The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-01

maly Of ii municipality within a mu-
nicipality. each with peculiar powers,
though one is an administrative and the
other nonaGminstrative government.
When one speaks of the City of London
reference Is to that district lying east Of
Temple Bar (now removed. but marked
by monumenD and anciently within
the walls. But London is an admiEis-
trative county, comprising an area of
12l square miles, including but not gov
ernng the city. This il almost incom-
prchcnsible to an American familiar
only with the municipal systems of his
own country. But the London of
Saxon times was an independent state.
and even William the ConGueror only
gained possession of the city through y
treaty with its citizens, and subse-
quently granted them charter which
restored to them the privilege they pos
sessed in the time of Edward the Con-
fessor. The citizens have been ever
jealous of their ancient rights and have
preserved their independence in spite
of the fact that London has many times
multiplied itself: and through their re-
fusal to surrender this now ridiculous
distinction we have the fantastic ano-
maly of an independent" city within n
city upon which 1t really is In many
ways dependent
Tho Lord Mayor.
The city has it's lord mayor and board
of alderman. Formerly, that Is to say
before the charter granted by King
John in 12l4,' there was no limit upon
the tenure of Office by the mayor Chen
styled bailifD; but that charter re-
quired the annual election of Il mayor,
though In early times the same person
could be reelected CWhittington was
fourteen times chosen). The aldermen
were elected annually until 1894, when
a charter from Richard II. directed that
they be chosen for life-a rule which
remains in force to the present day.
The city also chooses it's own sheriffs,
there being two sheriffs and two under
sheriffs. Moreover If you please, these
sheriffs. each. like the lord mayor has
his especial chaplain. The salary of
the lord mayor is $4,000. The city has
its own police force. with u commits
sioner at a salary of $500, an assistant
commissioner at q salary of $3.50, and
men, including officers, inspectors and
cOnstables. to the number of 925. An
cient ceremonies are to large extent
preserved, even the office of sword
bearer to the lord mayor being con-
tinued at an annual salary of $500.
The administration of justice (criminaD
cost something over $4,000 last year,
while the expenses of the magistracy
and police exceeded $4,000. The city
looks after it's own sanitat ton, paving,
etc. so that 1t manages easily enough
to have annual expenditures in the
neighborhood Of $3,5O0,OOO.
An Administrative County.
London. as Disseminated from the
city of London, Is described as IAN ad
ministrative county" and embraces,
as I have said 121 square miles. 1t is
governed by county council that con-
slsts Of a chairman vice chairman,
deputy chairmam, nineteen aldermen
and llS councillors, total uf 13S. Its
officers include the clerk (salary of
$4,000, comptroller ($4,OO0). statistical
officer ($3.5OO). engineer (slO.O0O) archi
tect $75OO, solicitor ($600O), assistant
solicitor ($5.0O0), chief of fire brigade,
medical officer and assistants. chemist,
valuer. parliamentary agent. etc. 1t
has no authority over the police. The
councillors. who hold office for three
(only taxpayers or householders enjoy
the rights of suffrage); the councillors
then elect the nineteen aldermen. whose
term OF office Is for six years. The
present system of government, you
know. succeeded the Metropolitan
board. which went out Of existence in
1889, the first meeting of the London
county council being held March q of
hat
Sir John Lubbock was his successor.
and Sir Arthur Arnold now holds the
position. having been elected March II
last. The county council meets once a
week in Spring Gardens. just off Ira
falgar square, and a very dignitied body
II is, quite as grave, solemn and rever-
end as the house Of commons. and by
no means less respectable. A stranger,
indeed. might think 1t the more self
respecting and imposing body. The
council may, and generally does, dele
gate any or all it's powers with the
exception of raising money by loan or
rate) to it's committees. of which there
are twenty-five. The finance commit
tee has statutory powers. and as the
council Is the chief money raising pow
er of all the metropolitan authorities
the duties are Of the greatest RESPONSE
bility. For example, 1t has to deal
with gross debt of $l75,OOO. 900. a sink
ing fund of $1j.000,000. and an annual
maintenance income of $15.OOO.0OO. The
powers, duties and liabilities of the
council have to do with the sanctiOning
of new sewers constructed by vestries:
with main drainage: parks and open
spaces: the fire brigade: Thames en-
bankments, etc; bridges over the
Thames (outside the city); all street
improvements, new streets. etc: main
tanning subways under the streets for
gas and water mains, etc: supervision
of buildings Of all sorts; infant life
projections; tramways granting Ii
censes for music and dancing Gnclud-
ing the city,; asylums for the pauper
insane: reformatOry and industrial
schools; county buildings; coroners;
highways; licensing playhouses be-
yond the limits of the lord chamber
lain's authority; common lodging
houses; slaughter-houscs and cow
houses; technical education; actions
at law; bills in parliament: registra-
ton of electors: suppression of nuis-
ances, and the thousand and one things
such cases, too, as the construction of
the Thames traffic tunnel at Blackwell
the work is done directly under the
council.
Powers Of the Council.
The council is authorized to buy tram
,,Ix, Leo