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Show Proof of Sicctss. Municipal ownership of public utilities has been discussed interminably in the United States for a number of years. Its advocates have been compelled com-pelled in most instances to advance theories, while their opponents have been able to hold their own by adopting Ihe "show me" attitude. The best the municipal mu-nicipal party'could do was to point-out that public ownership is successful in European cities, an argument ar-gument which is not close enough to home to be forceful. ? For eighteen years, however, municipal ownership owner-ship has been in effect in one of the most corrupt the worst governed cities in the United States. It has been a success. The city is. Chicago. . The cost of each arclamp with which Chicago is lighted is $54 a year. In eight years the cost has been reduced about $15. The city pays higher wages than private concerns and still makes money cn its investment. In summing up the advantages cf the system Mayor Harrison says: v ;: "Had the city rented electric lights for the cor-iesponding cor-iesponding years during which the department of electricity has operated it would have paid millions of dollars into the hands of private corporations and have ow ned nothing at the' expiration of the term. As it is, the city now owns a magnificent electric lighting plant comprising a number of different power-houses, and it'is earning upward of a quarter of a million dollars a year for the citizens of Chicago. Chi-cago. The kernel of the whole matter is that a municipality mu-nicipality can acquire, control and maintain a great public utility at a large savhrg to the citizens. Better Bet-ter service, cheaper rates and greater satisfaction is given to the people of Chicago by its municipal electric elec-tric lighting system than if it were in private hands. The same can be said of its water system, a resume of which would make interesting history to the students stu-dents of municipal ownership of public utilities. But that is another story.'' If municipal ownership is successful in a city where such conditions obtain as do in Chicago, with 1 v machine politicians in control of everything and no regard given to the w'elfare.of the public, it is bound to be a success anywhere. It is certainly a condition condi-tion and not a theory. We expect to see municipal ownership become more popular within the next ten years. The sentiment senti-ment in favor of it is growing. The corporations have been too exacting in demanding their pound of flesh, and the reaction has set in with so much force that it is bound to overthrow grasping rule. |