Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-06-15
MUNICIPAL
OWNERSHIP
IN ITALY
Cities Are Permitted to Assume Pub
lie Utilities. Even to Mon.
OpOIlzing Them

The beginning of municipal con-
troll over bread dates from January,
1903, when the dazio, or local rev.
enue tax, was taken off -four. To in
sure the resultant benefit to actual
CONSUMERS, a decree was made fixing
the maximum price for bread. Diff
ficulties arose from a natural discon-
tent of the bakers. Military bakers
were secured from the regiments in
garrison here to avert threatened
bread famine. A Touring mill OF
medium capacity was hired on favor
able terms and appears to have given
very good results financially. This
has supplied certain part of the
bread required by Palermo up till
now. The urgency for the large new
mill mentioned is increasing by the
fact that in February, 1906, extern
sive Touring mills, which were the
principal source of supply for the
city, were burned down.
There has just been issued an or
der fixing the maximum price for
macaroni, reducing It to 45 centimes
a kilogram, or cents per pound, and
the municipal agents or police are
charged with seeing that the order is
obeyed. A protest has followed from
the macaroni makers, who allege that
the price OF macaroni wheat, from
which their product is made was
higher than before at the very time
OF the reduction.
1t should not be supposed that
the apparent paternalism herein de-
scribed is merely arbitrary or a sur
vival of medieval practice; II is in
full accordance with law. An Italian
statute OF March, 1908, supplement-
ed by the appertaining regulations
OF March, 1904, permits TO cities and
towns the direct assumption of pub
lie utilities, even to the extent of an |
entire monopoly, II desirable. They |
may also engage In a partial way In |
business of various kinds specified,
such as the supply of bread and meat |
and this may be done upon the initia-
tive OF the Mayor and his counselors; |
whereas, n referendum to the peo-
pie is required for assumption of the
whole service.
Municlpilization is furthered by |
the very high cost of living, of which
there Is at present great complaint.
The leading newspaper has lately
been making an inquiry on the sub
ject, inviting the opinions of the
readers as to the causes of rem
edy. No effective remedy has been
The situation bears hard
est on people of moderate means.
It Is claimed that Palermo and the
other chief towns of Sicily are be-
coming quite impossible as resi-
dence for such people. II is called {
q most grave economic crisis.
The emigration problem in some
form is almost always to the front,
and various correspondents attribute
the high cost of everything TO the
American emigration, which deprives
agriculture and the trades of the
needed hands. Others attribute II {
TO an ancient prejudice and lack of
enterprise, and even 10 certain in
security of society, which prevents
The circulation of capital and the de-
yelopment of the great resources of
the island. Still others find 1t only
In a growing prosperity and the &
more luxurious scale of living by all
classes. which gives rise to the pres
sure of largely increased demand Is
upon a stationary supply. Few OBJ
serve that the crisis of the increased
cost of living is not localized TO Sic
ily but that a general rise OF prices |