Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-23
MUNICIPAL WORKINGS ARE MADE
~ PLAIN IN PAPER BY E. A. BECK

last week:
More BUSINESS in government, IS
a slogan that all OF us have ntHrd ID
some form, at some lime, in some To-
cal, state or national camp aigN. IeJ
many staunch supporters of tlas sio-
pan hesitate when governmental BUS
mess policies leaI beyond the p-,hs .
beaten by customary practice.
Each city regards any cnange !
from its established routine rs an I,
experiment, even though like de- |
parture have met with unqualified |
success in numerous other similarly !
rnunicipalities. For example, doubt !
if anv citizen Of Danyllle questions
the wisdom of municipal operation
OF public utilities l believe that
il is a matter of common knowledge,
at least throughout our state, that
Danyille's management OF utilities
is a model which could be copied with
profit by many OF the private corpo~
Yations who render identical services
in other communities. Yet, L Occa>
sonaly hear thoughtful citizens OF
neighboring municipalities discuss
the question Of public operation o.
their local utilities as though II were
an untrled experiment.
Municipal shops for the repair OF
eoulpment used IN the daily perform
a1ce Of certain public functions are
common: but / recently heard OF
city where the propriety u such an
undertaking is being gravely debated
A few municipalities Sthu ENG 20
tho pPactCe of contracting Tor mIuOr
additions to their water system, even
though their own organization IS
equally, if not more competent 10
pe.form such work, than is the aver
age contractor. .,.... ..... .t.
> While most municipalities have.
recognized the advantage OF ADAM
doning the contract system Tor the
construction of the ordinary Hn-
provemcnts connected witch their utl'-
tiles, vet there are f--y, II any, WhcH
do not question the advisa5,Iity OF
like policy for other public WORKS,
slfch as sewer installation, street pa
wing and the numerous ether better
ments commonly handled by conltac'
tors
So far as | know, Lynchcugg is tue
only city In our state Wnlca Is Organs
lied to. and actually does conStrVcss
with its own forces, the usual rum Oh
all public improvements with the eN-
ception only of sidewalk pavemenls.
Lynchburg is fortunate in ha"ns
4 citizenship which not only believes
in. but has always supported a prdc-
teal application of the More BuSi-
moss I'm Government slogan, so that
this change in municipal practice was
met with y large measure nj hat
friendly and constructive criticism
which not only beSpeakS am interest
i'm, but is helpful toward the success
of any experiment. OF course, as
would be expected, some criticism OF
p different character was also forth
coming. Naturally, municipal con
tractor. and their associates did net
enthusiastically welcome the change
IN policv. some of the arguments
advanced in opposition were peril
nent, others not so well rounded, ana
nonc. were auswcrahie
III WIS suggested that'it was unfair
for the city TO compete with private
business and deprive taxable enter
prises from profits ACQUIRING from
public improvements As . matter VI
fact there is n6 competition although
"a potential source of profit rs re-
moved. ON the other uGhd, NJ rs mans
ifestly unfair 90 the taxable citizen
ship as a whole Co give q selected lew
an opportunity for profit denied TO
others and which must be pad IN the
tax bills of many.
Again. it was said that 'o build