New-York tribune., 1919-11-23
Head of Ownership League
Contends Nickle Affords
Adequate Profit With
Efficient Management
Glasgow Rate Is Cited
Banker Says Solution Is in
Privately Owned Lines
With Sufficient Rates

Ten, or even eight cent fares for
the b. K. T. system were ridiculed yes
terday afternoon in an address before
the Academy of Political Science at its
concluding session at the Astor.
Albert M. Todd. president of the
Public Ownership League. of Kalama-
zoo, Mich. declared tive-cent fare for
Brooklyn's transportation system
should. if efficient management was
demanded, prove profitable for both
the traction company and the public.
ut has been but few years ago
that | rode on the municipality owned
tramway in Glasgow, Scotland where
an average fare of 154 cents was
charged" said Mr.. Todd. From this
fare there WAS sufficient margin of
profit to allow for "a generous reserve
fund. and it showed the actual cost Of
carrying passengers on this, the best
city railway in the world, to be less
than cent and a quarter.
Declares Five Cents Ample
"Now they may tell US that costs
here to-day are double what they were
in Glasgow then and the pay of the
men is double that of the Glasgow car,
men. This is not true, but even if it
argument, it still would be possible
for municipality here to operate its
streetcars for five-cent fare and
make good profit out of the transac-
ton.
I'VE know why the big financiers are
lighting municipal ownership so hard
1T is because they know it would kill
their profits and eliminate their part
in these very lucrative businesses.'
The other side of the public owner
ship question was argued by Francis II.
Slsson, vice president Of the Guaranty
Trust Company of New York Mr..
Slsson declared private owenrship, un-
der system that would guarantee
returns to the investors, was absolutely
necessary for successful operation Of
the railroads Of the country.
Private Ownership Defended
II feel warranted in stating that there
is nothing whatever in our own ex-
perience with public ownership in this
country, nor in the experience of other
countries to Justify an argument that
it would secure better results" he said.
$50 | return to the conclusion the al
tentative is private ownership under
public regulation, but under a public
regulation conducted primarily and as
completely as possible in the broad
public interest. To secure that result
it is essential that there may be a
larger appreciation of the meaning of
transportation in the life of our pco-
pie and of the high Importance of it's
fair and constructive treatment.
The greed of either capital or la
Dor, the ambitions Of politicians seek
ing an issue, the selhshness OF ship
pers fighting to save dimes and losing
dollars, the prejudices of theorists
the mistakes Of the past and the ami
mosities of the present-should not be
allowed to interfere with the solution
of the problem. The public stake in
this situation is greater than that of
any or all Of the parties directly CON
cerned and must be protected. Further
more, the very protection OF the pub
lies interest implies justice and fair
dealing to all, which cannot be as
sured by any other policy.
Prom every standpoint we revert
to the question of rates and, as the
determination Of that question lies in
the hands of the public, through its