Bridgeton pioneer., 1908-04-09

association of private persons has
founded it; an orphan asylum built of
marble-a wealthy citizen has erected
/ it; university-some rich men have
left large bequest for educational
j purposes, which serves as a capital
stock, and the university then lives, SO
| to speak. almost on subscriptions, and
so on without end. We learn here how
superfiuous is the action of govern
ments concerning multitude of things
In which in Europe it is deemed abb
solutely Indispensable and how the
freedom to do something awakens the
desire to do 1t"
Antasonistio to Progress.
So It seems to me that in q broad
way this tendency is antagonistic to
the very fundamental cause Of our
progress as race and as nation.
There can be no competition between
a business conducted by an individual
or private corporation and business
supported by taxation upon its COM
petitors. In the very nature of the
case the municipality will soon have a
monopoly of the business in which it
engages in the territory over which
the operations of this business extend,
and the right of the individual to en-
gage IN that business is lost in that
territory. in so far as the opportunity
of the individual to select his occupa-
tion or business and to conduct 1t for
the purpose of reward. for his own
support or even for the benefit of the
public. is denied him. 1t is socialism
pure and simple. One of the defini-
tions of socialism given by a promi-
nent expounder is that
Socialism consists in the extension
of national and the extinction of pri-
vate ownership of the land, the streets,
the houses, the shops, the ships, the
railways, the mines and all other ma
terials for the production and the dis
tribution of wealth. Socialism would
abolish competition and private enter
prise and would substitute cooperation
and public control" s
A Wasteful Method.
The system of municipal ownership
and municipal conduct of business not
only interferes with the liberty of the
Individual, but it is a wasteful method
Of accomplishing the purposes.
AS at present organized our munich
palities are wholly untitled for wise
and prudent conduct of such under
takings. 1t seems strange that, in the
face of the admitted ineff1ciency Of
our municipal organizations to exercise
successfully the very limited govern
mental powers intrusted to them be-
cause of lack of honesty or lack of
sufficient patriotism or ability, some
of our people desire to thrust upon
them the exercise of much more COM
plex and difficult duties.
Can it be expected that this inefficient
organization, which has failed In the
simpler field, will succeed in the more
difficult? When to be municipal leg
islator has become reproach, can we
expect to enlist and receive the undi-
vided and patriotic effort of competent
men, so that the conduct of business
generally by city can be wisely and
economically managed?
Our limited experience in municipal
ownership and operation. it seems to
me, has demonstrated beyond a ques-
ton the wastefulness of this method
of production. 1t Is true that in many
Of our cities and villages the official
who depends on the salary received In
connection with the operation of the
municipal property has figured out
great saving and profit to the people,
but If fair Investigation is made 1t
will disclose that the cost to taxpayers
in nearly every instance is greater
than would be charged for the service
by private individuals or private cor
porations.
Fair Figures Show Sad Results.
If the cities that have embarked
upon municipal ownership and opera
ton will make statement of the total
amount of mouey taken from the tax
payers and applied to the business and
add to this the debts owing by the city
on account Of the business and then
make fair inventory and appraisal of
the property owned by the city in con-
nection with the business and deduct
this from the sum of the former two
,he actual cost will be found to ex-
ceed what it would have cost to buy
the product from private individuals
or private corporations.
In the last thirty years. during which
time municipal ownership has grown
to its present proportions. the indebted
ness of our municipalities has greatly
increased. Our observation teaches all
of us that the municipality as an en-
ployer gets less for its money than
does any other employer.
Because some of our citizens may
make profit in furnishing to our VII
lagos and cities and their inhabitants
certain things or certain services 1t
does not follow that the municipal gov
ernment should furnish these things or
perform these services. II SO. where
is the limit of municipal business? +
Private Enterprise Not an Offense.
The conduct of profitable business