Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-11-01

NOT TAINTED
Civic Federation Investigators
Not Influenced by Subscribers.

Professor Parsons, an M. Q. Member
Of the Commission, Denies That Cor
poraton Contributions Had Any In
huence on Its Report E Resents
Newspaper Criticisms.
Professor Frank Parsons, president
of the National Municipal Ownership
league, was recently interviewed by
representative of the Boston Herald
in regard to the testimony before the
public service commission in New
York to the effect that the Metropoli-
tan Securities company had contribut-
ed $4,000 to the expenses of the COM
mission which studied the problem of
municipal ownership here and abroad.
"The testimony before the commits
sion," said Mr. Parsons, contained
nothing that in any way reflects on
either the Civic federation or the COM
mittee of investigation. The sensation
al elements presented by the press
were read into the case by an errone
Gus Interpretation Of some of the facts
stated in the evidence in connection
with some remarks of August Belmont
In relation to the investigation.
"a large part Of the funds were con-
tributed by various corporations and
Industrial interests, the Metropolitan
company among the number, and Mr..
Belmont is quoted as saying that the
result of the investigation was very
satisfactory. Some newspaper man
put those two facts together and con-
cluded that the corporations had got
what they expected and paid for.
"As matter of fact. however, Mr..
Belmont's remark meant merely that
and valuable mass of facts brought
out. How far wrong is the impression
that corporation contributions had any
influence on the character Of the re
suits may be seen from the fact that
the final resolutions Of the commits
sion, summing up the investigation.
are signed by every municipal owner
ship member of the commission.
Another fact which has a strong
bearing on the case is that the super
vision of the engineers and experts In
Great Britain and the disbursements
of all the funds across the water were
intrusted to DIR. Milo r. Maltbie, now
service commission and well known az
writer strongly favorable TO munic-
ipal ownership.
1.-THE truth is that the idea Of inves-
tigating municipal ownership took
form In the Civic federation as early
as 1900, or long before Mr.. Belmont
became president of the federation.
about half the funds, or over $40
900, was raised by scattered subscrip-
tions from persons all over the coun-
| try in amounts ranging from $5 up,
| and the remainder of the fund was
contributed by large Industrial inter
ests or men connected with them.
"All the money was spent under the
supervision of a committee of five, on
which there were two well known mu-
nicipal ownership representatives and
| the chairman of which was Professor
Goodnow of Columbia university.
Chairman ingalls, Of the committee
on investigation, who Is also chair
man of the board of directors of the
Big Four railroad, is one of the fairest
and most honorable men in the United
| States, and the investigation from
start to finish was conducted without
q shadow of influence from the corpo-
ration contributions which were made
| to the finance committee.
"In fact, the committee on investiga-
ton did now know where the money
came from nor who the contributors
were, with a few trifiing exceptions,
until the investigation was all finished
and the report was in type.
81 wish to say further in all fairness
that while | personally do not at all
approve Of many things in the history
of Mr. Belmont's corporations there Is
no question in my mind but that be
and the Civic federation have acted
with perfect fairness toward this com
mission on public ownership.
"The engineers and experts worked
In pairs, one Of each pair representing
municipal ownership and the other
representing private ownership. This
nearly doubled the cost. but resulted
In securing a body of facts. signed
by experts of the highest character
and representing both sides Of the
question. This gives the report very
unique character and confers on the
statements Of facts SO agreed upon
degree of authority far beyond that
which attaches to any previous inves
| tigation."