SYLLABUS OF CIVIC PROBLEMS. 33 



CHAPTER VII. 



PUBLIC UTILITIES. 



1. How the corporation gets its permit. 



a. Provisions of cliarter regulating public utilities. 



b. Terms of franchise, i. c, main provisions only. 



2. Contribution of each public utility to development of city. 



a. Suburban residences provided for. 



b. Industry promoted. 



c. Comfort. 



d. Other reasons. 



3. Methods of operating public utilities. 



a. Private ownership, unregulated. 



b. Private ownership, regulated. 



c. Municipal ownership. 

 Arguments for municipal ownership. 



a. City has the right. 



b. Leasing — makes bribes and corruption. 



c. Leasing — takes control from city officials. 



d. Service cheap and efficient. 



e. Other reasons. 

 Arguments for regulation. 



a. Municipal ownership complicates the machinery of government. 



b. Expense not lessened. 



c. Other reasons. 



4. The method of "local option" regulation in California. Advantages. 



5. The city's right to terminate a franchise. 

 0. Danger of city officials being corrupted by interests. 



a. Importance of choosing men of high moral character for servants of the city. 



b. Alertness of electorate essential at all times. 



c. The value of Initiative, Referendum, and Recall. 



Field Work. 



Street car service. 



1. Examine the map and note where the electric car lines run in your city. 



2. What effect has their location had towards the peopling of that part of the city 

 or city suburbs? 



3. With what other places is this city connected by interurban lines? Of what 

 advantage has this been to your city? 



4. What are some of the needs of further extension of car service? 



5. What service does the electric railway render the public? 



6. What are some public needs not met by this public utility? 



7. Who fixes the cost of interurban transportation? 



8. Who settles disputes that come up about rates? 



9. To whom does the company pay its taxes? (See amendment to State Con- 

 stitution.) 



10. What is a franchise? What are the terms of the electric line franchise of 

 I your city? (Ask a councilman.) 



>: 11. What provisions are made by the company for the safety of the public? 



12. How can boys and girls aid in causing fewer accidents? 



i Gas and light. 



' 13. In what ways have gas and electricity been of value to your city? 



[ 14. What service, if any, does each give without compensation to the city? 



I 15. What are the terms of the franchise? 



I 16. Who regulates the price of gas and electricity? (Ask any city official.) 



I 17. How did this regulation come about? 



\ 18. What parts of your city are not well lighted? Why? 



