The Detroit times., 1909-12-31
MAKES PLEA FOR
CITY OWNERSHIP
George William Moore, In Strong
Speech, Replies 70 President
/ Hutchins

ITO say that municipal ownership
is impracticable Is to admit that we
are incapable OF selfgovernment."
In this statement George William
Moore, speaking in the civic extern
sion lecture course in Detroit Col
lege. Thursday evening. epitomized
his views as to the street railway
problem. His speech wac largely a
reply to the address made by Presi-
dent Jere G.. Hutchins, Of. the Detroit
United Railway, a week before.
The suggestion of partnership be-
tween city and company was gone into
first by Moore.
Does that mutual trust and con-
fidence, which Is so essential to a
partnership. exist between the ID. u.
r. and our people?' asked he.
In answer, he reviewed the bicker-
ings and litigation that have con-
tinued almost all the time during the
past generation Even now, he point
ed out. there are suits pending in re-
gard to fares, expiration OF franchises
and service, the latter being In both
the local and the federal courts.
lueu US. LUX UP TIC uoSCitiOh VI
President Hutchins that the latter hal
always refused to smooth the path or
the corporation by means Of bribing
graft-inclined .ofAcials. This. Moore
| thought Indicated that there must be
either wef OF graes - Tong as trans
Frortation within the city Is In the
hands OF private corporations. The
street railway lines, the speaker
said. are now managed In the interest
of Montreal people. before that for
New York people,, and, still previous
ly, for the profit and benefit of Cleve-
land people With this foreign owner
ship. 1t was suggested. the grafters
might go behind the local manage
ment and secure more sympathetic
hearing.
To this foreign ownership and the
dislike to spend money for the safe
guarding OF health and life, IL such
precautions would cost money. he al
trihuted the legal battles necessary
before the installation OF car vesti-
bules and air brakes.
'.lIp to the present time" he said.
"the people of Detroit have had their
hands tied by state constitution
which forbade their owning and oper-
ating their own street car system.
That power Ia now conferred upon
the people and that power carries
with II new duties and new response
bilities IL Ia now for us TO say
whether we Will protect the lives and
limbs OF our people or permit foreign
ers to occupy our streets and, coin our
blood for drachmas."
The speaker went into the conflict
ing statements as to d. u. r. physical
values. saying:
"When. we want to buy II, directly
or indirectly. the value is as huge as
high Olympus, but when we want 10
assess 1t for-taxation that value be
comes almost as small as mathe-
matical point which Is defined as
having position but no magnitude.
From this II WAS argued that re-
ports as to operating costs and re-
ccipis might not always be reliable IN
case of partnership plan were. arrang-
ed. This has been the case In Chi
cago. he charged. the city there claim
ing that the expense rolls OF the
company for extensions In service
have been padded to the extent of
millions.
's'Ihe suggestion Is sometimes made
that the city should build the plant
and turn IL over to private parties to
operate" said Mr. Moore.
WHY should the city build plant
with its own money, add a>franchise
that Is often worth more than the
physical property, and then turn the
whole over to private corporation to
be exploited for its special use and
benefit? Under such an arrangement
the city at most would get no more
than low rate Of interest on its in
vestment. while the profits or the ex-
plotting private company with 'practi'
cally no Investment would he millions
"Why rot reverse It? Private own
ership and public operation. A city
bond issue secured on the credit OF
the city or of the property. would be
equivalent to private ownership. as
private parties would own the bonds.
"Or. II private owners would Lease
their plant to the city the people
would know what property they were
renting and what rent they were pay
ing. M
"But private ownership and public
operation are never suggested because
the franchise seeker does not want TO
invest money on fair return; what
he wants Is to make millions with no
investment, and that would be the re-
suit under public ownership and pri-
vate operation.
Our American water systems were
originally almost entirely privately
owned. Today they are almost en-
tirely publicly owned and in the con
test which lasted for years the same
arguments were made against mum.
cipal water that IL now made aSslnst
municipal street carsS