The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-08

the more skilled branches of work.
This advantage in municipal under
by definite labor party, but by the
influence of wage-earners as voters
upon the municipal officials
The views expressed by Prof. Com
mons are in many respects favorable
to municipal ownership. He finds,
however, that the proper method of
dealing with employees is the most diff
ficult and critical problem of munich
pal ownership, and he favors recog-
milton of organized labor as a safe
guard against the pressure of outside
(poHCcaI) recommendations.
Wages of Labor.
In general, Prof. Commons finds
common labor better paid by munich
palities in American than by private
companies. He says:
I'm the United States the minimum
paid for common labor by the private
companies is, in all cases except At
lanta, lower than that of the munich
pality, and the minimum paid for
common labor by municipal under
takings is higher than that of private
companies of the same locality.
"In none of the American enter
prises investigated were the common
laborers organized. In the municipal
undertakings they are paid higher
wages and given shorter hours than
in the ase of private employees of the
same locality. They are also in all
cases citizens of the United States and
residents of the locality. The common
labor of the private companies, ex-
cept in Indianapolis and the southern
cities. where they are colored, is COM
posed largely of immigrants and no
attention is paid as to whether they
have secured citizenship papers or
not.
In the matter of wages and hours
the principal effect of municipal own
ership is seen in the unskilled and un-
organized labor in both countries. in
that of street railway employees in
Great Britain and in that of gas work
ers and electric workers in the United
States"
Mfr. Sullivan's Report.
Mr.. Sullivan sums up his observations
with the conclusion that in all but the
most poorly paid forms of labor. and
for tramway employees, municipalizatior
has not raised the wage or improved
above conditions in the private under
takings. With respect to common,
unorganized labor" however, the in
vestigators found a difference some
The report cites two causes
for, this condition; first, that the NUM-
cfpal laborer is a picked man, and sec
ond, that this class of labor is capable
bined pressure which obtains for them
better terms than the employing coun-
cillors accord to the men they hire in
their private capacity for similar work.
No street car undertaking in Great
Britain has ever been a private enter
prise in the sense in which the word is
applied in this country" says Mr.. Sui
ivan. THE n years term of the fran
,hisc, the veto of company petitions by
village authorities. the enormous cost of
parliamentary powers and local assents, |
and various other restrictions nom
existent in the United States, shackle |
md impoverish British tramway COM |
oany management and consequently |
forbid an intelligent investigator to en- |
oloy British example to illustrate pos
,ibilities in America through change |
rom private to municipal ownership. |
British tramsways have always been |
semi municipal. AS by the terms of /
heir franchises all English tramway |
may be taken over by the |
directors manage their |
properties with that end in view.
Compared with the remarka BILE changes
or the better in wages and hours in
he American street car industry I'M
Ter companies, the best of the British
labor improvements seem
lardly more than trivial