Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1907-12-26
NUGGETS OF SOUND SENSE.
beware Of the Entering Wedge Of So.
eiaiisp-Puhnc Ownership.


In recording the defeat of munich
pal watcrworks scheme In Raleigh. N.
c.. after an educational campaign Of
several months duration, the Evening
Times of that city gives an analysis Of
municipal ownership which is welt
worth the careful study of all WIN
have at heart the welfare of their
cities. Omitting references to local
conditions, the editorial reads as fol-
lows:
Municipal ownership is contrary to
the fundamental doctrines of the Dem
Ocratic party, which opposes ccntral-
Eed parental government and cries out
Tor the freedom of individuals Tho
function of the government Is to gov.
ern, regulate and execute the laws
nladc by the people and not to engage
IN trading and trafficking for spccula.
tive gain. The miserable failure which
the state, backed by all it's power and
public treasury, made in the trading
business while It owned and operated
plank roads, canals and railroads is a
blatant warning against municipal
ownership.
Municipal ownership is the first step
In socialism. which strangles individual
enterprise. deters the Investment OF
capital In our city and retards In.
dustrial progress. When once started
there is no limit to its scope until there
becomes large increase in municipal
debt and taxes and an impairment of
municipal credit. When a city en-
cages in municipal ownership 1t runs
the risk Of constant suits for damages,
while the state and county are de.
prived of taxes upon that much prop.
erty.
while many towns owning water
works publish rates which appear to be
cheap, they are in many instances de
ceptive for the reasons that, in addition
TO the rates, taxes are levied upon the
people to pay interest on bonds, which
when added to the rates make the
consumer pay more than the rates
charged by private plants. Many Of
these municipal plants II examined by
experts according to the business rules
of examining the affairs of private cor.
porations would be proved to be run
ming at loss instead of profit. as
claimed.
Under municipal ownership the
/, chance Of the laboring man for en-
ployment depends not upon his merits,
| but upon his political influence and
pull, and IL he is not able to use pub
!, lie water he still has to pay taxes for
i the benefit of the rich man who does.
! There is no more reason for munich.
4 PAL ownership of water than there il
| for butcher shops, bakeries, clothing
stores, drug stores. livery stables, etc.,
| and under the system Of municipal gov
ernment in this country it is fertile
source of graft. political corruption and
bossism. n catchy slogan for n political
campaign. slick article with which to
deceive the people and on which to
ride into Office and machine to per.
petuate the control of the boss. 1t has
been aptly called that vivid saffron
gold brick under whose glittering tim
sci turks n delusion and snare.
municipal ownership is dead! Long
live good common business sense!'
1t is a curious fact that the board OF
aldermen which voted unanimously t.
renew the water franchise was elected
Oh municipal ownership ticket. Fac.s
beat fancies If they have Il fair chance