New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-03

committees. restricted in membership The Eng
hsh Town Council has administrative as well
n legislative functions. IT IL large body that
supervises every branch - tho municipal service
IL operates through series of very large com
mittees which constantly employed in order
ing the business affairs OF the town. The mem
bers Of the Council not 'only devote one after
noon a week to public debate In the assembly
chamber. but they are also frequently engaged
Tor two three days In committee service.
Each member is supposed to be specialist In
his own branch OF the local administration, and
the debates conducted in the main by eX-
perienced men who have something practical to
say. The London County Council. though or
ganized fifty years after the Introduction OF the
present municipal system in other English cities,
has the same methods Of work Its members are
In constant attendance upon committees and
they serve without salary or official perquisites.
The usages Of the historic Parliament at West
minister are followed in many respects. por-
ton of the little gallery is reserved for specta-
tors who are specially introduced by members
Divisions are taken in the same way. but WITH
out the ringing Of the gong. Members are al
dressed as tremendously as right honorable
friends or noble and gallant colonels. Lead,
ers are recognized on each side, and political
cues are given and followed. The seats are
arranged without desks. and the members have
no employment except that Of listening 10 the
discussions
The procedure of the greater Parliament Is
initiated in many points. but business Is con-
Quoted more rapidly. and the manners OF tne
members are more brusque. II one nonoraOie
member loses his temper and refers angriy 70
another he is promptly choked off or laugned
down. A buzz Of conversation warns an indis-
Greet debater that he IL not talking to the point
and If he does not take the hint he Is smut OIL
with general cutlery Of impotence The cour-
tesies and amenities OF the County CouhciI are
not proof agains; wanton waste OF time -,
The most remarkable characteristic or the
County Council Is the high class Of men VINO take
part I'm the proceedings. There are many mem-
bers Of both Houses of Parliament in THIS assem-
bly, OF municipal administrators Side by slue
with peers and barOnets sit wealthy landholders'
experienced bankers retired merchants and men
of scholarly reputation. Agltators like Mr.. John
Burns are not wanting, but the great majority OF
the members are men Of education wealth ana
influence. who are devoting their time ana ener
gies TO the business OF governing London ana or
working out the complex questions OF the prac-
teal administration Of the greatest municipality
in the world.
GOOD MEN. But PARTISAN.
THROUGHOUT England it is the character Of the
Town Councillors that makes the municipal ad-
mnlstration what it is--the most efficient. the
least scandaous and the most progressive any
where to be found \ score of dukes, marquses
and earls are now serving as Mayors OF cities
and the town and city councils are recruited
wealthy merchants and active business men, VINO
are willing to take the trouble Of devoting large
share Of their time to the interests Of good Local
government.
4 less satisfactory feature of the present Lon
don County Council is the political partisansnip
displayed by the members In other Ehensh
cities the local administration Is kept measurapIy
free from party politics. and large percentage
Of the councillors elected and reelected WIN
out opposition. In London party feeling between
he Progresslves and the Moderates was very IN
tense vine, the second council was elected, ana
AZ present the two factions are nearly equaily
balanced and neither Is willing to allow the other
To do any important work OF creative OF recon-
structive order. =,
The Progressives contrived 10 hang up an I'M
provenent scheme IN which the Moderates We're
Interested. on the other hand, the ModerateS
have blocked the passage OF the Water DIS, OPP
posed the purchase and control of the tramWays'
rjdiculed the operation of the Progressive pan
Of conducting public works without contracts anu
iobberv and deferred the settlement OF the NeHru
cuesti5n II unincation \ week ago the MOD
crates under the lead or Lord Onslow, taxing
1 ,dvontaga Of q srec1Us technically. defeated the
10 1,yvav pirchasa. when they We're IN the MI
, rorit- bv retiring from the Chamber ana pre-
venting the recording OF the tWo-t"lr"s w
,hicb v9s requisite. The exhaustive report 81
le ROYAL Commission In favor or the amaie'-
r ,t.ou Of the city and the metropolis remains
ironorati tive and the comprehensive project FOR
! orcarizing series Of local administrative coun-
Ills FOR the relief OF the overburdened county
Council IS MOI pressed with commanding lor'e
| mon Parliament Partisanship Is now paraIyZ-
aa| Tue /. y. f.