The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-03-28

sentiments of their constituents.
Suppose that the people should vote
for the removal of the capital, what
guarantee is there that Portland will
furnish the site and the $3.50, 900, which
would mean at least million dollars?
Herbert NJ. Heath, one of the ablest
lawyers in Maine says that Portland
has 10 moral or legal right to raise this
money.
In the hearing before the legislature
in the case Of Henry J. Chapman,
judge Of the municipal court of Bangor,
charged with multiplying the prombitory
law. etc, we notice that the counsel
for the defence devoted himself mainly
to abuse of Rev. II. n. Pringle of
WateryiIle, calling him 'a shepherd
without flock, a spotter and law
breaker That seems to us an evasion
of the issue Nh Pringle was not on
trial. Judge Chapman was. Were the
charges against him true? That was
the issue, and the prosecution certainly
made out strong case.
The Portland capital-movers, soured
over their defeat in the House, have
been venting their spleen on Governor
Cobb. charging that he used his in
huence against them and had intimat-
ed that he would veto the capital NOV
ing resolve if passed by the legislature
No one who knows Gov. Cobb would
give the slightest credence to this
charge, which only reflects discredit
upon those making it. But he would
be acting within his power as Governor,
and as a good citizen, in opposing this
scheme for plunging the State into
debt to an indefinite amount, to be
reckoned in millions.
The Republican city of Bath has in
auguYated a Democratic mayor, and his
inaugural shows that he stands for
good citizenship Here is his closing
paragraph:
Let us endeavor to make this, as far
as iii lis lies. a business administration;
see II We cal cut out for once, little
political animosities that arise from
our adherence TO party politics. We
cannot. of course, make the reform on
MUNICIPAL matters that many of us
think should be made. We cannot all
Of us agree as to what these reforms
should be. / we can work together
for what we deem the best interests Of
our city, we can Justify ourselves for
our acts. Our felloW-citiZens look to
us at least to do this We were willing to
take these positions, hence we are
parties to the responsibilities of the
same and we shall justly be entitled to
criticism if we fail to do our best, and
that is all that is required.
In recent issue we gave review of
book on "The Dangers of Municipal
Ownership by Robert P. Porter, in
which the question is treated exhaus-
tivelyand authoritatively. Most interest
ing in this connection is the result of a
recent election in London, in which the
municipal ownership party was defeat
ed more than two to one. Thus ends,
says one writer, the is year rule of
unrestrained municipal socialism, the
waste, mismanagement and corruption
of which at last aroused the taxpayers
to realization of the situation and led
them to take an active interest in say.
ing the city from greater disaster than
had already overtaken it. Saved from
bankruptcy" is the striking common
tary of the London Mail. In Woolwich,
England, the street lighting under mu
nicipal ownership has cost more than
twice what it should have cost, and in
a recent election the municipalities
were overwhelmed by the votes of the
workingmen, who have shaken off the
delusion. Bath, England, has, by 6
vote of 40 to ?, voted to sell its munich
pal electric light plant, which has beer
a hole in its pocket, to private com
pany.
Lord Avebury denounces the entire
multiplication system as false de-
mocracy and bad policy" He says
"Monopolies are bad, but especially
municipal monopolies, because they art
the most difficult either to regulate
control or abolish. / doubt whethel
the paper profit which municipalities
rsnk
ence. Municipal trading must increas'
our rates more and more, while at tn
same time it raises the prices of neces
sites, so that it cuts down income
with one hand and with the other make
life more expensive" And that is hi
opinion, with full knowledge of Brit
ish experience in multiplication t.
guide him to a conclusion.