Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-15
GIasgoW's Unique Paternalism.
Attractive, But Does It Pay?
HOW PEOPLE ARE HOUSED
City Provides Home for Widowers
and Motherless Children.
RIGID SANITARY INSPECTION
Markets Are Provided for Food at
Cost, Old Clothes, Cats and Dogs.
But Oh, the Morals.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

By WILLIAM r. CCRIlS-
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
GLASGOW September .. 1903.
There is a decided difference of opinion
as to the success of some of the munich
oal undertakings in Glasgow. but the
critics are chiefly politicians who are out
Of power and citizens of other places who
have nothing at stake The people of
Glasgow are not only almost unanimously
satisfied with the paternal policy that
has been in operation there for many
Years. but are proud of its admnistra-
tion-and that. I presume, is the proper
criterion to judge by If those for whose
benefit it Is intended and those who have
to pay the bills find no cause for COM
plant l do not see what outsiders have
TO 90 with it.
A Very Bad Showing.
From a purely theoretical point of view.
however. the object of these municipal
undertakings has not been accomplished
The taxes in Glasgow are no lower than
In other cities of the same size; the In
habitants of that city do not enjoy any
greater comfort or luxuries: they have no
greater conveniences or pleasures: they
are no better off than the inhabitants Of
any Tie OedCH Tdte Is uO
lower than It is in London or Liverpool,
and there j. more poverty, more vice
and depravity and more drunkenness in
Glasgow than in any other city in the
world. unless it be Edinburgh or Dundee.
Naples has about the same population
and is situated In an entirely different
climate. Its city authorities do little or
nothing for the physical and moral vel
fare OF their constituents The schools
are poor. the sanitary laws are few. and
fbnSa arr l6f ipiS
tration of the municipality shows about
as much neglect and indifference for the
welfare of the populace, moral and phys
ical as the authorities of Glasgow show
solicitude and care. Naples. however, is
no more depraved than Glasgow. There
is no more vice and not one-tenth as
much drunkenness as there is in the
great Presbyterian metropolis, where mu-
nicipal paternalism is carried to the
farthest degree 1t would not he fair to
say the doctrine of total depravity Is
more strongly developed among Scotch
mon than among Italians. hence it is nee
essary TO look elsewhere for an eXplana-
ton.
7 wrote you yesterday about the street
car system of Glasgow and related an
interview with Mr.. Dalrymple. who is
enthusiastic over the success of his own
management. which has no doubt fur
rished a model for other cities to follow.
Low Fares, But Low Wages, Too.
At the same time l do not think the
people of Washington or any other pro-
gressive American city would have the
patience TO submit to such regulation of
the street car traffic as here. Although
the fares are less than one-half those
charged In the United States. the scale of
wages paid to the employees is IN the
same proportion No conductor OF
motorman on street car In Glasgow
can ever expect to receive more pay
than $3.50 a week, and 1t Is only fair to
say that when the employees OF our street
railways are willing to accept such wages
the patrons will have right to demand
a reduction of fares TO the Glasgow
standard
1t should also be explained that the
city owns the electric plant which fur
nishes the power that moves the cars
and at the same time lights the streets
and public buildings aud supplies light
and power to many thousands of private
patrons. who pay prices quite "a high as
those charged by corporations in the
United States. AS none OF these under
takinSs is conducted for a profit. the
street car department gets its power for
about one-hai what il would cost if
they were compelled 10 aenc"ate it them
selves
While nothing but praise and consrat.