The Washington herald., 1914-05-15
= =, 3. "a I. -
CRAWFORD HTS
CROSsER Bill
Tells Results Of Public Utih-
ties Investigations IN
England.
0PP0sEsMUNIcIPALLNES
Railway Official Against Establishing
Precedent in District by Providing
Municipal Ownership.
OPPOSESMUNIcIPALNES

Results of q detailed investigation oil
tho public utilities In Great Britain sew
era, years ago under auspices Of the
National Civic Federation were laid be-
| fore the District House COMMITTEES al
continuation Of its hearing yesterday on
the Crosser bill, which would provide for
municipal ownership Of the street rail-
roads OF the National Capital The testi-
mcny was offered by Norman Med. Craw-
ford, president OF the Reading Transit
ana Light Company, Reading, Pa, who
was one Of the investigators In Great
|, Britain for the Civic Federation.
Summary Of Results.
| Summarizing the results Of his Inquiry.
the witness said:
There are l,o60 different undertakings
In the British Isles under municipal con-
troll These enterprises represent total
Investment Of s6o6. 900. 900. and they in
clude public services Of all sorts.
Like the witnesses who testified yes
terday, Mr. Crawford declared himself
unalterably opposed to the municipal
ownership of street railways and sim
liar public utilities In the United States,
and he strongly opposed the establish
ment of a precedent In the District, not
SO much on account Of the fate which
would thus befall the local enterprises,
in which he has no financial or other in
terest. but on account of the far-reaching
effect of the enactment of such meas
ure as the crosser bill by Congress.
Conditions In Chicaso.
Mr.. Crawford gave it as his own
opinion that neither Washington nor any
other American city is ready for mu-
nicipal ownership OF this type, and m
support of his contention he quoted one
of the foremost authorities in the world
James Dalrymple. general manager Of
Corporation Tramways. OF Glasgow. Mr..
Dalrymple made an investigation of the
Chicago Street Railway a few years ago
at the instance of Mayor Dunno. Mr..
Crawford quoted from that part of Mr..
Dalrympie's report in which the en-
gineer said:
From my training and experience. you
can readily understand that my SYM
pathies are entirely on the side Of mu-
nicipal ownership and operation Of street
railways but In Chicago, you are
peculiarly situated in this connection at
the present moment. Presuming
for a moment that you were able at
satisfactory figure to purchase the pres
ent undertaking. including the franchise.
there would undoubtedly be a very grave
danger of your city in attempting TO
operate what would be the largest street
railway undertaking in the world without
making q very. radical change in the
method usually employed In carrying on
municipal work by the cities Of the
United States.
II should say. from my knowledge and
experience, Of what II means to operate
a municipal street railway system that
the municipalities of the United States
are not yet quite ready to successfully
undertake this work
Reason for Opposition.
Mr.. Crawford supplemented this state
ment by a declaration Of his own. as fol-
lows: "Municipaiixing OF street railways
should not obtain In the United States
Because II must be an admitted fact
that all street railway enterprises are
speculative in their nature and there is
no precedent. or legal power which would
give to the government teither municipal
or nationaD the power to speculate with
the peoples money;
Because know of no reason why the
government-national. State or munich
pal-should enter into any business that
can as well be conducted by private
enterprise, since such a policy would re-
suit In putting all business under govern
ment control. leaving to the citizen no
hope or ambition. other than employ
ment under the government and without
leaving to him the inherent right Of max
ing his own Investments:
Because government or municipal con-
troll would tend towards bureaucracy and
paternalism:
Danger of Political Pull.
Because politics and the conditions
which surround the selection of govern
mental or municipal officials would tend
to influence the selection of the official
who had the most political pull as against
those who should be selected because
best fitted by-experience and ability to,
operate the enterprises:
Because / believe that municipality con-
trolled undertakings should not be oper-
ated for profit;
Because I believe municipal opera