The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-22

lIOT 10 make II Il dWs
Under he provision OF the law the
people may expect the following:
% An Increase in street car fare to
Z cents.
(2) An increase in the price OF gas
to Sl.00 or $l.l0.
(S) An increase in the price OF cleo.
tricity to u cents per kilowat hour.
% An increase in telephone rates
in advance Of the present government
raise.
People Left Out.
The virtue Of this measure, from the
corporation standpoint, is that the
utilities nave only to present their ap.
plication to the Nashville commission
Of three, and from the ex parte state
ment of the corporation the commits
sion will pass upon the merit Of the
application,
No provision is made for the people
to resist the raise or to controVert the
corporation claims, and they will be
not only voiceless, but helpless in the
grasp Of corporation dominance.
In other words, if a corporation de-
sires a higher fare or a higher rate
it simply petitions the utilities commits
sion and no protest or objection can
be made by the people; If the people
desire a lower rate or better service
whoever asks for it must first put up
tllOukn IlbIlGS " CoNNI ln6 SboN "a
the investigation and the corporation
is permitted to make it's defense, and
II the defense is sustained the person
foolish enough to make the complaint
is a wiser but poorer man.
The only relief offered to the peo'
pie Of Memphis is the city manager
bill comforting upon the people the
chase the public utilities and operate
them, and the three bills introduced
by Senator Rice authorizing the APP
pointment of a commission to pur'
chase or construct for the city a street
railway, a telephone and a light and
gas plant.
Attack on Bishop.
Rabbi William H. Fineshriber, who,
on Saturday, added his approval to the
city manager plan, is a student and
analyst. His opinion of the motives
a~ctuating those who are opposing the
measure is in line with the opinion
expressed by the Right Rev. Thomas
f. Gailor, bishop Of the diocese of Ten
nessee and another eminent churchman
who on Friday gave his unqualified in
dorsement to the city manager bill.
Bishop Gailor was answered by a
diatribe and a suggestion that he was
in his dotage. In order to show that
! the bishop was all wrong the expert
al Vi ~ W. NllllSl SOliAllAiNDlbllNA
OF fire and police, was sought, and he
rushed right in and confirmed the
worst prediction of medical experts.
The following is a verbatim account
Of an interview given by Rabbi Fine
shriber to a representative of The
News Scimitar at his home Saturday:
What do you think of the city man
ager plan?"
Il do not mind saying that at first
| had my doubts about the desirabllity
of the plan. 1t seemed somewhat un-
democratic to put so much power IN
the hands of n man. But have beer
thoroughly converted as much by the
nature of the opposition as by further
! thought and investigation"
I'm what way did the nature Of the
opposition influence your
Sincere, But
at was easy to see that most Of the
directors were either intense conserVa-
tlves who were opposed to political oil
economic changes on principle, or In.
struments and friends Of public utility
interests privately own0-, or the ordl
nary politician who either has a city
lob or could get one more easily y
present conditions were continued. Al
Of these are, Of course, perfectly sin
cere In their opposition, but have
found II a good rule to distrust Tho
| Judgment Of men so biased by their lob'
or tenperanents."
What made you think that the cor
porations are opposed TO the plan?.'
"Eirst, some of the DIRECTORS have
| been and are closely identified will
public utility interests. Second, the
public utility interests, which Is PROB
/ ably what you mean by corporations
must be opposed to the city manaeel
psychology. The new plan threatens
public ownership. They. distrust tht
public. They would rather be In tht
hands Of a receiver than In the hearts
Of the public.
Street Car Case.
THE present street car situation
proves that. / firmly believe that tn
Memphis Street Railway company Il
entitled to increased fares. Almost eV'
ery other commercial enterprise IN IN
last few years raised the price OF ~
rails were high. That applied VIII
equal force to the street car company
Al a matter of simple justice the!
should have been granted an increas'
in the price OF their commodity Wh!
was it not?' u,
strong against it. Why was publ
sentiment opposed? Because for year
INC above corporation has treated tn
nuhlic with u~ndisguised contempt, Inc,
hacked people in insanitary cars dur
inr rush hours, they broke promises o
DELAYED Unfortunately in Fulfilling mem
thew gave poor service-in short, the,
we're poor judges OF human nature an
moor merchants. How long would a dr,
goods or hardware concern last VIII
such methods in treating their Gus
toners? ~ Al, 10 diatrus
Of the public. The city manager pla'
trusts the public by lnssrtIne 1ns my
niclpal ownership provision. mar
one Of the reasons why am for it'
"Is the importation of a city manage
an indication OF distrust?'
Need Experts.
NO more so than for labor unions t
import what is known as a walkinl
delegate during a strike, or for pur
poses Of organization. IT'S good com
mon sense to employ experts IL 20
want things lone well. or course ex
merits are fallible, but much less so tina
fnexperts. Municipal engineering o
city managing Is a profession. II take
training, experience, brains, vision t
manage a concern that spends million
ner YEAR and should declare daily dlvi
dends to 175, 900 Observation-Disclosures
Of decency, health, order, education
recreation, efficiency. No mere hand
shaker and blythe promiser can d
"Do you believe we ought to have
referendum on this NATTER"
al believe In the referendum when
is necessary. " mistake not. tn
present city administration was electe
with the city manager plank In Its plat
form. That seems to me sufficient evil
dence that the people want It."
"Do you thing the plan is thorough
practical?"
"Do you mean by practical resuI