The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-01-24

luN9NlpliN VI tlitH 'iaN, W do Np'iN'riii ~ :,
what had become of him, why he did not
claim and enjoy the credit due him, and
was told he had some kind of factory,
which required all his time and paid him
better than laborlng for the welfare of
his countrymen.
To prove further that am not so rad
ical an opponent of municipal owner
ship as many suppose, is the fact that
have advocated for years having law
enacted under which the government
could tax the banks, by which all depos-
its in banks would be insured.
Owing to this | am in the banking fra
ternity considered visionary, by some
banker socialist. But then there may
come a time when can say, as Bob Schil-
ling did, I told you SO, and may live to
see it carried out.
Now let me give you my opinion on
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP of public util-
tiles. As this question has been so thor
oughly threshed out, thus only state
the most salient features of it. The whole
benefit, in a nut shell, lies in dollars and
cents, and the service rendered.
Some dispute this by saying, we don't
care for dollars and cents, and even if Il
private service is better and cheaper than
a municipal one, we want our own for
principles sake. While this sentiment
may influence some, | imagine there are
but few who can be converted to muni-
cipal ownership by this sentiment.
1t cannot be compared to an instance
where honor is at stake, it has no con
nection with the saying, millions for de-
fense, but not cent for tribute. - As
long as you are fairly treated, there is no
excuse for running your fcllowmen, nor
resorting to revengeful measures.
The handspring of municipal ownership
is what material benefit will it be to us.
| admit that in many, especially large
cities, public service corporations have
made eXorbitant profits on their franchis-
es, while in smaller places am quite sure
some lost money, and on the total aver
ment than any other industry, and are
well satisfied with 10 net profit. If
this is conceded, and good service render
ed, then | cannot see the benefit to be
derived by the people owning and oper-
ating public utilities.
Now, if a private plant, with its supe-
rior economical operation, can only earn
10 on its investment, we may safely as
sumo that "A municipal plant would not
earn more than SO, if that.
What benefit would be derived by the
inhabitants if they would invest their
money in public plant earning but so
when they could earn double this if they
kept it in their own business and under
their own control?
The socialist, the main force advoca-
ting municipal ownership, does not stop
at this, but embraces all sources Of pro-
duction and distribution, as railroads,
street cars, coal yards, insurance, banks,
all factories, in fact, nearly everything.
They even 60 50 far as to take in the sa-
looms on the theory that these too belong
to the class of public utilities, because
they only exist by the sufTcrance, or Ii
cense of the council.
1t is claimed saloons should be better
regulated by city than by individuals
in that they could be better limited in
number, kept better socially and moral
ly, and would give to "A city larger net
income, than all the other public
utilities combined What would such
an evolution in our social life lead to?
Then would be created an office hold
ing class of immense proportions who
would appoint the operators They
would control and manage all for which
they were more or less fitted.
The democratic party, after the rcpub-
lican party had been in continuous pow
er for over twenty years, made this cam
paign argument from the stump how
can any other party get into power, when
the party in power has all the govern
ment appontccs behind its back, who
will invariably vote for the party that
appointed them?
If these comparatively few can exert
such influence over our elections, how
much more would this be if the appoin-
tees Of the government were increased
tenfold! Some will say that all must go
under civil service, that would mean an
appointce to be retained in office dur
ing good behavior, perhaps for life.
Others say that we could disfranchise
them; yes, all this can be tried, but we
will find it of no avail because there would
be such determined struggle by those
in power to hold on to it, that any change
attempted by which rotation in office
could be attained, would be almost i'm
possible Of accomplishment.
The whole socialistic agitation reminds
of the time | was on the verge of being
converted to Bellamyism, about twenty
| years ago.
1t was in the prime Of my life, in the
midst Of business. had many irons in Tho
fire, which kept me hot and at times burn.
ed my fingers, always in hurly burly
full of worry, so that | ycancd to get out
Of hot water, and was in receptive mooo
to grasp for anything promising to light