New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-05
INTERESTING POLITICAL QUESTIONS TO BE
PASSED UPON TO-DAY.

| PAsSED UPON TO-DAY.
London. March 4.-The trennlal elections to the
/ London County Council. occurring tomorrow have
significance and interest beyond their merely local
sphere. Not that that sphere in itself a small one
the Administrative county Of London, which
the Coarc rules, Aas a population o, 100000 per
sons, with revenues greater than those Of many na-
ti0ns. The area If this county Is ll9 square miles,
with nearly rood of It densey peopad and hav
Ing outlying suburbs, growing every year into inl-
pOrtant town.
Prior to the creation Of the County Council in 1859.
this immense population was In a sense. vOicelcss.
The strong majority Of the Council ecnting with
ont doubt the aspirations of the electorate are
showing determination TO grappe with social QueS-
tols which Parliament itself has been chary Of cge
latiug upon.
The Council originally elected consisted Of seventy
Progcssves. Rciormers. and fOrty-cght socalcd
Moderaes. Neither party professed TO have distinct
political bias, nor any aim beyond the administration
Of the internal conomy Of the metropolis The aiiec
tati0n of politics vanished on all sides. Tho
Irosrcssivcs displayed themselves thOroaghcolng
EaaIcds. with tendencies in principle and practice to
wand state socialism, while the Modcrates could nOt
be distinguished from oldtme Tories.
The respective party programmes now before the
electors show that Council pronounced political
BODY. Tie progressive programme was discussed and
approved at conference held at Tie National Liberal
club under the presidency Of the Marquis OF Eipon.
IL was matter OF surprise to some to see the nobo
marquis presiding at meeting which declared against
the great autocmuc landlords Of London, for the hr
article OF the programme Is the taxation Of ground
values, and declares that the Council shall have power
deal with ths "Lncirncd increment Of value w',rl
Is constantly addIn- tie wealth Of the great ground
Landlords. The Progressive, also approve such abpl
tiUn reform # the ca,ch0d system as Will cndb0
hCu>cholders 10 bay their houses Instead OF getting
scooped out" and ruined for the benefit of the ground
Nd WI
gDs,ivcs is the control Of The metropolitan police 1t
is one u The ANOMALIES o civil life here that the police
iUgoCan army over 1000 stionS- should be under uc
command OF the Government II i, Imperial police
force, directly controlled 10y the Home secretary, but
paid for by the London rtcpaycr The city OF London
propcr-mcanins the small part within the old boundaries
and ,uu ra!c, by Common COunciimeH-las d small
force Of H. own. some 800 strong. There
are some good arguments for the maintenance
of an Imperial police force. free 10 grace and
guard royal professions 20 break the heads Of CITIZENS
rlotOusIy incIiucd in Hyde Park. Trafalgar square or
some other public place which In sense belongs 10
the whole nation. 70 the iWTc,sivcs would have
an Imperial police force, and also purvl metropolitan
force There other matter>-con'rol and regulation
Of water aud gas supplies, tramways. hospitals nnd
markets.
The excitement over the elections equals what Is
generally during general parliamentary contest
The COnseT aye. alive - The great Interests at STAKE
have been spending money largely IN Organizing inc
electoral districts. Their electoral E.anllcstOcs de-
uouuoc the Councils u>rp4tOH 0i legislative ilnciion,
declare AKA IS, altacas Oh rly VI freedom oi con
tract or interference with pFivat" enterprise h t"e
building oi houses. the rargyE- % p tlsVeS Jr lie
,.D ,as 0c t.auNas-. IN Moderate 'r ton'ctt a. Ne
p-o..-.Iuulr a.. fur oIcc closely In harmon! VAN
The pdudp!c- OF Ncrocu spencer than uiat GOA
Radical plnO-ophcr would some uiuc ago have a--'
ciatei with clLScINdUsu. Tie LbcTtt ara Hclch'o
I.a.uc" WlleIeo. spencer. TIE Duke. Oi Nvtmlusicf
and Eccfou. thc Earl cf Womyss, alc members,
nd Iyu mi a
mas been In tho font OK tie irty with books. pamphlets,
Leaflets and pitfOuil spsakef,. But all Tn strength
nf andio:,n and capital uuliielv prevail against
The popular vote Vllch viii once mor. .n all POJ-
ability. place in power q H,Osrc s.lc majority.