Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-01
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
Commission of Experts in
Favor of 1t.
ONE DISSENTING VOICE
Politics Must Be Excluded From the
Management.
LIMITS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Only Those Affecting Public Health,
Transportation, Safety or Perma-
nent Occupation Included.
LIMITS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence OF The Star ana tne
Chicago Record Herald.
NEW YORK, January 20.-The commits
sion of experts appointed by the National
Civic Federation TO investigate the sub
ject of public ownership and operation has
made its report and, as its membership
was composed of theorists and practica'
men In equal numbers, 1t is quite remark
able that its conclusions are unanimous
with one exception. MIR. Walton Clark.
vice president Of the United Gas Improve
ment Company OF Philadelphia, familiarly
known as the gas trust Is the only mem
Der who dissents. The other nineteen OBJ
stinate persons decline to agree with him,
and prevent the report from being unani-
nous.
This investigation is the outcome OF the
contest between George b. Mcclellan and
William r. Hearst for mayor of New
York in 1904. in which the issue was mu-
nicipal ownership, and Mr.. Hearst re-
ceived surprising number OF votes In
favor of that propositions
The Civic Federation composed or a
large number OF prominent men from all
parts of the country, representing every
industry. interest and class OF society. rec
ognizing the significance of that vote and
realizing how little the people OF the
United States know concerning the prac-
teal workings of municipal ownership, ap-
pointed committee consisting Of
Committees Members.
Melville +. ingalls,, chairman. chairman
Of the board of directors of the Big Four
railroad.
Albert Shaw. vice chairman. editor Re-
view OF Reviews. New York city.
odi 81
Press Philadelphia.
w. ID. Mahon president Association of
Street Railway Employees. Detroit.
Frank J. GoodnoW. professor of political
economy Columbia University. New York
city
Walton Clark. third vice president
United Gas Improvement Association.
Philadelphia.
Edward W. Bemis, superintendent water
works. Cleveland.
John III. Gray. professor OF political
economy, University OF Minnesota. Min
neapolis.
Walter l.. Fisher. special traction coun-
sci, city of Chicago. and ex-president Mu
nicipal Voters League. Chicago.
Timothy Healy. president International
Brotherhood Stationary, Firemen. New
York city.
William j. Clark. general manager for
elgn department. General Electric Com
pany. New York city.
H. B. F. Macfarland. president board of
Commissioners. District Of Columbia
Washington.
Daniel j. keefe. president International
l.ongshoremens Association. Detroit
Frank Parsons. president National Pub
lie Ownership League. Boston.
John r.. Commons. Wisconsin Univer-
sfty Madison Wis.
j. w. Sullivan. editor Clothing Trades
Bulletin. New York city
F. J. McNuty, president International
~
ington.
Albert f. Winchester. general superin-
tendent City Electric Works, South Nor
walk. Conn.
Charles l.. Edgar. president Edison
Electric and Illuminating Company. Bos-
Milo r. Maltbe. member public services
commission, New York city.
Leo s. Rowe. University OF Pennsyl-
vania. Philadelphia.
Edward A. Moffett. secretary editor
Bricklayer and Mason. Indianapolis Ind
Nj. Parsons Is one of the most promi-
nent socialists in this country: Mr.. Bemis
is one OF Tom Johnson's political lieu
tenants: Mr.. Healy is better known as
Tim iealy. prominent Tammany
leader in New York.
Experts Employed.
Having organized October ). 1905. the
committee decided to employ corps of
experts to make a thorough investigation
of the practical results Of municipal own
ership and operation in Europe, and di-
vided the field between them according to
their best judgment This investigation
continued until May, 1907. when the re-
ports OF the experts. which fill three vol
umes of five and six hundred pages each,
were submitted. They have been sum-
married. in brief and subcommittee was
appointed 10 prepare general report set
ting forth the conclusions and the recon-
lighting and power. water, and street
railways-the public utilities that have
been municipaliZed to greater extent
than any others In this and in foreign
countries.
The expenses of the investigation were
paid from fund raised by August Bel
mont of New York president of the Civic
Federation. and subscriptions were solicit
ed from all who are interested in the sub
or the other. At the recent investigation
of the finances of the street car lines of
New York it was disclosed that consid-
cradle portion of the funds were furnished
by the elevated and surface RAILWAYS of
that city. An attempt was made to create
a scandal from this fact but 1t afterward
that the railway companies made
up deficit In the funds necessary to pay
for the investigation and report which
was. in many respects. decidedly against
Mr. Beimont's personal views
There is no doubt of Mr.. Belmont's
honesty. patriotism and disinterestedness
While he has always been opposed to
every form of municipal ownership, he
has been earnest and sincere in his eff
forts to obtain accurate jnforma ton on
that subject.