Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-21
Municipal Ownership to tho Front

ownership 10 INC front
r RANK JAY GOULDS offer to sell his ma
jority interest in the Virginia Railway
and Power Company to the city of Richmond
with his promise TO use his influence with
the other stockholders to bring about n con-
summation of such deal, unexpectedly
brings Richmond face to face with a cam
paign for municipal ownership of its trans
portation and electric power utilities. Public
ownership of the street railway and electric
lighting systems has been discussed pro and
con for several years, but all Of the discus
sions have been more less theoretical or
tentative and without definite result. Now
Richmond has chance to decide, probably it
must decide for long term Of years, whether
or not it will venture upon municipal owner
ship and management of these vital public
utilities. Heretofore its experience along
ownership lines has been confined to gas
and water. These systems have been ope-
rated successfully under municipal man
agement that on the few occasions a move
ment has been inaugurated to dispose of the
gas plant to private interests there has been
Juror of popular opposition. There is
on tn, surface no reason to believe that its
operation OF the street car lines and the cleo
trct lighting system would not be equally
satisfactory
The campaign will be spirited. There will
be the old and familiar stock arguments for
and against the old objection to throwing
these public utilities into politics. Most of
the old arguments against municipal owner
ship have been discredited by what already
has been accomplished locally, and in the end
the offer of Mr. Gould should and must come
to cold business proposition which Rich
mond must weigh and consider long and Sc
rlously in its every aspect Of dollars and
cents Just as any corporation would con-
slider an extension OF its business from tho
standpoint OF initial cost and probable rev.
enue. The city also must consider the Gle
mert of its ability to render abstraction to
the people Of which it is the servant rather
than possible margin of profit. That salts
faction, you may hear it said, could not
DE less under municipal ownership than it is
now under private control.
First consideration, OF course is the cost
1t is not likely that Mr. Gould or his fellow
stockholders are prepared to make a sacri-
flee of their properties in spite OF the bad
season they claim to have undergone Neither
should sacrifice be expected or desired Of
them. They should have, if Richmond de-
cides to buy fair price, based on Il careful
ana impartial valuation of their physical as
sets. In view Of conditions which have ex-
listed almost since the beginning of the war
because of which the company saws i'm its
plea fo- permission to charge higher fare
that 1t Is losing money. facing a receiver
ship and, OF course, is unable 10 make ur-
gently needed extensions, establishments and
improvements, they will hardly place a fancy
price on their holdings. How extensive re-
cent losses have been is not known to the
public, as the books have not been opened
TO 1t or to the City Council. 1t is Il matter
OF open knowledge, however, that Whatever
the losses Of the street system have been
they have been Offset in large measure II
not entirely, by the profits OF the ecctri,
lighting system.
Mr.. Gould's offer comes at a time when
pubic sentiment is nearer ripe for change
than 1T ever has been. Admittedly the ser
wee has been increasingly bad during recent
months. The company has pleaded its in
ability under present conditions TO improve il;
win increased fares and Il service restored
TO its former efficiency there might no, he
such fertile soil for the seeds Of municinal
ownership, but now, perhaps, a majority of
the people arc willing and anxious to take =
chance Whatever the result NAV he Mr.
Eould himself has opened up the discussion
Just at a time when the street car patrons
Hau schoo!ed themselves. into patience 10
await the improved service following the in
creased fare, and it should not be permitted
TO lag. The discussion should be fuIl and
Tree Meantime the Mayor and the Council
should secure from Mr.. Gould a delioitc
proposition on which possible future pegotia
tons may be based. Then let the whole
matter be put before the people at a specjal
election Tor them to decide