The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-05-27


sion have asked Mr.. insult to appear
before il because he is prominent in
Chicago affairs.
The effect of Mr.. Insults testimony
was that private ownership was more
efficient than public; that the Chicago
water works system would be better
if operated by private corporation,
but that he did not wish to be drawn
into criticism of the City Hall.
In view of the existence of many
towns and cities with successful muni-
cipally owned water works, electric
light plants, and even street-car lines,
and after a century of successful OPP
eratio'- f the post-offce, the reiter-
ated assertions that public ownership
is failure can mean but one thing.
The wish is father to the thought.
There has been one conspicuous
case OF failure in municipal manage
ment, and yet, strange to say
it is not cited by the newspapers
and magazines with any particularly
of detail. We refer to the Philadel-
phia water works There was time
when the Fairmoun waterworks was a
model municipality operated system.
But Big Business coveted this utility.
Then the Philadelphia Water Works
system began to deteriorate. A corpo-
ration began negotiations with the city
administration Tor the purchase of the
system The amount bid was so low
and the deal so raw that John Wana-
maker is said to have offered one mill
lion more than the bid of the COM
pany. The scheme eventually failed,
but for time the public sentiment
| in Philadelphia was such that certain
alderman found it healthier to stay
indoors.
The ship of municipal ownership
in Philadelphia was in a fair way to be
scuttled, and the wreck would have
passed into the hands of a private Co.
Is the Philadelphia plan to be at
tempted elsewhere?
Three years ago State Conserva-
tion Commission was organized in
New York State, composed of earnest,
high-minded men, to devise ways and
means of conserving the natural re-
sources Of that State An appropri-.
ate bill was passed by the Legisla-
ture, but was vetoed by the Cover
nor. In June, 1918, the National
Lighting Trust held convention at
Chicago, and its Public Service Com
mission made a report reviewing con-
lditions in several states, and stating
lthat though the commission had be-
gun too late to get action on the New
York Legislature. the convention
could be congratulated on the fact
that through the activity of the trust
Governor Suizer had been induced to
veto this bill.
At the same time that the campaign
against the New York bill was being
carried on, the New York Daily pa
pers were running large ADVERTISE
ments claiming that the Chicago Ca
nal had lost 100000 in four years.
The fact is that the canal earned
$4o5 900 in excessof four per cent on
the bonds. II has also saved for the
City Of Chicago $850,0O0 in the last
five years.
AS part Of this general Trust propa-
eanda the Chicago municipal electric
light plant also is said to have lost
the city $225.000 whereas in truth this
latter enterprise has saved money for
Chicago, and the city has plant
worth over million dollars.
Nevertheless. it is true that Chicago
has been having some trouble IN con-
lnectlon with its publicly owned Sani-
tary District Canal, otherwise called
the Drainage Canal. Possibly vou do
not know anything about this trouble.
II so, It is because you have been
reading the newspapers.
II this great sanitary, electric and
transportation enterprise can be dis
credited it will be pointed out as an
other conspicuous example Of the fall
ure Of municipal ownership.
Ihe construction of the Drainage
Canal was authorized by law in 1889.
The department was to be managed
b.. nine elected trustees, who were
given quasi-publie powers of taxation
and legislation powers greater III
some ways than those of the city it.
sell. Certain water power rights were
given to the board. The law was con-
tested BY the corporations and other
opponents Of public ownership, but
1 It's constitutionality was upheld BY the
illinois Supreme Court in 1890.
he canal starts in the southwest
ern part Of Chicago, about FIVE miles
from the lake, and, passing through
the Divide an almost imperceptible
ridge II the western part of the CITY.
extends to Joliet. 34.s miles. For the
most part the channel Is zoo feet wide
and about "A feet deep.