The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-06
An obstinate resolution gets the
better OF every obstacle, and shows
that there is no difficulty to him WHO
has resolved to be patlent.-seneca.
Municipal Trading Abroad. 9

England has had an experience in
municipal trading which is by no
means pleasing to her people. AS n
result of the socialistic policy, 1t is
stated that the total local debt of Eng
land and Wales has been Increased
within the last thirty years from
s452,5so,ooO to s1,916So0 900, or more
than 40 per cent. of the national debt
OF this vast debt AIS per cent. was
invested in various SO called 'munici-
pal trading" enterprises the profits
burdens of taxation
The most serious situation is in the
county of London. 1t is given out that
during the eighteen years Of the rule
of the Progressives, the party Of mu-
1licipal operation. the debt of the coun-
ty has nearly doubled, and the rates
have increased about 90 per cent.
At first the people were delighted
4 with their utilities for the party
authorities made glowing reports. But
by and by the increase in rates caused
z the people to investigate, and they
discovered that by juggled bookkeep-
R ing the losses and waste We're con-
cealed. 1t is an easy matter to charge
off expenses or losses from one de-
apartment to another, and so make n
tine exhibit for a favored function.
But the tax burden tells the tale by
III and by, and the taxpayer pays the
freight.
The London people have at last
\ opened their eyes and entered protest,
In the elections of Saturday a crush
ing defeat was administered to the
Progressives.
In previous county council cleo
tons" says the Philadelphia Ledger.
''the vote polled rarely cqualed ha.f
the total number of qualified electors,
but the great educational work car
Hried or by the Industrial Freedom
League and other like organizations
formed to check the growth of munici-
pal socialism in England, and the prac-
1ical object-lesson of increased taxa
N tion--distributed as It was bound to
y be in increased rents and cost Of
living-have had their inevitable eff
feet"
This election" says the same paper
''marks one OF the most important eco
nomic crises through which Great Brit
ain has passed: since the days of the
Corn Laws. The questions which th'
electors were called upon to decide
were the extent TO which the State
and municipality should be allowed I,
encroach upon the exercise of individ
Mal effort and enterprise; whether in
flustrial freedom should be crushed
md an army of municipal employee
enrolled to throttle the financial econ
omy and efficiency of indivdualism
Those questions have been answere,
/ for doubt as to the meaning OF the de
cision. The Progressive majority
which has been dominant ever sine
the organization of the London Count,
Council. has been swept aside, and tn
Moderates, or Reformers. are given a
unn,stakable mandate to conduct TIL
affairs of the municipality and count
in accordance with sound principle
OF Industrial development"
In spite of such warnings, there ar
many persons in the United State
who are half mad on the subject q
municipal operation. 1t may he argue
that the municipal corporations coul
not do much worse than tho privat
corporations. That may be; but tw
wrongs never made a right, \ con
fession that we must have governmer
ownership and operation because W
cannot control the private corpora
tons is confession of weakness, an
fatal confession, for If we cannc
govern others. how can we COVE
ourselves? Londons experience shou
be warning to every city in IL
United States