The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-27

OF Aldermen. The general rule 10 to elect the
senior OF the Aldermen WHO have not ''passed The
chairr-L e., who have not already filled the once
OF Cnier Magistrate such IL the Corporation
Lord BTougham. himself a distinguished re ormer,
said:-"The Corporation OF London mas generally
cherisning liberties and protecting the inter-
ests oil their fellow citizens"
In the face OF the undeniabe fact that the City is
compressed within 700 and ODD acres, while the
area OF the entire metropolis Is considerably over
10000, and that there exists in London board
which has accomplished sucn grea' things Us have
been achieved by the METROPOLITAN Board OF
Works It might be supposed that, despite all its
wealth and influence, the Corporation could not
any longer resist reform In the direction or its
own expansion, or, as an alternative, us own alb
would really represent the interests OF the entire
capital. But one or two illustrations OF the OBJ
headquarters at Guidhall will show that the task
TO be attempted In the beginning OF next year Is
1929 when the late Sir Robert Peel substituted Tor
the wretched system OF night watchmen and Of
peace officers the establishment o. the metropoi-
tan police. he and Parliament at his back en-
deavored to include "the CIty'' in the metropolis.
tan police organization. The Cl,y resisted and
.'ancent rights and privileges which have existed
from time immemorial," the Corporation
and distinct from the police portions
and west OF inc City. and actually succeeded
In bringing about an anomaly more nagrant than
There are In this capital the metropolitan police.
directed by two Commissioners, whose bureau is
81 y The Of
ana are accountable to HIM and through him, TO
Parliament only. No parish, no board, no vestry,
no corporation have the smallest control over
Scotland Yard. Coone. Henderson, the Chlel Com
missioner. issues ukases and regulations without
conference or consultation with any one but
his own colleague in the Commissionership, aud
ne eniorces obedience to the regulations written
authority by a force OF over eight thousand sal
wart superintendent, inspectors, sergeants and
cOnSta0les. he mas IN mis- ante-roOm stan OF
detectives, among whom are men speaking all the
European languages and the mounted portion OF
his army Is lar better horsed than the crack regi-
ments OF the British cavalry. BY an act OF Par
lament. passed early IN the reign OF Queen VlctO-
ria, Her Majesty, was authorized 10 issue an
order in Council extending the JURISDICTION
OF the metropolitan police to a radius of
nlteen ,r miles, mi IN or all directions, IRON
OF the London Corporation made itself omnipotent
and Her Malesty's action was limited by clause
excepting 1.-the C,tv' from any sucn order In COun-
Gil. The Queen did issue her order, ana at this
moment Colonel Henderson's sway extends to a
ius oil fully fifteen miles, and his force keeps
"watcn and ward" over an area having circum.
ference OIL ninety miles, with the important draw
back that the portion OF that vast area which lies
within the 729 acres OF CITY jurisdiction is free Of
him, and not one OF his policemen dare enter that
sacred measurement to arrest criminal or sup
press riot. North, south, east and west the me-
tro poliran police sentlnels touch the corporate
bounds; but within these they NAV not put loot.
The Queens order in Council and the ukase OF
Colonel Henderson have to Jump over "the city,
or leave it unscatned. The Lord Mayor, Aldermen
their right to have police OF their own, and they
have IT, with separate Commissioner. who is
pearances a clause was inserted IN the City Cor
poration act giving to the Home Secretary
son e but this Veto has not been en- exercised
to negative the choice OF the Corporation,
when BODY also nxes the number OF men TO De
the day the Princess Alexandra MADE her pubic
entry mo the meiropolII preyoIs ,r to her mar
confusion occurred IL the CITY, and notably IN
front OF the Mansion House or Official residence OF
the Lord Mayor. Loud and general were the CON-
plants, and the blame being attached 10 the City
police the government thought the opportunity
an excellent one for an endeavor to aooish that
force as separate INSTITUTION, and to put the
police OF the wnole metropolis under the jurisdic-
Sir Sir George &c Grey, who filed the latter once at
that time. was strong and an experienced Minis
ser ana 70 nun was tse bringing IN OF
defeat. Once more the Lord ,or Aldermen
aud Corporation, in Council assembled, Tell back
upon "thelr ancient rights and privileges or
rather brought this wonderful verbal parapher-
MALTA to the fore, and once more they triumphed
what was evde ntly the wis OF Parliament.
