New-York tribune., 1886-03-31
CHAMBERLAIN HEARD FROM.
HIS VIEWS OF LOCAL sELF-GovERyMEYT.
CONDITION AND PROSPERITY OF BIRMINGHAM-
LIBRARY AND ART GALLERY.
Try CABLE To THE TEIBUNFl

ny CABLE To THE TEIBUNF.l
Copyright; 1886 North American Cdbe Ne1os Co.
LoNDoN, March 80 The withdrawal of Mr..
Chamberlain from the cabinet marks of the Cravest
in the history OF the Liberal party. The tendency
Of the party having heretofore been toward Radcalsm
he detection f Harrington aud other Wings WIS not
neIpectcd hut the resignation OF Mr. Chamberlain the
foremost Radical leader carries with 1t the possibility
of sufficient overthrow the Government and
cripple the party permanently. There are two views OF
Mr. Chamherlan's action taken by Liberals. 1t is said
the hand he is prompted by desire to overthrow
Mr. Gladstone order to become loader o' the Liberal
party himself and on the other that his refusal to follow
the Premier ia because he thinks the lates policy in
wolves OF political relations between Great
Britain ard ireland which he opposes because he insists
upon developing truly democrats policy throughout
the United kingdom. namely. National union with local
SELF gov, rnmeot
While Mr.. Chamberlain the genera political Situa
tion for obvious give fun expression
10 his opinions. he has TO TUE TRIBUNE repre-
sentative the following letter. showing the tendency Of
the time toward improvement IN the condition OF society
by local organization aud reforms:
"The muuicpal institutions and practice Of local
crumeht have received their highest development. In
the town OF Brmng he Town Council includes many
OF ts principal citizens among its members while nj inc
time is thoroughly representative OF all classes
Several ctz-ns shOpkerpers. and prominent men arc
taking active part in OF the commun-
lly IN wncn tncN llVc Education IN pubilC Nbih NN
Afforded prompted many of the local statesman u
seek SIN larger opportunities IN the House OF Commons
and at the present moment no less than seven c1yors
of rmnCham members Of the Imperial Parliament
During the last twenty years tho rOwn Council has OBJ
tanned possession or the supply of and wafer at
Of something like gi.O00,OOO sterling. In the
former the result has 9oen great reduction in the
price OF and ~ the sane time an annual contribution
profit tho uuder aking in aid OF the rates OF from
/ s25,OOO to 100000 per aunum.
" the Of the supply has been greatly In
creased and improved cost has been usd about
J 80 per cent and small contribution made in aid ~
rates The object OF Town Council in this latter case
/ however. has always been sanitary rather
than financial and the profits have therefore
been aimos entirely devoted to tho improve
mcnts OF supply. In addition to these great
Undertaking the Town Council has carried on great
Improvement scheme involving the acquisition of land
the Of the town to the value Of fifteen hundred
thousand pounds sterling The purchase has been tol-
low Ell by improvements broa street having been
constructed through the heart OF what was once the
worst district IN town. and splendid buildings nave
taken the place OF novels which were formerly the
source Of disease and cumc Meanwhile tho
sewerage o. the town bcen rted. rge works Of
payu-, lighting. and general sy>icm oi sanitary IN
,pccon established which resulted l tho reduction
of m death OF SIX per tronsaui an annual saving
ofIilc be .we,n two ana three thousand.
Iuc town 1, wei! supplied Nth parks and recreation
,oac OF them have been by private ind yduas
The corporation, however wisely cou-iou. 10 hai To
represent rot merely material interests, aut a-o the
educational requirements O s constituents has taken
active interest W the promotion Of artistic and literary
instruction II he's provided no le., than eight cnIinG
libraries IN 4 Ne ont parts ~ tho and has
complete splendid central lending ami reference library
} which is OF the finest outside the metropolis
At the present time the reference library contains
eighty thousand well selected youmns lac tos. Issue
OF books py the corporation amounts 10 over "ue million
per auuum. The Libraries ar absolutely irce 90 al.
comer-. The corporation has rcccnty established a
magnificent at gallery or tho cyh fon 81 cures and
works OF art OF al descriptions. This ,cry was opened
the olhcr day by the Prince Of Wales and ace then has
been waited by nearly hair million persona Ike the
uor4ries il IS entirely free. issappemeuicd by the
provision OF a school OF art Tor Technical AMI artistic
training The school IS mtnta ned hy the corporation
and 10 IN connection with branch schools IN different
parts Of IT'S now al ,r!lag instruction 20
nearly two thousand scholars The ;ree library aLd ai
galleries arc open TO the public sunday. from ,
II n and &C largely used at these times by the artisan
! population.
'Iu all this tho corporation has been heartily sup
DOT ed 10y The Glfts by private individuals IN
! money and works OF art have amounted IN the
/ .a-t few years 10 over one hundred thousand
pounds while further bcDcfdcous for Par'. scientific
aud literary Institution. have reached 10 twenty Jr~Iato
Out mIII pounds sterling I~mdrkA"'" ms uuro %.
the popularity OF tue Work AN M Ia, "a oi He Po
ation whose advantage uls chiefly designed "~s ar
fordei two years ago when the Town Cou2cu rom'toI
the consolidation hIl IN Parlamen-NltA "aa OI"r'u
Dy cerian c47ses o. rae PAy.is he p % % iJ
for artistic and literary purposes By genera ~c' ,nt's
/ are confined TO a rae exceeding penny
in lne pound bat by the b Of the corporation t- re-
etnctlon wa, altogether IenoT.d. IA7 P,oPos"' ""'
popular with Tho bulk OF rat~payers e'peelaIy lAe
gnnbrf. and carried the bii trnmphsntiy spite OF
the opposition Win which 1t was throhieue1 mere
nOdoIt that the galleries with schools OF art ana
hlgny yalusi OF all the Institutions OF birmingham"
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