Show MUNICIPAl OWNERSHIP THE ISSUE Address of Frederick C Howe of Cleveland Ohio at the Joint Session of the Political Science Asso Associations Associations at Baltimore D ALTIMORE Md Dee Dec 28 The joint 0 B session of the Economic and Po Pa Political ScIence associations was re resumed resumed today the subject ot of munIcipal ownership being the chief subject con considered The discussion was opened by FrederIck C Howe of Cleveland who said in part Municipal ownership is becoming the most insistent Issue in local politics The spontaneity of the Issue Indicates the dissatisfaction with prIvate monopoly The elections in New NewYork NewYork York Cleveland and Chicago are but political of the country at large The conviction has become well nigh universal that the franchise Interests are responsible for tor most of the municipal corruption It Is the de desire desire sire for franchises whose values run Into fabulous figures that explains not only the positive corruption but the indifference of the classes and the heavy burden of reform These franchises have been ap appraised appraised praised at n New York City in other large cities they run Into hundreds of millions Their value depends upon no labor except the labor incident to a control of the council They are created by grant from the city They can only exist through a performance of this control This ex cx explains plains the activity as well as the cor corruption in local politics These condi conditIons conditions will be corrected through pay ownership When the city owns Its own franchises an all classes will de demand mand inand good government and efficient service Population can be distributed Into the countryside Cheaper light water and heat will relieve the poor of their most serIous burdens while the Incidental savings to the community will be tremendous |