Now, tne Metropolitan Board OF Works has no
room OF this MORNINGS grow as compared with
that venerable prehistoric exouc which was
Inc Saxon kings, and whica mas been cultured
| and lostered by Saxons, Normans. Plantagenets,
m bloom and aodeh am The Mero
! poltaE Board cannot take a fresh step without
fresh act OF Parliament 50 limited are It's inherent
powers. At cost OF "a, 200, 0O0 IL has gwen Lon
don the best system OF drainage In the world. tue
ratepayers paying Tor this at an annual rate OF
three pence IN the pound sterling on the valua-
ton OF their houses. But special act OF Parlia.
ment was necessary to enable 1t to do this Tor
the work required that they should get main
sewage powers through the City as well as the
other parts OF he metropolis, and also that they
should be supplied with enormous funds. Even
In this act the autonomy OF the City is respected.
While 1t empowers the Board, through the sew
eral vestries or parish committees TO levy rate
|
City 1t cOnlers no sucn rating authority on
The Board IN respect OF the latter. but prescrioes
that the Board shall make requisltlOn on the
City chamberlain Tor the Clty's portion OF the ex
penditure, and 1t authorizes the Corporation to
raise TINS by rate on the citizens IL may not be
out OF place to state that the system OF metropOli
tan main drainage which was opened IN 1866 Is
only IN creeping sewers on bOtn sides OF the
Thames, intersectng the old outlets to the river,
which are re tanned Tor heavy rainialls There are
three main lines on tue nor OF the river, at dii-
ierent levels-the high level, the middle level
and the low level-and two on the south side-the
higa level and tne low Level: The Ilnes on the
low level sewage has been pumped into higher
level, IL lows IN three parallel brick cuiverts,
built in an embankment. which is more than i've
miles In length. BY means OF these brick culverts
1t reaches what Is called the northern outIall,
which Is fourteen miles eastward OF London
Bridge. The low level sewage on the souJn Is
pumped 70 the nigh level at Deptloro, some TOUR
tue whole OF the sewage on that SIDE OF
the river nows under Greenwich and Woolwich to
Crossness Point. nearly eight miles from tue pump
ing station. Inc area thus drained Is III square
mes ana tie length OF the sewers Is elgnty-two
miles, Great mas been the improvement
effected by these immense works, The Londoners
are not perfectly satisfied with the system. The
quantity of sewage carried down on the north
SIDE 10000 900 cuUIc feet daily, and That
south soe 100000. Public oblDlon is Tor convey.
ing all this much further from London; ana the
metropolitan Board is considering plans for AVOID.
ing altogether discharge OF sewage into any
part OF the Thames. One proposal beng seriously
examined Is Ior the Application OF the northern
sewage to the reclamation Oh the Napn sands IN
the county OF Essex Except IN respect oil a
night. OF interference TO insure tnat the llumln-
ating power Of the gas supplied TO he metropolis
be up TO a certain standard the gas comp anIes
totally independent OF the Board and incorpora-
ton. There are no lever than twenty oil those
companies ali In fun swing; and only lew
years ago Parliament was foolish enough
to give them a monopoly OF the supply. They par
celled out the entire metropolis into districts,
winch they apporlIo among themselves, and
obtained stat utary powers 10 charge such prices
for gas as would pay all expenses and bring their
dlvoends for eacn year up to ten per cent. Since
then tue Complaints In every district thus left Tor