Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/160

* MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP. 128 MUNK. and Biriiiinyliam in lUiW; Uubliii Imilt works in IS'.ii;, anil in >i^S Kdinbuigh ami ilanclie^.ti'r did likewise. 1-ondon is divided between niuniei|)al and private ownership, with the latter far in the lead. From the outset niuiiieipal ownership of eleetriclifjliting plants has been encouraged by the general (iovernnient ; and that to suoli an ex- tent, es])eoially in the earlier years of the indus- try, as to cheek the growth of private plants. On the CoiitiiKiit f>f Europe private ownership of electric-lighting plants seems to be the rule, with some exceptions in the northern ])art. The works at Berlin were opened by a company in 188ti, but the city controls their operation in important particulars, and shares largely in the gross receipts. At Hamburg. (Icrniany. nuuiic- ipal works were put in operation in 1881). Telephonks. This service, like the telegraph, is national rather than municipal in scope, and is generally controlled by large comjianies, as in the United' States, or by the general govi'rnments, as in many countries of Europe, in Japan, and in Australia. Tunbridge Wells, England, and (Jlas- gow, Scotland, inaugurated the first nuinicipal telephones in Great iiritain in 1901, and early in 1902 some 40 other jilants or projects were under way. The English trunk lines are owned by the national postal authorities: municipal telephones are reported at .Vmstcrdani. Ferries. In the I'nited States there are about 10 cities with municipal ferries to 70 with pri- vate ones. Boston being the most notable example of municiiial ownership. In Great Britain a large municipal ferry between I.iverpiiol and Birkenhead is owned and operated by the latter municipality. Public bodies at Glasgow and at Belfast also control ferries. There are a few- other municipal ferries in Great Britain. Other 1m)Istries. The chief additional ser- vices that might properly be discussed under municipal ownership, as here considered, are docks and wharves and ))ul>Iie markets. The for- mer, particularly on a large scale, are more fre- quently found in Europe than in America : but New York City has expended many millions on dock construction, and receives a considerable yearly revenue from dock leases. Municipal mar- kets are common in Europe, .ustralia. and Canada, where they are frequently exclusive in character. In the United States they exist, but they are in competition with private markets. Of "cities and towns of over .30.000 inhabitants 120 were reported in 1901 to have municipal mar- kets, but doubtless the list was incomplete, and at the same time it included some outdoor markets or market places. Xew York. Boston, Baltimore, and Xew Orleans have large markets, which yield considerable revenue. Subways for electrical wires have been constructed in a num- ber of American cities for lease to the various owners of wires. . few cities have Imilt subways for general use and receive a rental therefrom. Bnii.incRAriiv. Consult: Fairlie. Miitiinitnl Adminintrnlion (New Y'ork. 1901); Bemis (edi- tor). Muniriiml Mouopolirfi (Xew Y'ork. 189!)); Foole, Muniiipiil Piihliv Scrvirc Iiirhmtrics (Chicago, 1899) : Francisco. Municipalilit'-i m. Prirair Cnrporrilioim (Rutland. Vt.. 1900) ; Baker. Muuicipnl Yiiirliook for tlir fmVerf flliile/i (New York. 1902) : Ponald. Miiiuripal Trar-lionk for firral Jirilnin (London. 1002) : Bnker. Mnntiiil of Americuii ^Valcl•■^'orl;s (Xew York. 1897); Water. Gas. and Electric-Light riitiils I iidrr Private and Municipal Oimership, Report of United States Commissioner of Labor, 1899 (Washington, 1900) : Muuiripal Tradinij, Report of Joint Parliamentary Committee (Lon- don, 1900). Also see general works under Mf- XICIPAL Gover.xment. MUNICIPAL REFORM ACTS, E.XGLisn. The various acts passed by I'arliauu'nt in the nineteenth century aiming to reform the govern- ment of the English municipalities. The Parlia- mentary reform of 1832 having left untouched the notorious abuses in the English system of munic- ipal government, a Parliamentary commission was appointed the following year to investigate exhaustively the general condition of municipal corporations throughout the Kingdom. A monu- mental report was made by the commission show- ing that the municipal governments were in the hands of self-elected cliques; that the corporate funds were wasted; that public improvements were almost wholly neglected; that the nuinicipal courts were corripted and prostituted for party purjioses; and that the whole system of municipal institutrons as then constituted was a source of weakness rather than of strength to the country at large. The report of the commission was fol- lowed by the JIunicipal Corporations Act of 1835, which lias been well called "the great charter of English municipal freedom." By this act 178 bor- oughs were reformed, 125 others given corporate jirivilegcs, and provision wa.s made for the reme- dying of many defects, and the correction of the most notorious abuses of the municipal system. It admitted to the franchise all property-owners and oceu|)iers of property rated at £10 per annum, and established a uniform system of nuuiici]ial organization. This scheme provideil first foi' an elected council, varying in size according to the population of the borough; the council was to be a l)icameral bo<ly, the Upper House consisting of a cert;iin number of aldermen elected by the council. The act further ])rovideil for a mayor to be chosen by the body of councilors and aldermen from am<mg their own members. The mayor, aldermen, and councilors were to constitute the full nuinicipal governing body. The chief fea- tures of this act have remained as the framework of the English nmnicipal constitution; although the various acts of Parliament, passed from time to time, noditying in unessential particulars the municipal .structure made a consolidation and revision of the statutes necessary. This Wiis accom])lished by the consolidated nuuiicipal code o( 1882. By the Local (iovernmcnl .ct of 1888 the numicipal constitution was modilied to the extent that cities and towns with a population of 50.000 inh;ibitanls were made distinct coun- ties fur administrative purposes, the municipal councils assuming all duties which would other- wisc devolve upon county councils. Consult: Chalmers, Local Uovcriimciils (London, 188:i); Goodnow, Comparulirc .[iliiiiiii.''lnilirr I, inc. vol. i. (Xew York. 1807); Shaw. Municipal tlorcrn- went ill theut Britain (ib., 1805). See works referred to under Municipal Government; Mu- nicipality. MUNTC mi.ink. Han.i ( 1589-ir)28). A Danish navigator, born :it Elsinore. In 1019. by order nf King Christian IV.. he set out with two stiips to discover (he northwest passage to the Indies. He |>i'netrated Davis Strait as far norlh as 09°. and (hen (urned sou(hw;u-d and spent tho