New-York tribune., 1897-01-31
either convenient or rapid The transit prob
| lem of London Is practically unsolved.

either convenient or rapid. The transit prob
lem of London Is practically unsoived;
While the Metropolitan Board OF works ana
the County Council have undertaken ana accom-
plished many great public works or improve
ment, numerous projects, such as the wldenins
of the Strand. the opening Of new approaches
to the Tower Bridge. the construction OF greatly
needed cross -thoroughfares leading out or Hoi-
born, and the clearing Of narrow streets IN tne
vicinity of the houses of Parliament. are netu
in allegiance until new principles or taxation
can be brought into operation.
The burden Of all the costly improvements al
ready ordered has fallen upon the rate-payers
and occupiers. Full damages are paid to prop
erty-owners who suffer loss. but no assessments
levied. as in America. upon those prohtine
by "betterments." The rental valuation is the
sole standard of local taxation, and SUBURBAN
areas which are not built up are exempt from
burdens while acquiring additional Vaiue IRON
the march of Improvement A radlcai chahee
in the rating Of ground values and In the ap-
plication OF the betterment principle would GO
away with existing conditions OF injustice ana
greatly facilitate the transformation OF London
into an improved metropolis worthy OF its pres
tige as the centre OF the modern world
INACTION MULTIPLIES DIFFICULTIES
The adoption of policies like these which l
have briefly outlined has been obstructed and de-
ferred by the anomalous conditions OF London
government. which has been jumble OF medae-
val and modern systems, without organic uhity
or vitalizing principle These questions nave
been neglected and thrust aside until they have
become unmanageable; and the separatist mtve-
ment, which has been organized In kensington
with the sanction of so great a statesman as Mr.
Chamberlain, threatens to defer indefinitely the
reorganization Of the public services ana the
unifcation Of the manifold activities OF metro
politan London. Lord Rosebery's great prov
ince of disjected but populous parishes, this
great desert inhabited by neglected humanity,
would indeed be converted by this new departure
into congeries Of forty-two cities. but power
would be lacking at the centre for readjusting
and equalzing the burdens Of taxation for pro-
viding adequate transit facilities ior vast
metropolitan area, for diverting the surplus
revenues of monopoes into the public treasury,
and for the practical application OF those prnci-
Piles Of collectivism and municipal ownership
which have conferred upon Glasgow. the second
city Of the United Kingdom, the proud dstnc-
ton Of furnishing the highest example Of civic
development to be found anywhere In the world
municipal problems of Greater NewYork 1t Is
hardly necessary for me to point out. The Conn.,
mission. observe. refers briefly to the question
Of municipal ownership. and provides that in
future ALI franchises involving use of the streets
shall be leased for period not exceeding twenty
five years. and shall be subject to supervision
and regulation by the local authorities The
subject is not dealt with on radical lines, but Is
remanded to the consideration OF future COM
missions and Legislatures. That Is what has
questions and policies which were at the outset
complex and intricate have been rendered vast
ly more difficult by systematic neglect to take
them up before they became unm1nagenbe. The
adoption Of a homogeneous system Of govern
ment for Greater New-York would seem TO offer
a crowning opportunity for the introduction Of
comprehensive policies which will promote social
progress. for the enlightened government of vast
centres OF population is pre-eminently a social
question. and the welfare of the modern world is
luton Of it. with all its complex issues and in
heient difficulties. l. ~ F.