Arizona republican., 1916-04-04
Where the People
 May Have Hearing
Municipal Ownership

TO the EdltOr or Ine RepuD1can.
 Neglect of duty is evidence of in competence. Who would entrust the direction of his business to one who was krown to be only twO-thirds l competent: one who totally neglected l third of the duties that were im- posed spon hiEl? Thirty five per cent l off for just one defect is a very seri-
 ous handicap. If this hypothetical person were only two-thirds compe tent for the single fault of neglect of duty. what would be his ultimate l efficiency when this two-thirds is { subject to further reduction on ac count of many other sources of in l competency, Such an incompetent l would be refused employment every where and would soon find his proper 1 setting among the hobos and I "mOOchers.' Only two-thirds of the qualified I voters of this community have taken their citizens duties seriously enough
 to register. The other third is self disenfranchised. If it is fair to apply ! to a community the same measure 1 that is applied to the individual. this ! community. taken as q, whole and with all respect to the many unselfish and public spirited citizens. belongs 1 politically to the hobo class. What 1 variety of public servants is such a | community liaale to select? Every one
 knows the answer. If an indifferent | electorate selects public servants of limited competency what duties l shoald be given such public servants
 to perform? Manifestly. the simplest duties compatible with any govern ment at all. They would be certain to make a mess of any public busi- ness that required the exercise of discretion. business judgement and common sense. Such complex duties
 are not infrequently imposed upon the ordiaary garden variety of politician office holders and thereafter the in- Fly about graft
 ! Tn principle. I believe in municipal
 ownership I believe that the public utilities should be owned by the mu- lnicipality and should be directed and operated by the public servants, but
 no municipality should enter upon q path so hedged about by morasses os
 possible graft and pit-falls of political dishonesty until it is capable of se- !ecting and employing guides whose knowledge and unflnching devotion Q duty having been demonstrated in
 the lower walks of public service, in-
 sure safe and pleasant passage.
 At this moment We are enjoying
 municipal ownership SD far as the
 streets arc concerned. They belong
 to the city and their state is fairly | representative of ouE city's capacity
 for self government
 T. As yet we are in the kindergarten stage of knowledge in municipal gov
 crnment. It is true as it is amazing
 that the competence of the candidate
 to adequately discharge the duties of
 the office to which ne aspires is
 never or rarely ever inquired into by
 the voter. To offices whose duties
 entail grave responsibilities we elect
 the ''glad-hander" the good mixer.
 the good fellow the blatant, boast ful. sperad- eagle orator orsthe smooth
 and silent gum shoe" grafter who
 sticks to his friends So long as we
 elect such human froth we had better
 forget municipal ownership and tho
 inevitable cost. graft and muddlins
 incompetence that goes with it.
 E. D. Q. JOHNSON.