The morning call., 1892-10-30

pool or Leeds, but honor and emoluments
compensate him.
The number Of members in a council
varies according to the size of the town. In
the large towns there may be from forty to
sixty members, possibly more. One-third
of the Councillors retlres each year, and elec-
lions are held to replace them. Only mu-
nicipal politics should be discussed at these
elections, but it is impossible quite to ex-
clude national affairs, although they have
nothing TO do with the question before the
electors, because no other election Is neld
at the same time. When the day comes
round to elect Councillors only Councillors are
elected Members of the School Board in
boroughs are elected separately. SO also
are mem bers of the Board of Guardians OF
the Poor. several OF which may exist IN
large town. So also are members OF Far
lament In the English system OF elections
il therefore becomes possible TO concentrate
attention on one subject or one personal
attitude at time The trading Of votes be-
comes impossible.
some peculiarites of the methods of
election deserve attention Except for
members OF Parliament women, who are
widows or spinsters, are entitled TO vote Tor
councillors, guardians of the poor, or School
Board directors. Those who are married
are supposed to be represented by their
women will also vote for members Of Par
lament. As a corollary of the franchise
to ladies in local affairs, women are eligible
as councillors, or guardians, or school di-
rect0rs, and they are sometimes chosen.
No one of the gentle sex, however, becomes
an Alderman or Mayor. Perhaps this
privilege will come.
Councillors are voted for In their respect
i've wards. TIE nomination of candidates
is exceedingly simple. Any two citizens
whose names are on the register may file
the requisite certificate of nomination at
the Office Of the Town Clerk. and if there
be a contest the election arrangements are
duly made under the responsible superin-
tendence of the Mayor and Town Clerk.
If there is no contest the sole candidate is
elected as soon as the last minute for the
filing OF nominations passes. In every town
there are mum bers OF faithful servants
whose election Is not opposed. There are
eases OF men being in Councils twenty or
thirty years without opposition. For a
Councillor the citizen has only one vote in
his ward. lie does not vote for all the
Councillors OF the whole borough, but only
for the man who aspires to office from his
own district In the case Of a school board,
however the cumulative principle OF voting
has been introduced. II there are fifteen
candidates voter may give one OF them
fifteen votes, or he may give five each TO
three, or ore each TO all. This practice was
introduced in order to protect the rights of
minortles, as there is always great wtang-
ling in England over religious matters.
Whether for Parliament or for the cleo
ton OF Councillors the voting in a borough is
conducted under the authority OF the Mayor,
and all the arrangements at the polling
places are practically made by the Town
Clerk. The officials appointed for polling
almost without exception do their duty i'm
partially. Very rarely is any question
raised of unfair play. Whatever corruption
there is in municipal elections goes on out
side the polling place, and in recent years
there Is slender ground of complaint as 10
corruption In any form. Time was when,
in some cities, half crowns for votes were
plentiful, but stringent laws and the intro
ducti0n Of ballot voting has been fatal to
the old corrupt practices. With honest
judges and representatives OF the parties
present ballot stuffing is unknown. Regis
tratlon Is conducted with too much rigor to
permit OF repeating frauds being successful
on a scale that would make the trick worth
the risk.
However numerous the precincts ara for
an election, the counting CT the vote is not
performed separately for each. The bal
lots and the various books connected with
the voting are taken upon the close OF the
poll to the Town Hail. and are there dealt
with by an army Of clerks, with the result
that the decision is soon ascertained, no
matter how large the vote has been. This
under the ballot system, with so few names
TO vote. there Is little opportunity for
crooked work The guarantee of fair deal
ing is found in the permanent tenure of
Office of ali paid officials. AS long as they
do their duty honestly they cannot be dis
placed.
Among some of the councils there are
quaint usages. For instance, at Newcastle
On-Iyne. the Mayor, when he enters :he
council chamber 10 preside over delibeIa-
tons, is preceded by an official decorated
with hugo bearskin hat and bearing a
sword. Both hat and sword are deposited
on tire table, and then the official retires.
AT Newcastle and also in some other towns
there is Sheriff, who holds second rank in
the eonclave.
In the City Council Of Edin burgh. where
the Mayor is called LORD Provost and the
Aldermen are balles, an odd custom pre-
vailed OF passing around little cakes or ''par-
leys" aboutnOon. The bailies and councillors
nlnbled the dainties TO staye of hunger. il
such afflicted them in the midst OF munich
pal polemics. AS council meetings some
times last five or six hours little sus-
tenance is pardonable. and the wonder is in
Scotch town that the black bottle with
"peatreek" whisky is not circulated
number OF the municipalities in Great
Britain own their gas and water supplies
and exclude competition. The results are
beneficial in all instances Glasgow has q
Trossachs Lakes. Edinburgh has also good
water. Leeds, Bradford, Birmingham are
in similar good case. Gas in Leeds sells at
little more than 80 cents the thousand feet.
The profits from these enterprises 20 far to
keep down taxation. In this respect, also,
there is the benefit Of permanency OF occu-
patton among the principal officials, and
even day laborers are not in danger of
discharge as long as work lasts. A borough
surveyor. who has a generous salary, at
tends TO all engineering work in connection
with paving, laying mains and maintaining
reservoirs, and not house can be built
without plans being submitted and approved
in the manner required by bylaws.
Formerly in the rural districts and small
towns Of England the magistracy had the
full power of government in their hands.
This has now been changed. There are
now county councils. partly elected by the
people, and just as in large towns there is
Improvement from the representa-
tive system. London is enjoying the benefit
Of this Improvement. The London County
Council is a very vigorous body, fully repre-
senting the millions. and in due time it may
even absorb the antiquated City govern
ment under the Lord Mayor
DECAY MACKART.
SONG OF I0VF