The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-08
WHAT LABORING men
GAN ACCOMPLISH.
Practical Proof of the Good Re.
suits In England of Labor
Organizations.
SIX YEARS, WORK
What the County Council Has Done
to MIKE London a Better
City to Live In.

| fFrom Leaaet of the London Reform
Union.)
During the last six years. the Pro-
gressive party has been in a majority
on the County Council. Throughout
the whole time it has been fercely op-
posed by the "Moderates' and hotly
denounced by those newspapers which
claim to represent the City and the
West End. Why have the Progressives
been SO bitterly attacked? Because
unlike the Metropolitan Board of
Works. they have tried to improve the
condition OF the struggling little
Rate payer and the great body Of poor
folk, instead Of making things pleas
ant for the West End.
In the short space Of six years the
County Council has done an enor-
nous lot Of good. It has
l. Reduced the rates in all but the
few rich parishes, by making these
bear larger share of the common
burden. [These rich parishes are
now sending candidates to oppose the
Progressives in the poor ones
| 2. Added over 1000 acres to Lon
don's open spaces for the peoples rec
reation.
B. Provided music in all the parks,
greatly increased the facilities for
ga mes, vastly improved the supply Of
refreshments, a nd in every way min
| istered to the popular enjoyment.
4, Established and rigidly enforced
trade union wages and conditions.
| 5. Dethroned the contractor, the
sub-contractor, and the sweater, by
setting up its own highly successful
works-department, which has already
saved much money to the rate-payers.
6. Greatly improved the conditions
of labor, both in its own employment
and ontside.
Z. Demolished whole areas of
slums at Bethnal Green, Deptford,
and elsewhere, with generous provis-
ion for the evicted poor, and the least
lords.
/ s. Erected healthy homes at the
lowest possible rents, cottage dwell
ings wherever practicable, and, where
blocks were inevitable, the most COM
| Portable and healthy fats that can be
designed.
| 9. Opened model, common, lodg-
ing-house, in Drury Lane, for home
less men, and has projected another at
Deptford.
10. Greatly improved the sanitary
administration all over London, and
put down many nuisances and noxious
| trades.
| II. Enormously increased our pro-
lection from fire, and diminished the
proportion OF serious" conflagrations
by extending and improving the fire
brigade.
IL. Has labored strenuously to i'm
prove the safety Of all theatres and
public places, and has endeayored to
maintain decency and Gecorum in mu-
sic halls.
l3. Stopped the floodings, from
which the houses of the poor suffered
most, by enlarging the sewers and
pumping stations.
II. Put down frauds in the sale of
coal to the poor, (short weight, bad
quality, etc..
Is. Vigorously enforced the Shop
Hours Act, the Weights and Meas
ures' Act, and other laws protecting
the people from wrong.
16. Obtained a stringent new
Building Act, to put down all
bodybuilding and Summarizing.
The jerry-builders are bitterly oppos-
ing the Progressives.
II. Defended successfully the right
of the people of London to take over
their own tramways according to law.
This involves gain of at least mil
lion pounds to the London rate-payer.
The Moderates fought hard and per-
| CiCfnnlU IN In rrocnnf nf this
mense sum to the tramway share
holders. 1.-THE tramway shareholders
are now working hard to induce Lon
doners to elect Moderates.
Is. Insisted on fair and equal
valuation of property all over London,
so as to stop the unfair escape of the
city and St. Georges S, Hanover Square,
from their share Of the rates, whilst
struggling tradesmen elsewhere are
assessed up to the hilt.
19. Put pressure on the railway
companies to run more workmen' s
trains, and it has succeeded in in
creasing the daily number from 3O7 in
1890 to 476 in 1894, with many addi-
tional facilities for the workingmen
and working women to get to their
work.
20. Vastly improved the main
| VI dlAARCa dAA 1uA 1IOo UllO Il AdlACSs
81. Vigorously pushed forward the
great Blackwell tunnel, already more
than half completed.
%. Started a most energetic Tech
nical Education Department., which
has greatly increased the facili ties for
popular education in all useful SUBJ
jects.
%. Esta blished real Scholarship
ladder" with funds not drawn from
the rates, but from government
grants, ensuring free education and
maintenance to every boy or girl of
exceptional ability.
a Started schools of Domestic
Economy for young girls, and local
evening classes everywhere for those
already at work. with funds from gov
ernment grants.
25. Founded art scholarships, and
aided the art schools and classes, also
with funds from government grants,
so that every talented craftsman may
get ira aiming in design.
26. Vigilantly protected the rate
payer from further encroachments of
the water companies. and is promot-
ing bills this year for municipaliZing
the water supply on equitable terms.
The water companies are all helping
the Moderates.
! q. Promoted in every possible way