The Marshall republican., 1914-01-16

10 municipal ownership is the polit'-
raj phase OF the question: Cities are
not In n position to hire expert en-
and accountants to put their
enterprises on a scientific basis be-
cause of the short tenure OF office. On
investigation you will find that a pri-
vate utility can usually operate
cheaper per unit than a municipality.
What do the advocates OF munich
raj ownership offer you? Are the
rates OF the present company too
high7 DO they practice discrimina-
ton In the rates or service? If so.
have you gone to the Public Service
Commission of your state with your
grievances? audience answered that
the advocates Of municipal ownership
had not specified any rates to he
charged, and the matter had not MS
yet been brought TO the attention OF
the Missouri Public Service Commits
sion.D
IL seems odd then that no effort
has been made To find out whether
tho rates would be higher or lower
under municipal owner ship, or whe-
Their you would have more efficient
service. II you think you have q
grievance. you should first go to the
Commission and exhaust your remed-
les before the tribunal created for
that purposes.
The newspapers report that Mr.
Gable. of the Kansas Commission
tcld you n few nights ~ that ga'
could he manufactured for a certain
Price IN Marshall. | am rather sur
priscd nj this because Kansas Com
mission has never had before II th'
question OF what II costs to manufac
ture artificial gas. The price Of ma
tural gas has been before the Com
mission for some time. but beforl
any one could way what II would cos
Il would hc necessary to consider pre-
yalling conditions. the fuel costs, FIRE
ilht rates. etc. Likewise. the sam
method should be employed In deter
mining a fair aud reasonable rate 70
, electric service.
4, We are constantly reminded OF th
/, great sucrcss of municipal OWNERSHIP
I'm the various countries OF the oil
world. and particularly In Scotland
but an investigation into the condI
tions there reveals this fact that III
government employees are under civ.
service. which practically III
: tenure. aud rare indeed are the ~
|. caslons when a change In the manag'
!, mont of the public service corpor'
" tiCns n necessary. Men Of spcci'
, training and qualifications arc selcc
y ID aud Us n result experts are secure
. and u man Is afforded an incenti'
To do his very best. II IL locke
o upon as an honor to serve ones Ct
" and state.
Io In America Il seldom indeed ha
! pens that men are chosen because
Is any special fitness but rather as
reward for faithful service us IN
ttnchman Of somc politician. WI
u each change In administration the
Is usually a new manager for the ut
I. tiles Of the city. Is there any wo
der that Ambassador Bryce has sa
~ that the crying shame of America
II the miserable failure OF the COVER
~ ment OF our cities,
h have here an interesting III
book entitled zoo Municipal Ovnr
re- ship Failures" aud | desire 10 re-,
r. " hat the author has to say abo
In some OF the cities.
&c In the first place, n failure
he municipal ownership Is diftcrc
he from n business failure 10 that
he municipality owned public utility e
nc be operated ut a loss indie inltclN
he long as the tax payers oan lo as.rsa
for the deficits. A private lua,nC
no which fails to meet | : c~yren'os 20
III into bankruptcy, when a munlci
al ality fails &c meet l's expenses
merely raises the tax rate
Is The author uf this booklet b
Mt compiled interesting data from
IL parts Of the country and will re
he from the experience OF cities In
parts OF the United States.
es Berkeley. CAL
ny This city bought an electric liz
r. plant in 1889, After ten years
U.s. plant was so worn out that II was 4
worth operating and was leased
ny the Berkeley Electric Lighting Co
~ rany.
Oh Modesto, CAL
to This city shut down its electric 20
at Grating station about 1906, aud LEI
n ed the poles and wires TO a pow