Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1911 — Private Ownership of Public Utilities Root of Civic Corruption [ARTICLE]

Private Ownership of Public Utilities Root of Civic Corruption

By FRANCIS J. HENEY,

Noted Graft

Prosecutor

LiPE have been trying self government for ONE HUN■fi DRED AND TWENTY YEARS. It took ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE YEARS for us to find v the PROPER way to cast our BALLOTS, and we got this from faroff Australia. In spite of Fourth of July speeches, in which we assure each other that we are the most intelligent people on earth, we have as yet attained only a PARTIAL SELF GOVERNMENT. In our city government we have been the most CONSPICUOUS FAILURES, and the PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF PUBLIC UTILITIES is at the bottom of about all the troubles we have. Small offenders can be punished, but not so with men connected with public utilities. To JAIL individual agents is like screening a yellow fever patient so that the mosquito cannot bite the patient and thus spread the disease. Effectual progress can only be made by destroying the CAUSE of the corruption. IN MY OPINION THE ONLY PERMANENT REMEDY IS THE PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF ALL PUBLIC UTILITIES. THIS WOULD ENLIST ALL THOSE ENERGETIC, WEALTHY AND INFLUENTIAL MEN ON THE SIDE OF GOOD GOVERNMENT AT ALL TIMES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN GENERAL PROSPERITY IN THE CITY-THROUGH EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL MANAGEMENT OF THESE UTILITIES.