MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATIONS.

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A FEDERATION OF MUNICIPAL

ASSOCIATIONS.

Municipal Engineering proposes an important step of progress in its suggestion for the organization of a federation of municipal associations. The statement of advantage that may reasonably be expected to result from such a step is clear and can but favorably impress those who most intelligently study and work for improved municipal government. By a joint effort of the American Society for Municipal Improvements and the League of American Municipalities the organization of a municipal federation should be easily accomplished. Concentration of effort for the attainment of a common object is the outgrowth of intelligence and civilization. It is the cohesive force of our republic and the motive power of our industries. Government combines groups of people into a single monopolistic organization for the purpose of establishing justice and promoting the general welfare. All the varied activities of municipal government lie close to the welfare of all urban citizens. A federation that will combine into one organization all branches of municipal administration and all students of municipal government should be capable of accomplishing great good. We hope to see such an organization created.

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PUBLIC EYESORES.

PUBLIC EYESORES.

A practical movement against the disfigurement of the landscape has been started by a Massachusetts organization, the Twentieth Century Club of Boston. Through its art department it has offered a prize of $25 for the set of a dozen photographs which shall illustrate most effectively the harm, from the aesthetic point of view, which is done by the glaring advertisements that so frequently impair the beauty of the landscape. The photographer is asked to furnish, wherever possible, information as to the price which is paid the owner of the land for its use in advertising, and the opinions of people who live in the neighborhood as to the propriety of making money by allowing public eyesores. This seems a hopeful way of bringing public opinion to bear. It is generally understood that the prices paid for such privileges are as a rule very low, and it ought to be possible to shame a good many people out of "selling themselves so cheap." Every such movement, too, will help to strengthen a sentiment which will some day insist upon legislation that shall make it a crime to plaster Nature with recommendations of pills and soaps.

EFFICIENT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

79

PROPOSITIONS FOR EFFICIENT MUNICI

PAL GOVERNMENT.

Uniformity within states and uniformity by states in systems of accounting, reporting and administration is essential to the development of municipal governments of highest efficiency. To aid in the promotion of efficient municipal government we submit the following propositions for the consideration of all urban citizens, and more especially those who are actively engaged in the study of any feature of municipal life or in the administration of municipal affairs. To all such we offer the pages of Public Policy as a medium for the publication of their views on these subjects:

First. That practical civil service regulations, strictly and continuously enforced, in the case of public ownership, and a just system of profit-sharing in the case of private ownership, are necessary provisions to safeguard the interests of employes, and to insure efficient economic management for the service of users and taxpayers.

Second. That a system of accounting, uniform throughout the state, prescribed and audited by authority of a general law, designed to show the true and entire cost of every public service industry, identical in every particular for public and private ownership and operation, is an indispensable condition to secure intelligent and just regulation.

Third. That a general law should specify that

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EFFICIENT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

there shall be included in all statements of costs, used as a basis for determining prices to users and taxpayers, interest on the investment at the rate paid on its bonded debt by the municipality in which the industry is located; a sufficient provision for insurance against loss by accidents of every kind; the amount of taxes relinquished, if a publicly owned industry, and paid if a privately owned industry; an ample provision for insurance against the impairment of investment; the true and entire costs of all materials used and salaries and wages paid, and an accurate statement of all miscellaneous expenses.

Fourth. That price to users and taxpayers should be based on cost plus a provision for the payment of all capital secured by taxation or the sale of bonds, in case of all publicly owned, and cost plus a legally limited profit in case of all privately owned, industries.

Fifth. That price should be determined for specified periods of years.

Sixth. That all services rendered to private and public users should be valued and paid for at prices determined as specified in number four. All free service should be prohibited.

Seventh. That no service should be sold for less than its cost.

Eighth. That the divisible profits of private ownership and operation should be determined and limited by a rate upon the investment which shall be equal to twice the rate per cent paid on its bonded debt by

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the municipality in which the industry is located, in all cases where costs are calculated and allowed, as specified in number three.

Ninth. That all surplus in excess of the legal profit should be divided equally between the municipality and the private owners.

Tenth. That in making contracts with private corporations for the purpose of carrying the foregoing regulations into effect, the initial investment used as the basis of calculations should be determined by process under the law of eminent domain, or by arbitration, as may be mutally agreed upon between the municipality and the corporation.

Eleventh. That this contract should provide that at the expiration of every period of years for which prices have been fixed the municipality shall have the option of paying to the corporation the full amount of its investment and thereupon taking possession of the property, and thereafter operating it as a municipal industry, and in case this is not done that the prices shall be determined for another period of years and the contract continued in force without further change.