to
renew the water franchise was elected
on municipal ownership ticket Facts
heat fancies il they have fair chance.