Evening star., 1898-11-08
ETHICS OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
Municipal Conditions in Glasgow
and other British Cities.
Fron The Ihiladelphla Press.

Prom The Philadelphia Press.
Prof. J. W. Martin, distinguished in
works Of social reform in London and mem
ber OF the London Fabian Society, Iectured
before the members of the Society for Eth
ical Culture yesterday morning in New
Century Hall, on The Ethics of City Gov
ernment." Mr.. Martin outlined the condi-
tions under which many municipal improve
ments have fourished in England and Scot
land and suggested means whereby the
fdmt results may be attended in this COun-
Try lie said in part:
The modern growth of great cities has
Produced new and perpleXing problems of
government ThInly scattered populations
are Indy pendent of each other on such mat
tiers as sanitation, water supplies, lighting
ELd street transport. But in great city
no nan can live unto himself. Government
Is an absolute necessity In English cities
II has been proved that many services can
be rendered t the community by the repre-
sentative city councils much better than by
Etout-carnlng corporations. Everybody rec
cSHzes that Il system of public schools is
superior L. even the best philanthrOpic pri-
waite system Formerly philanthrupists who
wished 20 give poor boys and girls a sound
education established and endowed charity
SCHOOLS; now enthusiasts like MIR. Lyulph
StstIlS\, q -IE-'BIber OF the Darby family,
give their time to arduOus and honorary
service on the school BOARDS and secure d
hundred fold the result they would have.
obtained by charitable effort.
similarly. on such matters as housing
the poor. water supply, electric lighting.
baths and wash houses and open spaces,
English councils have proved that collec-
tive municipal effort for raising the stand
ard Of Efe Cf the masses of the population
Is more effective than individual phllan-
JhrCpy.
The city of Glasgow has carried through
huge schemes for the GemOItion .. slums
and the construction Of healthy dwellings,
for the working classes For years previous
the best men in the city had tried and fail
"a by phIlanthrOpic effort to do the same
thing. That the poorest quarters might le-
celve an abundant supply of pure water the
6laSSCw city council constructed an auue-
duct from Loeb katrine, increased the sup
ply LiJ per cent and now make no charge
To the poorest inhabitants
by owning and operating the gas works
they are able 10 light the common passa yes
and stairways in the tenement houses Tree
oI charge a.d to sell gas at 81 cents per
thousand cubic feet. that the poorest work
nan may brighten for himself the gloomy
atmosphere of that city. Baths and y,ash
houses are furnished in every quarter and
scheme is now under consideration for
putting a set Of municipal baths behind
every block of woFkmen's dwellings. s,hsap
concerts are provided and made To paw in
public halls which private spectators fail
Cd To run with profit to themselves or ad-
Vantage TO the public. All these and many
other enterprises yield net incomes to the
city treasury.
Manchester. Birmingham. Bradford, Hud-
dersfield. Leeds and Liverpool and scores
OF other British towns have had similar
experience
Success in English city government has
men, the leaders in social and business life
have given their best abilities to the ser
vice of the public. This year. the Duke OF
Norfolk, the postmaster general Of Eng