Page:The Wisconsin idea (IA cu31924032449252).pdf/94



Professor Frank J. Goodnow of Columbia university says:—

Despite the forebodings of those who believed that the law would keep localities from establishing municipal plants or buying those already in existence, that it is still possible to take over municipal enterprises is shown by the fact that three water companies have been acquired by municipalities and a gas and electric light company is just about to be taken over, while two other cities have applied for permission to purchase water works and will doubtless do so in the near future. If municipal enterprises can be bought in this manner in spite of the tremendous debt limit of cities, it shows that the municipal ownership is somewhat of a club outside of any regulation by the commission.

The simple, clean-cut procedure existing in the railroad commission act was copied in this law almost without change.