The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1909-03-12
Non-PoliticaI Commission for Wa
ter and Light Plant.

takes pretty nearly the position adj
vocated by the Aberdeen Weekly for
management OF those utilities here.
The commission system is commend
ing itself to municipalities every
where as the most practical, econom-
zeal and satisfactory The water and
light plants were installed with the
peoples money and 10 contribute TO
the convenience, sanitation and
health of the public. 1t was not in
augurated as a means to pay off the
city debt nor yet to provide funds to
institute other municipal improve
ments. Water and light are among
the necessaries Of life and should not
be supplied with any other view than
to meet the expense of production
and TO benefit the consumers.
The cost of city government, the
Improvement of streets, liquidation
of the citys debt and ali other ex-
pense necessary to the promotion of
municipal interests should be met by
some system of taxation not exacted
by high rates ON the necessaries of
life to which water and lights belong.
The Weekly more than a year ago
commended the commission system
for the management of public utili-
ties. It believed it was right then
and is yet unchanged i'm opinion
Aberdeen Weekly, Febry 26th
The above, setting forth views Of
the purposes for which public utiIi-
ties should be- installed and inveigh-
ing against their operation for profit
other than for public convenience,
sanitation and health, appeared in
the Weekly of date, February Doth.
The position, as stated, is one from
which this paper has no inclination
to reccde, and disclaims any mo-
tive of aspcrsion Of the present
management of those utilities. 1t
has no apologies to make for its as
eertiou that the equitable ends to be
attained from the operation Of wa
ter, light. and power utilities are
convenience, health and sanitation
nor does it recede from the state
ment that those benefits ought to be
secured in the most economical,
practical, and satisfactory way. 1t
believes that way to be manage
ment by a commission.
In all enterprises, public OF pri-
vate, operated with the features Of
receipts and disbursements, sys-
tenn Of checking and auditing and
publicity is invariably the require
mcnt to safeguard interest and tt
give satisfaction where other peo-
Pies money established the bust
ness. The methods Of no well reg
ulated enterprise are 50 lax as to
dispense with one or all of the above
requirements. Employees, bank
and public officials who handle
money must submit their transac-
tons to the auditing of a higher
tribunal than themselves, and il
the public interest Is involved, thai
tribunal must give publicity to it.
findings
The experience gained from hui
man Transactions, whether in the
Legislative, judicial or executive
field, has taught denial of first and
last prerogative by providing ribu-
nails of final jurisdiction
Legislative bodies are composed
Of inferior and superior houses, the
acts of each subject to the concur
renee Of the other, and finally to
.he approval of the executive. Nor
does the constitutional safeguard OF
the peoples liberties stop there II
the executive does not approve, a
prescribed vote of the two houses
can still enact the measure into
law. Similar providences preserve
equity in the courts, restrict pow
ers of the executive and conserve
jnstice and protection in all the po-
litical and business transactions of
life.
The veto of modern government
and civilization is set against tri-
bunals having both original and fl
nal jurisdiction. except in the ad-
justment of most trivial affairs.
Upon this broad and eonserva-
tive ground, the Weekly planted it
self when it advocated that the COM
mission plan is the most economic
al, practical and satisfactory for
management Of municipal utilities.
1t repudiates the construction
which its contemporary, the Exam
liner, has sought to place upon its ut
terances as aspersion or criticism of |
the management of the Aberdeen |
Water and Light Plant.
The fact is. the Weekly IS not IN |
formed as to that management, |
since no detailed exhibit of its trans
actions-so far as it has seen-has
ever been given to the public, cor
federated by official signature.
True, last weeks Examiner con
aimed figures and statements made
in defense of the management
,..,. - -, - :, .4,o4- nth i