The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-03

The most remarkable experiment ever
made In the way OF municipal admlnistra-
tion Is now going on nmong that vast con-
glomorntion OF human beings which DE
QUINCY called the nation Of London.
Tho scope. powers, md organization OF the
now London County Council and the pro-
Erammcs OF It's leaders aro discussed at
lcngth in the April number Of the Reriep Of
Rerie,rs. We are indebted to the American
editor OF that periodical. DIR. ALBERT SHAW.
for moro light upon this interesting sub
ject than hos hitherto been attalnable on
this sido Of tho Atlantic.
What is known us tho Metropolitan Po-
leo District covers an arca defined by q
radius Of fifteen miles from Charing Cross.
and comprises several hundred squire miles.
It comprclcnds population Of nearly Q. o0O.-
600. Outside Of the small inncr nucleus bcar-
Ing the historical title OF tho City OF London.
which ut present has only about $1,000 resi-
dents. the hugo Brttish metropolis was up to
1889 split into a number OF Irregular small
divisions and governed by parish vestrles
and district boards. There WIS no unified
municipal spirit, md thero was universal
apathy and ignorance with regard to the
Four years ago man might have walked
the streets Of London ten hours day for a
month. buttonholing evory Intelligent citt-
zen he met. and the chances were that he
would not In that time have found a solltary
person who could have explained to him
how London was governed. 1t Is true that
for the main drainage system and some OF
tho more important street improvements,
together with n few other purposes Of gen.
eral concern. there was established some
twenty years ago q so-called Metropolitan
Board Of Works." made up Of delegates
from. the local district boards and parish
restries. This body. having no direct &C.
countabllity to anybody. was neither efl-
Gent nor we'll constituted.
The great change which has taken place
tation in London itself. but an incidental
result OF the County Council act applied
to the whole Of England In 1889. By
that measure the larger purt. of the
parishes which had come to 10 known
as the metropolis. were erected into sep
arate county. and provision was made
for a County Council. which was. in fact. to
be great Municipal Parliament. elected by
the people Of London. The districts Of the
metropolis. from each OF which two Coun-
cllors are chosen. are for the present iden-
teal with the flfty-nine electoral divisions
from which members are sent to Parlia-
ment. The old City Of London is thus far
permitted to retain its separate govern
ment. and 1t Is allowed representation in
the County Council as one OF the districts
{kr< frn M 1orr foin tt1, No
should add that the lis Councilmen
elected add to their number by choos-
ing nineteen citizens to sit and act
with them. under the title, OF Alder
men. They are presided over by one OF
their members. who is chosen Chairman.
and who exercises some Of the functions
which In other cities pertain to the office of
Mayor. It should be mentioned that the
county OF London. imposing as 1t is. Is not
80 large as it soon will DO. 1t Is by no
means conterminous with the Metropolitan
Police District. It'has an area OF only about
100 square miles. and the population under
the Jurisdiction Of It's Council scarcely e1-
ceeds four millions and half. One OF the
extensions Of power which will probably be
demanded by the Progressives. who control
the Council recently elected by majority
OF some to 1. Is the concession OF control
over tho Metropolitan Police. When that
demand Is granted. tho arca governed by
the Council will coincide with that OF the
Metropolitan Police District. and will en-
brace population Of about 100000.
AS yet, however. the London County
Council is only tho framework OF great
municipal government which future acts OF
Parliament are expected to fill In and COM
plcte. For the momant Its authority Is
comparatively limited. 1t took over all the
powers that had been vested In the old
metropolitan Board OF Works, and various
other powers were conferred by the statute
creating 1t. But many matters OF MUNICH
pal concern werc left under the manage
ment OF local districts and parishes: and Its
wntcr supply. Its markets. Its gus works.
It's trnmways. and Its docks remain In tho
hands of private owners. Tho pro-
gramme Of the Progressivcs. who arc now
the unchallenged masters OF tho London
County Council. contemplates vast expan-
sion OF Its powers. and there Is no doubt
that their wishes will be needed II the Glad
stonians are dominant In the next House Of
Commons. Among tho demands In which
all the -Progressiyes are agreed are tho
following: First. that taxation reform shall
mako the great landlords and holders Of
ground rents pay their share Of municipal
revenue; secondly. that the rights Of the
eight private water companies shall DO
transferred to tho municipality: and third
ly, that trcnchant measures shall be taken
for nm amelloration OF tho housing condi-
tons Of the poor. Not included In the Of
fetal programme. but urgently pressed by
tho representatives OF workingmcn to whom
the rccpnt victory Of the Progressives Is
mainly duesaro demands for an equaliza-
ton OF taxes throughout tho metropolis. for
trade union wages and an eight-hour day In
tho case OF. all persons employed by the
Council. and for the substitution OF public
for private ownership and management.
not only as regards the water supply. but
as regards tho gas works. tramways. mar
kets. and docks. The workingmen Insist.
moreover. that the people Of London ought.
through xheir County Council. to manage
Ill kal.