Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-14

y Continued from Page One
than in this country The foreign, sys-
TENS give best possible service at mini
mum cost, they relieve the burdens OF
the taxpayers by contributions to the
city budgets, their operations widen the
boundaries of the English cities, improve
housing conditions, and they are ever
looking to the Improvement Of conditions
OF the employees.
'There is no question about the financial
success of the public operation" he said.
"The street railway systems in Great
Britain are constructed with more per-
manence than in America. Aside from
the large investment in capital account,
every provision Is made for the comfort
and convenience of the people"
PHILADELPHIA CONCERNED.
His assertions were regarded as having
J n distinct relation to the transit problem
4 confronting Philadelphia today and the
Z implied prediction made yesterday by
Director Taylor, of Philadelphla's De-
partment of City Transit, that public
funds would construct and operate the
hlgh-speed lines projected in this city
in the absence of cooperation of the ex.
listing companies
"The passengers on all of the publicly
owned street railways in Great Britain
paid S47, 40 on an average of 81 cent
fares, as opposed to sos. ,15O, which
would have been paid on five-cent
fare" said Mr.. Howe.
"The public undertakings are under the
strlctest kind Of parliamentary supervi'
sion.
"There is no sentiment for return to
private operation from any class; tho
financial gains are too obvious The serv-
Ice is undeniably better on the public
tramways than on the private ones.
Cities, too, are eager to introduce new
devices and new comforts, and represen-
tatives are constantly studying the serv-
ice of other countries. There has been
a steady Improvement in cars, con-
stant effort to better the service and
consider the well-belng of the com
munlty.
I'm addition there has been little trou-
BILE between the city and its employees,
such as prevailed under private opera
tion.
I'm Germany, as in England public
service corporations are run primarily for
service rather than for profit, although
number of cities do derive a substantial
sum for the relief of taxation from this
J, source.
tNowhere In Germany where public
ycwnership prevails is there any sug-
sgestion of a return to private ownership.
fOhicials, business men and all classes
unite in approval of the transfer of these
} agencies to the public
1.-THE financial gains are the least Inn
portant. The real gains are social, ethical
to scramble for, no great privileges to be
secured through the bribery of Councils
and the control of the city. Men in these
countries are free TO enter municipal poll
tics. Their purse is not at war with their
patriotism"
ToRoNTo's LIGHTING SYSTEM
PRAISED.
y Mayor Fl. c. Hocken, of Toronto, re-
Viewed with obvious pride the success
of the municipality owned and operated
electric light and power enterprise in his
!, Canadian city. Toronto is one of 20 mu-
inequalities in the province of Ontario
whjsh supply. through local distribution
sys ems, power generated at Niagara
F Falls by the Hydro Electric Power Com
mission of Ontario. The Toronto system
is in charge of a commission including
the Mayor and two other Commissioners,
1.-THE use of electric power has increased
enormously since the municipal system
began operations. In 1910, the connected
pany was 1850 kilowatts; now the con-
necfed load of the two systems Ia $4,000
Iilowatts, three times as much as II was
five years ago.
''Toronto has the lowest average rate Of
any city in the world Of 10000 population
or over"
MIR. KoINER's ADDRESS.
c. wellington Roiner, electrical en-
: Elneer and general manager of the Mu-
nIcipal Lighting Works Department OF
Pasadena, California, where the city
owned project was launched IN 1905. told
how rates for electric current dropped
from Is cents a kilowatt to 3 cents
kihSwatt and even less with the install
lation OF the municipal plant Phlla-
delphia pays from 10 TO 10 cents kllo-
watt The Edison Company was the
private corporation opposed in Pasadena.
The success of the municipal plant was
assured from the start In Pasadena, as
serted Mr.. Koiner.
I've have very little manufacturing;
ti.feEore. our receipts from power scales
RESORTS