Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28
VARIETY OF REQUESTS
What Commissioner Macfar-
land Has in Morning Mail.
LETTER FROM A DEBATER
Wants Points on Municipal Owner
ship of Utilities.
ANSWERS DESIRED OFFHAND
Numerous Opportunities Offered for
Subscription to Various
Enterprises.
LETTER FROM A DEBATEf
ANSWERS DESIRED OFFHAND

"rhe mornings mail always presents a
District Commissioner with many oppor-
tunties to give away his salary and de-
yote his time TO other than official duties"
declared Commissioner II. B. +. Mac
farland Yesterday morning, when a re-
porter of The Star called upon him and
found him busy opening the pile of let
tiers on his desk.
Here are the letters j have run across
SO far he continued. handing bundle
to the newspaper representative.
The first letter asked the Commissioner
to settle the question as to whether
American cities should their pub
lie utilities. 1t seems, from the letter
head that a debate is to take place be-
tween the West Division High School of
Milwaukee and the South Division High
School of Manitowoc on the proposition
that it would be to the best interests of
American cities to own and operate their
water works, street railways and cleo
tric lighting systems" The letter is writ
ten by one of the Milwaukee debaters, and
says:
Answers Wanted Offhand.
"knowing that you are interested in
this question / am taking the liberty
of asking your opinion on the following
points:
do you favor municipal ownership of
the utilities under the conditions imposed
by this resolution?
do you consider the political status
of American cities such as to warrant
the change at the present time?
DO you regard the problem of munich
palization of light and street railway sys-
TENS in the same manner as that of
water works?
In judging as to the success in operat
.s..Ix dor
the more important efficiency or rate?
What bearing. if any, has the ex-
perience of foreign countries In dealing
with these public utilities on this prob
lem in the United States?
do you consider the experience of
American cities in dealing with this ques-
tion favorable or unfavorable to the
further adoption of municipal ownership
and operation in this country?
Is the proper solution of this question
for the United States to be found in the
municipalization or regulation of these
utilities by the public?"
Although municipal experts and stu
dents of political economy have spent
years in the study of this question, look
ing for a solution, Commissioner Mac
farland is expected to decide it and it's
many auxiliary questions promptly and
in full.
Opportunities to Contribute.
The second letter called attention to
the death of Hinton Rowan Helper.
There has been a committee appointed
for the purpose of erecting a suitable
monument to his memory" says S. H.
Hines. the writer. 1T has been sug-
gested that YOU would probably like to
be one of the contributors to this fund.
If 50 | would be pleased to receive your
check for this purpose.
Next is an announcement that the
board of lady visitors of Columbia Hos
pital will hold a donation day Tuesday,
March 80 from IL until o'clock.
when an inspection of the hospital is in
vited. Donations in money. bed and night
clothing for women and infants or mate
rails for same gratefully received"
The next letter announced a movement
to buy a testimonial for the chairman of
one of the inaugural committees, who has
done efficient work at five inaugurationS,
and asks the president of the Board OF
Commissioners to make contribution.
Similar visions arise in connection with
the next letter, which calls meeting of
the board of managers of the Washington
Y. IL. G.. \. for Monday afternoon.
THE special business to be brought be-
fore the meeting will be the financial con-
dition of the colored mems branch. also
TO hear the report of the Southeast Club.
says the letter. Both of these enter
ton.
Another letter announces meeting of
the board of trustees of a local educa-
tional institution and adds that this
meeting Is called the request and to
hear the report of the finance COM
mittee."
And there were still others i'm a similar
vein. They illustrate what is in the mail
for the president of the Board of District
Commissioners