Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-06-10
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.

4 sort of advance guard of the
universe. 1t is true that the newly
rich, with more money than brains,
buys titled degenerate Is husband
for a silly daughter. finding no
worthy man amongst his compa-
triOtS. Save, therefore, only in the
matter of of heraldry, we hug our
selves as the people with whom
wisdom will die. But while we
have our good points along many
lines and are in not few unex-
celled, the "effete" countries of
the old world lead us in great fields
of public service, and especially in
governmental interpoSition i'm be-
half of the welfare of the masses.
This Is due. in some degree. to the
more flexible response to the will
of the people, upon the part of
foreign governments, apparently
monarchical, but moved by the
principles Of real republicanism,
while we, under the guise of a gov
eminent of. by. and for the people
are bound by rigid forms that lend
themselves readily to group inter-
ests and an effective, though
covert. control by handful of able
and powerful conspirators.
In the government of cities Great
Britain is far ahead of the United
States, and sets pace we should
Immediately emulate, having, how
ever, always due regard to the
backward state of the public mind
with us by season of conditions
peculiar To a comparatively new
country. The journal has repeat
edly declared its belief that, within
period so brief as to be we'll within
the purview of practical politics,
the municipalities will own and
operate every city utility of the
nature of monopoly. We maen
works of water, of gas. of electric
ity and the street cars, and the
change from grinding private ex-
plOitation of the people to public
service can only result, when tenn
porary perturbations quiet to settle
operations, in the improvement of
the service, the betterment of the
conditions of the employees, a re-
ductiOn in fares and a steady and
growing contribution TO the treas
ury, and the consequent lowering
of taxation All of these ends have
been attained in Great Britain.
Glasgow is ruled by council of
unpaid citizens, numbering we
think seventy-five. Ourapologists
of monOpolists ghbly declare that
so unwieldy a debating society
could never economically and salts
factorily conduct any business upon
a large scale; that public utilities
under such management would de-
generate into chaos. And yet the
Scottish city, to speak of nothing
else, Is operating a car service for
one million people, economically,
cheaply and with universal APP
plause, save by a gang of pluto
Gratis who must find some other
way to invest unearned wealth to
enable them to live like Indian
nabObs.
Fast upon the heels of Glasgow
comes Liverpool, whose city tram
ways during 1907 carried 124. 900.
$50 passengers, &C, 900. 00Oin excess
It the entire population of the
United States. The report of the
aific manager states that for that
year the city made enough from
this sourc" 10 pay the interest on
tramWay JeI;, 80 sink a portion of
the same, to set aside $277. $50 for
reserve and renewals. to pay the
taxes as if a private corporation.
and then 10 turn $l3S, 900 into the
public treasure for the abatement
of the general tax ra'eupon citizens.
At the same time rates OF far we're
charged uot exceeding = crit, !ur
stages Of and within tso and one
half miles and nnl, nbnui 2. = cents
as the a., rdgc for passengers.
The city, mor"a,er, as Al en-
ployer of tramwav labor, pro, i'll d
uniforms. contri .u'el from tram
ways rcvenne 'or ,ac sup,s1rl ~
H." en- musical bend, and
aifs'9 - o'i'.r'ri e.! az employee
s!e- 5ehl.il soci~ty and social,