New-York tribune., 1895-12-12
the existing evils of government by saloonkeep-
erE and iohhinr nolitiniane

the existing evils of government by saloonkeep-
ers and Jobbing politicians.
Sut apart from this primal question OF the
constitution and powers Of the Council. Ii would
be safe 10 assume that some marked advantages
would be derived from the establishment Of
representative municipal parliament In Greater
New-York. Whatever might be the precise func-
tions Of such legislative body. 1t would inevi-
taby attract higher class of men than the or
dinary common councils. and that of itself would
he great gain Moreover. publicity would be
secured for a large mass OF administrative de-
tail which now passes without observation and
criticism. Nobody knew anything about the
government OF London until the County Council
was established Now the weekly meetings are
vigilantly watched fully reported by the press
and constantly discussed one committee after
another reports one branch or another OF
municipal service and policy. and public opinion
is brought TO bear upon every department OF
administration. The people OF London now take
an active interest in local government because
they know what is going on. This Is much bet
ter than the previous condition OF uninquisitlNe
Ignorance Equally beneficial results might fol-
low the creation of a legislative assembly Tor
Greater New-York. the second city Of the world
Membership In II would be invested with superior
dignity. Public interest In its sessions ana COM
rnittee work would be largely increased
LIMIT TO PARTIsANsHIP.
The reply may be that the London County
Council even with it's high class OF municipal
legislators. and with the marked degree of public
attention which its proceedings command. Is
deadlocked between the Moderates and the Pro-
gressives. This is true. as | have explained In
detail IN previous letter. But paralyzing as is
the effect of the present struggle between rlval
parties nearly evenly divided In voting strength
partsanship has its Limitation This was IL
Illustrated yesterday when the report of the Com
mittee on Public Works was discussed: II has
been one of the policies Of the ProgIesslves that
contractors should be dispensed with so far as
possible and that public works should ne con-
Quoted directly by the Council. The Moderates
have strenuousy opposed this plan of direct en-
ployment Of laborers and mechanics ana nave
condemned il a "A Radical crOtchet and SOCIALIST
vagary. But there marked change in their
tone as soon as IL was demonstrated by the COM
mittee's report that the system was operating
economically and successfully, and that the cost
Of various works was below the estimate. Fore
casting the force of public opinion IN practcaI
matter of this kind they relaxed their opposit'oE
In the same way many Of the safest proposals OF
the Progressives will gradually be adopted by
their opponents, who cannot reasonably taKe
partisan view OF their functions and block all
progress in the direction Of improved local ad-
ministration.
Perhaps the strongest argument against the
unifcation of London may be based upon the ap-
parent impractica biiity Of governing a nation OF
45OO O0O 10 say nothing OF the greater nation OF
$500 OOO by means of centralized administra-
ton Many public men in England hold this
view, Mr. Chamberlain among them They assert
that a population Of million may be managed
by a town council with its standing commIttees.
but that the system will break DOWN unoet lts
own weight II applied to so large and so populous
an area as Metropolitan London. Indeed IL Is
evident that the County Council is now over
whemed with more work than 1t can adequateIy
perforn and the necessity for relieving II oy
means Of large local councils is generally recoG-
nized.
This is matter which has an important bear
ing upon the practicability Of establishing an
efficient centralized administration for Greater
Zew-York. 1t is perhaps the most difficult of the
rnanv intricat. problems connected with the gov
ernnient OF the great cities of the world ~ -