New-York tribune., 1905-07-31
A WELL GOVERNED TOWN.
English Local G0Ucrsment Iuus-
trated In Yorkshre.
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Ths Increased interest taken by Americans IA
the English system OF local government sustt-
ass a critical examination Of the methods and
results. The feature OF municipal ad1ninAstra-
ton fundamentally irnpresses when am
In the cities Of the Ardlands. Yorkshire or Ian
cashire, is the conservative way of carrying out
radical, progressive policies. The municipalities
have made daring experiments IN collecttxfarn,
but so deliberate and cautious have been tho
processes that the results seem practical and
businessIiks rather than sociallstic. The unsal-
aried councils. with their methodicaI habits and
disinterested labors. frnpart their own character
to local government The members are as diii-
gent. shrewd and careful in supervising tina az
fairs OF the town as they are In managing their
private businessand investments Tho rtsa<s aro
fewer and the methods safer than IN prtvats
enterprises because every form Of municipal
trading and every branch OF the public service
IS directed by a committee OF the council. n
which conservative business uen make tnedv-fn-
fuence felt by holding back enthusiasts and sz-
perimentists. There are no private oorporat5ons
as cautious IN their financial operations. and
especially In reducing surplusss by writing or
large amounts for depreciation OF plant, ttess
municipal councilman Ordinary directors are
anxious to Increase dividends and 20 naks as
good showing possible in their annual or
quarterly reports. The municipal managers are
satisfied with moderate contributions 20 ths
rates and are always on the safe side n Ghsir
exhibits OF the results OF local enterprises
The city OF Leeds, with its population or~ove-
10000 Is governed by council OF sfxty~four
members. There are few men OF leisure among
them Nearly all are actively employed IN busi-
ness or the professions. There are three doctors.
several solicitors. one pavnbro2er. several bank
ers. few engineers and large groups OF mann
facturers and merchants They are busy man.
yet they find time for attending COMMITTEES meet
ings and for supervising the public business of
the community. There are as many as sixty
committees and sub-cornrnittees; and every
member is called upon TO attend at least ten
meetings each month The education COMMITTEES
has thirty-six members ana holds frequent meet
ings; the library and finance committee NESTS
once fortnight and the other standing com
mittees. with average membership or twelve.
receive monthly reports from their sub-eoTnmit-
tees Sacrifices Of time and pleasure ara In
voIved, and these busy men make them cheer
fully from a sense OF pubic obligation. when
they are not paid for their service and have
nothing to get out OF politics. They look upon
local government as stocI1seompany eonducted
for mutual benefit. with every citizen a share
holder; and they themselves are public servants
without other reward than the consciousness Of
doing what they can to promote the interests
of the community. tits this lofty yet practical
ideal of public service which makes this York
shire town one OF ths best governed conn1unt-
ties IN the United Kingdom.
Leeds is a prosperous Industrial centre which
is rapidly increasing in population and area
New streets have constantly to be paved and
severed; suburbs have 70 be provided with
transit facilities; the water. electric Hight and
gas supplies need enlargement every year, and
local improvements unceasins burden 70
tn. al ha--
been largely increased by recent legislation; and
with an aggregate Indebtedness OF more than
f1OOOOOOO with more than E12OO0O00 OF cor
porate property TO show for IL, there are heavy
interest charges 70 be met from rat7bIe valu-
alton Of about 100000. II the tax rate has
not exceeded s shiIIings it is because the three
principal nAInicipaI acknowledgements. water
and gas-yield an annual profit OF f96,10S for
the relief OF local taxation after ample prOvi-
sion has been made for deterioration OF plant.
interest charges and payments 20 sinking FUNDS.
The most remunerative OF these is the electric
tramway service which in the last year has
contributed a net surplus OF $4,000 TO the
rates. This has been done with average
penny fare from more than 60000000 passen-
gers for the year. and with extensions TO the
mileage by construction and additions TO
the electrical equipment. The town corporation
owns the electric works and manages the tram
ways; and apart from providing cheap and rapid
transit and from connecting the suburbs and
improving the outlaying area IN symmetrical
way. it has converted the service into con-
siderable source OF revenue, with the prospect
OF gradually enlarging II as the interest charges
are lowered by the operation Of sinking funds.
The gas and water supplies are, also renunera-
tive services OF increasing value Electric light
ing does not yet yield surplus for the RELIEF of
the rates. but will probably do in the course
Of few years. being already self-sustaining-
There have been erroneous reports that the
Leeds Corporation has taken measures for the
purchase and Management OF dairy farms and
controlling the milk supply. The Deputy Town
Clerk explains the matter as an exaggerated
account OF a resolution reported by sub-com-
mittee in favor OF an arrangement for cooling
and bottling milk at Potter Newton Park from
farm near by and for establishing a depot in
Kirkgate, where IL could be sold. This resoiU-
tion has not been taken up by the Courcu. and
there is no possibility that any efforts VIII be
made TO municipalize the milk supply. While
municipal milk may be logical as municipal
water or gas. II is considered impracticable 70
interfere with the dairy interests.Of the outlying
region and 10 supply consumers with a munict-
pal brand from farms owned and managed BY
the Corporation. While the Health COMMITTEES
is convinced that milk is one OF the common
est carriers Of disease. and that municipal
control OF dairy farms would facilitate sys-
tematic inspection, II has no thought OF recon-
mending the municipalizatiOn OF the milk supply
II Is content with the operation OF existing
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