Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-02-26
BY ARTHUR WILLIAMS.
President National Electric Light associa-


President National Electric Light associa
ton
Some things are so essentially OF a
governmental nature that II would be
fatuous to consider them from the
standpoint OF private ownership
Among these are the collection Of Gus
toms. the maintenance and direction OF
the army and navy aud the police pow
er. In others it IL the end rather than
the means that should be sought, and
municipal and private ownership are
often on equal terms without the viola
ton % any economic principle.
The maintenance Of public highways
aud sewers Ia usually public func-
ton. but the country abounds in exam
pies. every whlt-as satisfactory. Of pri-
yate ownership and operation. With
water the Importance to the communi-
" lies not In Its ownership, whether
public or private but rather in its quail
Ilty. quantity and price Many of the
most satisfactory waterwOrks of this
country and Europe are owned pri-
vately.
Beyond these there is class Of pub
lie utilities which experience has shown
should lie exclusively within the domain
OF private enterprise. The telegraph. tel
ephone. transportation. gas and electric
light undertakings offer examples. The
ownership Of these by the community
is advocated by some on the ground
that they are necessities OF modern
life. by others because they partake Of
the nature of monopoly. 1t does not
appear that either is a sufficient rea-
sou. These are facilities and conven-
fences. not necessities. The latter con
slst OF simple dwellings, food, raiment
and means OF warmth In winter III
our necessities are to be nunicipalized,
we should begin with the butcher, gro
Ger, baker and coal dealer, whose per-
centage Of profits far exceeds that Of
any OF the corporations in the so called
public service.
Monopoly regulated monopoly y Is
not necessarily opposed to the public
interest 1t Is advantageous TO all TO
have one telephone system, that from
one point all may he conveniently
reached; to have one street car sys-
tenn with universal transfers, making
unnecessary any relation between ones
home and place Of work; to have
single gas or electric light works, pre-
venting the waste OF small plants and
organizations and securing by the lar
ger development Increased reliability
and Improved quality in the service.
A franchise merely permits a public
service corporation to share with 9th
ers the use OF the streets for the de-
livery to its customers OF the commod-
ity II supplles-a right that Is enjoy
ed BY every other industry. The diff
ference IL merely one OF method. Were
electricity delivered in storage bat
feries aud gas In tanks-concelyeDie
ways-po franchise would be required.
Instead OF using horses and wagons,
which blockade the streets and make
btrsel fieaniuB PVolchii hch'"iiU7
are made beneath the surface without
dirt. noise or other objectionable fea-
lures.
II Is through the exercise Of this
right that we hear Of the confscation
Of public property. Yet the public has
not parted with Its title to the streets
nor It's right 10 occupy them for any
purpose or in any manner 1t may de-
sire 1t has simply permitted serv-
Ice company &c become a tenant, for
which. In the form Of franchise and
other taxes. the company pays a high
rent. substantially the city Ia The
landlord, possessing the power OF arbi-
trarily determining. In the form OF
these taxes, what rent Il shall receive.
And this rent lessons proportionately
the individual taxation.-Moody's Mag
aEins.