The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-11-20
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
And the Politician

Quoted successfully and even under these
comparisons, even though this might D.
admitted, even though the best class Of
men without any dishonesty in their
midst could be secured 20 take up and
carry on the political duties for which
they are elected, the fact still remains
that many OF this very board which under
this assumption would control the eec,
trieal properties have secured their elec.
ton through the following Of their con.
stltuents, not on their ability a. Jper.
ators Of the municipal lighting plant, bu,
on any OF dozen other issues. a., for
example. prohibition, etc, and from this
standpoint IL is evident that We therefore
have men not only unqualified but ds.
qualified TO take active charge OF such
undertakings. Candidates are elected by
reason OF their views 4 any question,
local or otherwise.
Prohibition and Electric Lighting.
Nothing is heard at elections Of the in.
justice OF municipalities encroaching upon
the rights OF individuals, by competing
with them as traders land. municipal oper.
alton OF public utilities is but municipal
trading, with the public purse as their
capital in trade.) One influence only in
a majority OF cases sends municipal candi.
dates to the top OF the ballot and this
Party Lines Drawn Tighter.
Vermont is strong republican state.
Brattleboro is republican TO the backbone.
Its administrative bodies are republican.
Its executives of so-called municipal
electrical undertaking would be political
Of the g. O. p. They secure
their position primarily as politicians, not
as business men, even though we have bus.
mess men, successful ones, too, upon our
boards. Invariably men who are accus.
toned TO deal with large affairs and who
understand the complexities of great f.
nancial arrangements with few exceptions
are not to be found to any extent in the
councils OF our municipalities.
The Best Are Lost to Us.
What men of our present board would
IT could afford to devote their whole time
n the best portion of it to the interest
II the public in general? We have re-
emily heard of certain OF our prominent
business men resignlng from this and
'ther positions of influence in our NUM-
ipality due to lack of time which they
ould spare from their own business and
heir home ties The services Of these
men, which would prove so valuable in
he present legitimate duties of local
government would therefore be lost to our
Ivy, ii tHese eAlstlllg duties, dlItdul DuL'
ensome, were many times increased by
he demands of such an electrical under
aking by our city. The places which
uch men fill would be taken by others,
Tho are quite untitled to control the
lrge interests existing now and contem.
lated for the future which must be In
rusted to their care. The inevitable con
aquences follow. Expenditure is incurred,
artly extravagant and unnecessary, be-
luse municipal authorities are frequently
ad managers, even where they are not
orrupt. As Sir Robert Giffen has well
nd Expenditure is pleasant to those
no have a little brief authority, and the
lcrease of the number of local author'
es increases the number of those who
njoy that pleasure"
CHAIRS FOR THE POLITI'
EN- TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF
G DEPARTMENT?
OR ANY POLITICAL
THOUSAND DOLLAR MUNICIPAL