Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-30
WELL-G0VERNED TOWN
ENGLISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ILLUSTRATED IN YORKSHIRE.


cans in the English system OF local govern
ment justifies a critical examination Of the
methods and results. The feature Of mu-
nicipal administration which invariably i'm
presses me when I am in the cities Of the
Midlands. Yorkshire or Lancashire is the
conservative way of carrying out radical.
progressive policies. The municipalities
have made daring experiments in collect
been the processes that the results seem
practical and businesslike rather than So
cialistic. The unsalaried councils. with
their methodical habits and disinterested
labors. inpart their own character to local
government. The members are as diligent,
shrewd and careful In supervising the at
fairs Of the town as they are in managing
their private business and investments.
The risks are fewer and the methods safer
than in private enterprises, because every
form of municipal trading and every branch
Of the public service is directed by a COM
mittee of the council, in which conservative
business men make their influence felt by
holding back enthusiasts and experiment.
lists. There are no private corporations as
cautious in their financial operations, and
especially in reducing SURPRISES by writing
off large amounts for depreciation of plant,
as these municipal councilmen. Ordinary
directors are anxious to increase dividends
and to make as good showing as possible
in their annual quarterly reports. The
municipal managers are satisfied with mod
crate contributions to the rates and are al
ways on the safe side in their exhibits Of
the results of local enterprises.
The city of Leeds, with it's population Of
over 100000, Is governed by a council of
sixty-four members. There are few men Of
leisure among them. Nearly all are active
ly employed in business or the professions.
There are three doctors several solicitors
wnhrOkar ha
glneers and large groups of manufacturers
and merchants They are busy men, yet
they find time for attending committee
meetings and for supervising the public
business of the community.
Ihere are as many as sixty committees
and subcommittee; and every member is
called upon to attend at least ten meetings
each month. The education committee has
thirty-siX members and holds frequent
meetings; the library and finance commit
tee meets once fortnight and the other
standing committees. with an average MEM
bership of twelve, receive monthly reports
from their subcommittee. Sacrifices of
time and pleasure are involved, and these
busy men make them cheerfully from a
sense of public obligation, when they are
not paid for their service and have nothing
to get out of politics. They look upon local
government stock company conducted
for mutual benefit with every citizen
shareholder; and they themselves are pub
lie servants without other reward than the
CONSCIOUSNESS Oh DONG what Iney can TO
promote the interests of the community. 1t
is this lofty yet practical ideal Of public
service which makes this Yorkshire town
one of the best governed communities in
the united kingdom.
Leeds is a prosperous Industrial center
which is rapidly increasing in population
and area. New streets have constantly to
be paved and severed; suburbs have to be
provided with transit facilities; the water,
electric light and gas supplies need en-
"a
ments are an unceasing burden to rate
payers. The educational expenses have
been largely increased by recent legislation
and with an aggregate Indebtedness of more
than flo. 700, with more than 1000 900
of corporate property to show for 1t, there
are heavy interest charges to be met from
a ratable valuation of about f2,OOO,0OO. If
the tax rate has not exceeded shillings, it
Is because the three principal municipal In
dustries-tramways, water and gas-yfeld
an annual profit of f96, 10S for the relief of
local taxation after ample provision has
been made for deterioration Of plant, In
terest charges and payments to sinking
funds. The most remunerative of these is
the electric tramway service, which In the
last year has contributed a net surplus OF
Esd 600 to the rates. This has been done
with an average penny fare from more than
go 600 900 passengers for the year, and with
extensions to the mileage by new construc-
ton and additions to the electrical equip
ment. The town corporation owns the cleo
trio works and manages the tramways; and
apart from providing cheap and rapid tran
sit and from connecting the suburbs and
improving the outlying area in a sym
metrical way, 1t has converted the service
into a considerable source Of revenue. with
the prospect of gradually enlarging 1T as
the interest charges are lowered by the OPP
Grafton Of sinking funds. The gas and
water supplies are also remunerative serV-
ices Of increasing value Electric lighting
does not yet yield surplus for the relief
of the rates. but will probably do so In the
course of few years, being already self
sustaining.