The Detroit times., 1910-10-18
John Mcvioar Gives Interesting and
Exhaustive Account Of observations
During Long Trip Abroad; Finds
Little Criticism.
James Dalrymple Denied Stating That
Public Control Of Utilities Wouldn't
Do In American Cities.

pOrtunfttes to observe the workings OF
public ownership of utilities In various
cities OF Europe, gave an exhaustive
account Of his observations In meet
ing In Mannebachs hal. Gratiot-ave..
Monday evening, held under the aus
pices OF the citizens municipal owner
ship committee. Mr.. McVicar said In
part:
Everywhere found satisfaction with
that n
although In some places 1 found kick
Ing" against the conduct under public
ownership.
In these latter cases they did not
think OF or advocate return TO pri-
vate ownership. the kicking was
rather for a longer haul for the cheap.
ns Or BY w or as ."s we 's wo%d
put IL. the securing OF positions
through influence. though these latter
kicks" We're comparatively Few.
l found many peculiar circumstances
or arrangements. from our point OF
view. For instance: Very restricted
transfer service and then only for ad-
fares: reduced rate for return tickets:
and seats for your fare. with some ex-
captions to the latter plainly noted.
the advance " purchase system Of tick
cts. although there are probably 9TH
ers. In other cases i found such
system had been tried and abandoned
az complicated or too annoying for
practical use or benefit.
In only one case did find that
deficit had been added to the tax levy
termed. In this case, II arose from
the possibly too rapid extension or
lines after those In existence under
private ownership had been taken over
by the city; and II was only a tempo
rary expedient, existing for the one
year OF deficit. This was Birkenhead.
an English city OF about 10000.
1 found the average rate OF wages in
Europe did not exceed S1.25 per nine
hour day OF our money; that Is. the
average wages OF motormen and con-
ductors.
An Unfair Attack.
found in some cases that the pri-
vate corporation had been charged a
rental for the use OF the streets. while
under the public ownership no rental
was charged and this fact was made
the basis of attack by radicals who
held that II was an unfair advantage
given to public ownership In the way
private ownership. The fact that more
money was turned over TO the com
mon good" by public ownership than
private corporation did not seem 20
further fact That a sinking fund was
t Ss,nff ao9 Of debt "" so That in due
course of time the system would. De
owned In fee simple by the public.
when rates OF fare could be still furth-
81 siys ssa0''' anu Ss' 'As De''
/ was told that under private own
ership higher fares were frequently
where cheap fares began and ended;
also that cars were not kept clean,
and were packed until standing room
could not be had. and routes not plain
ly marked etc, all which objections
were wiped out under public owner
ship, or practically so.
found almost universally rules
against standing in cars. and both on
the continent and In the British Isles
saw cards on cars announcing that
not stop until seat space was available.
Can't stand In Cars.
got on a car In Glasgow one day
proved TO be the one too many to get
seat Without collecting fare. / was
told / could not stand. and must get
OF at the next stop unless a seat was
vacated Fortunately, IL was 80 va
Gated and remained on board and paid
my 2-cents fare. The only exception
to this that came under my observa-
ton was on two or three occasions, In
a rain storm, when ladies and possibly
others. were permitted on board out or
the rain, when there were no seats
a good-natured conductor, who. took
the chances Of violating a rule. or
whether IT was permitted under such
circumstances. I cannot say.
In Liverpool the rules against stand
ing seem to be very strictly enforced.
as the corporation only recently pro-
secuted two patrons who got upon and
refused to leave a full car when or
dered to do so by the conductor.
Service Generally Good.
l found the service generally good
under public ownership. though in
some cities It struck me that certain
sections were not well accommodated.
In these cases, however. II may be
that my lack OF acquaintance with the
this. the managers undoubtedly know
ing these better than a stranger.
The double deck cars found mainly
confined to Britain and France. and
excellent method for stranger to
view the city. But they make plenty
OF work for the conductor, as the sys-
in the form OF a punched ticket when
he pays his fare IL universal In Eu-
rope, the ticket being punched to in
The cities Of Edinburgh and Leith.
stranger can see, the dividing lire
being simply street: as though
city and the other side another city.
Edinburgh's street railway system Is
operated by a private corporation.
III you board an Edinburgh car within
a block Of the street dividing the two
cities, you pay your cents. just as
you pay fare here for q ride of one
block under private ownership. Leith's
system Is owned by the city, and IT.
struck me as the least satisfactory
fare system under public ownership
that came across. This may be due
to the bad company II IL compelled to
keep owing TO It's contiguity to the pri-
vately-owned Edinburgh system.
You will recall that Mayor Dunno Of
Glasgow to borrow their expert"
street railman to look over the then
Chicago situation and give his advice
| as TO municipal ownership. In response.
| James Dalrymple. general manager OF
| tn. Glasgow tramways. visited Chi
cago. sized up the situation and said
| things" Then Mayor Codd tried to get
| him TO Detroit, but he declined 20 come.
| II was reported, however. that he had
declared American cities unripe or un-
| fitted for municipal ownership, etc.
Remem bering this report, called upon
Mr. Dalrymple In the tramway office.
Glasgow, TO learn his reasons for such
an opinion, and also to learn whether
he looked upon Americans as less In
| telIigent or less honest than the sub
iects Of any other country or the citi-
gems of any other republic. In View OF
| the fact that he considered Glssgow's
system o. X.
Denial From Dalrymple.
Busy man as he In. I found Mr.. Dali
rymple q courteous gentleman, who
readily accorded me very liberal
amount Of his time. Asked the direct
quo stion as to his reported declaration
AAt A Crfa oil iAa 10. fnI g.