The Washington times., 1908-12-29
LOST, ONE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
BY Mr.. ROOSEVELT
R'rom the Detroit News-TrlbuneA

CE'rom the Detroit News-TrIbune1
tt is to be regretted that President
Roosevelt, in suggesting a change IN
the form Of government for the Dis
trict of Columbia. did not so more deep
ly into a discussion OF the benefits TO
be bestowed upon the entire country
by every Improvement in the govern
ment OF the city OF Washington Wash
inSton, properly and scientifically gov
erncd. could easily lead the way Tor
all the other cities Of the country IN
handling those problems now so per
picking TO them
In fact, 20 is surprising that Mr.
Roosevelt. with his open mind and great
Initiative, has made no attempt TO solve
one Of the most vital questions OF our
times, that of the government Of Amer
lean municipalities. We are told that
our city governments are for the most
part rotten. being generally dominated
by saloonkeepers and public utility cor
poratiOns, and that nowhere else In the
world are conditions as bad as in the
cities OF the United States. But among
all the reforms which have appealed
To- President Roosevelt this one does
not appear. He has done nothing 10
q
And, yet, the law places him in su-
preme command OF the municipal gov
ernment Of Washington. Its executive
officers are his appoIntees, ana his in
nuence with Congress would doubtless
have secured any legislation suggested
by him. The people Of the United States
pay one-half Of the municipal expenses
Of Washington, ana by the laws OF
right and justice they are entitled TO
have that city take the place Of n ma
tional experiment station for the devel-
Cpment Of a system Of municipal gov
f-nment by the adoption OF which
&meriCan cities may remove the STAN
now resting upon them.
If any American city desires 20 know
the merits of public ownership OF pub
lie utilities. why should it not look 90
Washington for the answer II any
city wants to know what il costs 10
run a gas plant, or an electric lighting
plant, or a street car system, or "a mu-
nicipaI telephone system. why shouldn't
It be entitled to ask Washington for
the accurate figures Nearly every city
IN the country has q street railway sit
uation of annoying proportions, which
ought to be worked out with Justice 10
all, vet when any city approaches this
question It IS always informed that It
does not know anything about the street
railway business nor what il costs 10
build a road or to run a.. Why should
not the Federal Government demon
strate at Washington what it costs TO
build and run a street railway, SO that
all cities might turn 10 the official gov
ernment figures Tor the answer with
which 10 meet the insoIence OF those
VINO demand as a vested right the op-
pOrtunity 70 tax the people of a city
20 pay interest upon n capitalization
possibly three times as great as the
cost Of the railway
The opportunity has been a magniG-
cent one and IL IS too bad that Nr
Roosevelt has not taken advantage of
it. It viii certainly require President
capable OF welding a blk stick 20 turn
Washington into a national experiment
station for the solution OF municipal
problems, for there is evidence I'm those
gaslights in the streets Of the Capital
In this twentieth century 10 prove that
the gratis are strongly iutr,-.hed
there. AS 10 IS. the best the brightly
lighted and comfortable villages Of the
country can do is 10 congratulate the
fact that John L. Mclean ana mis- as
sociates did not become interested in
perpetuatug the use Of talIow dips. In
stead Of gas, for street and house light
ing in the National Capital