The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-12

of municipal ownership that the idea
sometimes becomes prevalent when a
CITY takes over its WaterWorkS. that
because it belongs to the public the
people can waste all the water they
like, pay as little as they choose for
water. pay the bills when they please
and in a general way break down all
the rules and regulations of a well
governed institution. This is mis-
taken theory. If the municipality does
not enforce necessary rules and regu-
lations to protect its water department
against wasteful consumers, and dead
beats, the municipal plant Will prove
5-The time is fast approaching
when the government of the United
States must intervene to prevent the
contamination of our rivers, and when
American cities must take greater
interest in the securing of pure
water supply.
6.=WilI anyone argue that it is bet
ter to pay rent than own a home? The
same principle is involved in municipal
ownership of water and light plants.
Tt may be argued that a private
corporation will have better manage
ment. Such is not always the case:
There are well managed municipal
plants and poorly managed private
plants The right kind of manager
will manage for city as we'll as Tor
a body of stockholders. Even if 1t
were true that a corporation could
operate more economically, the saving
where the rates are irrevocably set,
does not accrue to the city or to the
consumer. Then again municipality
that is not competent to economically
conduct light or water plant, is not
competent to hold it's own in dealing
with a modern public utility corpora
ton. Such a municipality will suffer
under either system or in any event
With a private corporation the
policy is to always get the largest pos
sible return for the least services rem
dered, while with a municipality 1t IS
to render always the best possible SER
vice at the lowest cost
Talbot on Reference Work.
Charles H Talbot, municipal libra
ran of Kansas City, Mo, spoke to the
league this afternoon on the functions
of a municipal reference department
Mr. Talbot is one of the leaders in TINS
work in the United States and his talk
was of special interest to the officials
present The points of Mr.. Talbots
speech were:
Now the aim of the municipal
reference departm ents is to have on
file, or be able to get, the experience
of other cities dealing with the PROP
lens which confront us. Charters,
state laws, and city department re-
ports are all necessary, but this is not
enough. We are obliged to have some
few books dealing with these state ana
questions Nor is TINS
enough. A DOCK IS Ola DIS SOOu DIS II 10
and for live and up-to-date
material we are obliged to resort to
clippings, newspapers, magazines and
other periodicals. Nor is this suffi-
cient. In order to find out the sue
cess of a charter provision or a city
ordinance we must get in touch with
the officials of that particular city and
with others of their public spirited citi-
zens.
At present there are nine of
these departments, they being located
at New York, Chicago, Boston, Balti-
more, Milwaukee, Newark, Minneap-
oils ST. Louis and Kansas City
3-Besides these departments, mu-
nicipaI reference bureaus have been
esta blished in number of state uni
versities; such, for instance. as at Wis
cousin, Oregon and your own here in
Kansas And right here, l want to
congratulate you upon having in the
charge of this work Professor Price
He has a splendid collection of material
on municipal subjects at Lawrence
The cities of Kansas will find there
and assistance which will
materially aid them in the solution of
thier problems. And Professor Price
is only too glad to be of service to
you.