Honest graft of Plunkitt would crown a city owner ship
A vivid sketch portrays "honest graft" as a political creed. It cites George Washington Plunkitt of New York, recounting how he seized opportunities to profit from public works and urban gains, arguing municipal ownership could reward such operatives and multiply power across city services.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Fire
Atrer
Milhy
Wittoouth
Pinnkittw
Tie
Chem
Wittel
Isiay
Vlunkilt
Hint
Drunkitt
Brooklyn
New Jersey
Gratt
Plunkitt
Plunklit
Harlem River Speedway
Washington Bridge
Museum of Natural History
Willonatre
Plunkett
Wml
Green Bay
Go Slow on City Ownership Policy, Says Troy Press
The Troy Press urges caution on public ownership, arguing government control risks corruption and diminishes private enterprise. It warns against transferring business from private hands to politicians, claiming more authority breeds more corruption.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
Poli Tlelnus
Troy Press
Plant Abandoned in Alexandria to Private Lease
After years of testing the municipal electric lighting plant at Alexandria Virginia the city surrendered the works to a private corporation for thirty years. The lessee paid 3500 dollars for the plant which had cost the city 17000 dollars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alexandria
How to Show a Profit From Municipal Ownership
An article critiques a municipal electric plant report that shows a 30 percent gross profit by ignoring taxes, depreciation, and certain operating costs. It argues such accounting creates illusory profits, enabling private competition to appear unprofitable. The piece urges scrutiny of municipal bookkeeping practices and warns profits may be inflated by shifting expenses to general taxes or new construction.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Indiana
Water Department
Jowell
Municipal lighting plants fail nationwide as many cities pull out
Millions are sunk as at least sixty cities sold leased or abandoned their municipal lighting plants. Many returned the system or bought current from others while most ceased operations entirely. While some tried to dispose of plants few succeed. Experts warn more failures loom amid mounting financial strain.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ciites
United States
Municipal ownership adds risk to New York City governance
The editorial argues the city machine is strong due to vast delegated power and a 100 million expenditure kept within its control. It warns against municipal ownership west of major cities, saying business leaders already see complexity and uncertainty in expanding municipal control.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York City
Binghamton Herald
Municipal ownership and danger of mismanaging services
The Winnipeg Free Press argues that municipal ownership should not be discredited for increasing debt if new enterprises are self sustaining. It compares municipal management risk to handling dynamite, noting neither is safe if entrusted to an unfit council, as per Montreal Gazette.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Winnipeg Free Press
Montreal Gazette
Who Would Fine the City Impure Water Fines Debate
An exchange notes a city council fined a water company $1,000 for supplying impure water. The discussion asks if the waterworks had been city owned, who would impose the penalties and how accountability would work.
A Menace to Cities Advances in Municipal Public Utilities
R A Fessenden argues that cities not adapted to running public enterprises risk capital loss through new methods and must limit municipal operation to non evolving fields. He cites engineering limits, depreciation neglect, and high electric rates driving industry away, warning of financial strain on municipalities and broader societal impact.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carnegie Company
R. A. Fessenden
As a Socialist Sees It
A quotation from the International Socialist Review arguing that all socialist authorities agree public ownership must precede socialist realization. It contends that upon gaining power at any level the party inherits all previous capitalist property and that wrested wealth automatically transfers to the socialist party.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marx
Ferri
Socialist Party
International Socialist Review
Government’s Proper Role in Fair Business Practice
A quotation attributed to Hon. Leslie M. Bhaw asserts that government should safeguard individuals and ensure fair business play, keeping the rules visible and everyone receiving a square deal, while avoiding meddling in the game itself.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Leslie M. Bhaw
The Cash Boy Talks on Municipal Ownership Idea
A Yonkers Statesman item recounts a cash boy discussing his father's idea of municipal ownership. The dialogue shows bonds as funding, taxes avoided by bond payback, and a future of universal profits and public utilities under public ownership. The piece satirizes naive finance notions and ends with a humorous jab about the father’s flyaway logic.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Paw
Mat
Mia
Mai
Funatic Asylum
Daddy
Yonkers Statesman
Municipal ownership would make his position impregnable
The Newark Advertiser argues that if cities own street railways and utilities a large civil service would form a political army that blocks change of administration. Citing Philadelphia’s 25,000 municipal workers who kept the Durham machine in power, it warns public ownership would alike bind citizens to grafters, ending political turnover.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York City
Newark Advertiser
Philadelphia
Durham
New York
How Cities Lose Money From Municipal Plant Taxes
The piece argues that municipal ownership reduces tax receipts as a negative expense. It compares city plants to private tenants, noting lost real, personal, and franchise taxes shift costs to operations. If profits cover the tax loss, the city is not harmed. otherwise the plant incurs a net loss.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Seary
Reversal in Chicago on Municipal Ownership
In Chicago a dramatic shift occurs as the municipal ownership theory, once fervently praised a year ago, fades from public discussion and belief. The Chicago Journal notes the idea is now largely discredited and rarely debated.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Ae Cassar
Chicago Journal
When Officials Are Efficient Editorial Note
A concise critique on administration efficiency urging better economy and effectiveness before expanding departmental responsibilities. Quoted from Everett W. Burdett, emphasizing timely reform prior to enlarging official powers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Everett W. Burdett
Government Wages Low Newcomb Facts for Wage Earners
H. T. Newcomb presents federal statistics showing from 1806 to 1904 food costs rose about 17 percent and private wages rose 17.6 percent hourly and 12.8 percent weekly, while public pay, especially in federal offices and postal services, barely kept pace with living costs. He notes 1837 fixed pay for letter carriers and a 1899 shift to hourly rates, with public printers' wages rising less than private equivalents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
T. Newcomb
United States
Federal Bureau of Labor
Postal Service
Washington
Customs and Internal Revenue Services
Statonary
H. T. Newcomb
Do You Own a Horse Electric Light Plants Parallel
A citizen article compares depreciation of a five year old horse to municipal lighting plants. It explains initial cost 250 dollars, interest if borrowed, operating expenses, renewals and repairs, and a 200 dollar loss at sale after years. It warns plants must fund depreciation to avoid funding gaps.
Making Peter Pay For Paul Public Utilities Opinion
Bourke Cochran argues that individuals should bear the cost of utilities they receive, whether operated by government or private firms, and opposes municipal takeovers that set rates by politics. The piece denounces deficits covered by taxation and labels such socialistic schemes hostile to justice and democracy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peter
Paul
Bourke Cochran
Senator Sorghum Doubtful on Municipal Ownership Graft
In the Washington Star interview Senator Sorghum expresses skepticism about municipal ownership ending graft. He questions whether public control would remove corruption or merely create a new form of it.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Senator Sorghum
Washington Star
Also Mentioned on This Page
Professor Fessenden
Long Live
the Boss
H.M. Trent
Agason
H. M. Trent Bottineau
N. DB
D.J. McArthur
H. H. R the Tailor
H. H. Ryeg
Hampden
Great Watch Works
Canton
Ohio
Deater
H. H. Hovda
G.B. Adams
Old Stand
Bottineau, North, Duk
Bottineau County
Dale
Ged
McMillem
Bottineau
North Dakota
Edmund White
G. M
Houss
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