The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-07-29

estimate the aIk8Wancex that should
made for these local conditions.
For instance in making u~eductions
from the sfnaacial conditions sof
Wheeling as affected by its gas plant,
as compared with those-of Atlanta
and Norfolk, with their private plants,
allowance must be made for the pre-
sence of natural gas in Wheeling
Again, in comparing the public water
works of Syracuse with the private
water works of Indianapolis from the
point of view OF b success or fail
ure of municipal operation, geographi-
cal conditions must be taken into con
sideration. The situation at Syracuse
is extremely favorable to the establish
ment Of an efficient plant with compa-
ratively little effort on the part of its
management. At Indianapolis the con
ditions are unfavorable. II Syracuse
the water flows to the city by gravity.
in Indianapolis it must be- pumped.
So we might go through the various
cities here and abroad that have been
visited and show that the results were
dhCClSU dfO cuO1H o1 IL ny
special conditions applicable to each
city.
Further, the difficulty of reaching
satisfactory results by the compare
tive method is not confined to special
or local conditions. 1t is true as well
of much broader questions. Thus any
attempt to compare municipal VITA
private electric light plants in n
United States would b re fruitless if al
lowance were not made for the fact
plants are confined to street lighting
and may not do commercial business.
Allowance must be~made also for the
fact that any municipal plants have
a struggle to exist in the fac of IN
sympathetic opinion. Again, in Eng
LAM consideration must be given to
the fact that the municipal electric
light and street railway plants nave
permanent rights, while the rights of
the private companies operating these
particular utilities are limited as to
the length of their existence, many
street railway franchises expiring 81
years after they were granted.
FINALLY, not only must it be borne
in mind that the social and political
conditions which characterize the two
countries find expression in their pri-
rate and public systems, but we must
consider the difference in h nature
of the two peoples which auses them
to adopt different ideas and views as
to the expediency of certain things.
In other words, a measure of success
lie utilities in England should no be
regarded as necessarily indicating
that the municipal management of the
same utilities in this country would
be followed by a like measure Of sue
cess. Conditions are quite different
in the two countries.
"There are some general principles
which we wish to present as practical
ly the unanimous sentiment of our
Committee.
First, we wish to emphasize the
fact that the public utilities studied
are so constituted that it is impessi-
BILE for them to be regulated by com
petition. Therefore, they must be o
trolled n regulated by the govern
ment, or they must be left to do as
they please; or they must be operated
by the public. There is no other
course. None Of us is in favor of leav
ing them to their own will, and the
question is whether it is better to reg
ulate OF to operate.
There are no particular reasons
why the financial results from private
or public operation should be different
if the conditions are the anne In
each case it is a question of the pro-
per man in charge of the business
and of local conditions.
1--WE are of the opinion that a pub
lie utility which concerns the health
of the citizens should not be felt to
individuals, where the temptation of
profit might produce disastrous re-
suits, and therefore it is our judgment
that undertakings in which the SAM
tary motive largely enters should be
operated by the public.
we have come to the conclusion
that municipal ownership of public
utilities should not be extended to re-
venue producing industries which do
not involve the public health, the pub
lie safety, public transportation or
the permanent occupation of public
streets OF grounds and that municipal
operation should not be undertaken
solely for profit.
1--WE are also of the opinion that all
future grants to private companies
for the construction and operation of
public utilities should be terminable
after a certain fixed period, and that
meanwhile cities should nave the
right to purchase the property for op-
Grafton, lease or sale. paying it fair
value.
ITO carry out these recommends
tons effectively and to protect the