New-York tribune., 1907-09-19
MUNICIP4L QUESTIONS.
Allen r. Footc AdUOcateS Perpetual
Franchises an Norfolk Speech.

Norfolk Va Sept ,s-The eleventh annual con-
venton of the American League of municipalities
opened here to-day for session OF four days. Ad-
dresses of welcome were made ty ]. Taylor Enyson,
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. and Mayor Rid
dick OF Norfolk. President Edward +. Dunno.
former Mayor OF Chicago. responded telling OF 'he
large number Of cities that have been added TO the
membership OF the league during the last year-the
largest increase in its history-and the present
fourishing condition OF the organization. Judge
Dunno reviewing the report OF the American CIVIC
Federation's special investigation committee, sail
the report was encouraging to the advocates Of
municipal ownership. An address on Low Rates
for Public Service versus Franchise Taxation, by
Allan Ripley Foote, OF Columbus, Ohio, followed
Mr.. Foote said, in part:
The most useful tax to place public service
corporations is require them to provide service
ca pucity much greater than is sufficient 10 supply
present demands and TO extend their service lines
beyond present paying limits. thus causing them
10 serve factor In improving ana buhalng u
the ever widening limits Of the municipality. IN
creasing and diversfyng the industries Of its IN,
prosperity Investments IN public service utilities
provided for and the right OF way for their service
lines should be unobstructed.
he adopted unless the interests OF the people are are
web safeguarded by legal requirements that Wi!
rantages in correspondngly low charges FOR ser
vices rendered The demands OF economic law
should find correct expression in the conditions
created by statutory laws TO .ecHr" f the ,e best
economic law requires:
Ffrst-TTlst a public service corporation. organ
.zed supply perpetual public need, shall have
the exclusive right supply such need perpetualiy.
SeCoud-That all accounts shall be honestly ana
correcty kept, that economic thrift shall he m
sisted in department and thar charges
for the use or these services shall bear fixed re-
Iatlor tho necessary cost o. production.
That the statistics OF municipal affairs ana Or
public service utilities however owned and operat-
ed NAV properly developed Il Is necessary that
tho state shall establish department OF public
accounting and inspection rs an independent de
partmrnt state properly organized and equipped.
10 Cover all features Of municipal affairs and OF
the public utilities that supply the public needs
~ r1tIuicfpaIffies and or their Inhabitants
changing irs system. want OF system. OF organ
izinr and regulating public service corporations ny
adopting a system in conformity with the outlines
herein given will be the first 70 establish Condi-
lions that will induce the greatest degree or pros
reritv for ts municipalities and for their inhab-
fa1ts So conditioned and regulated Ealbiic ser
lice CORPORA will become true friends and ser
wants OF the people and will render 70 users the
host services OF which they capable at the low
est practical rates.
councilman Young. Of Kansas City discussed the
difficulties Of arriving reasor.ab bic rates for fran
ciise taxation. Secretary MacEicar read a paper
on this subject. prepared by Mayor Todd Of Jack
son. Mich who could not attend. Bird s Coler.
Fresiden: Of the Borough OF Brooklyn and Mayor
Brand Whitiocil. OF Toledo. we're also on the pro-
crau1rne hut were detained.
Archbishop Ireland member or the Federal
Civic Federaton's executive board, arrived to-day
% attend the sessions of the league.