The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-11-21
OLD LONDON TOWN
AND LORD MAYOR
Perogatives. Pay And Duties
OF High Dignitary.
Aldermen Called "Wofshipful" and
Executive Head Fright Wor-
shipfuI' by Custom.
EARLIEST KNOWN LORD MAYOR

London. Nov 21.-A new lord
mayor of London. Sir William Ire
loar. has just been inauguratej with
tremendous ceremony and the time
honored pageant which has occur
red annually in the civic history OF
Is good deal Of criticism among
practical people concerning the per-
petuation of these pageants, which
cost a lot of money. but the diverted
companies" as the guilds of mer-
chants are called, would not abandon
them any more than they would de-
ny their blrthright. The mayor of
London. as you know, rules over
comparatively small city. with only
a few thousand voters. The day pop
ulation is nearly million; the
night population about 10000. and
his jurisdiction extends only a little
way above st. Paurs Cathedral and
over mile square in the heart OF
the metropolis.
The remainder OF London Is ruled
by the county council. 70 -
Earliest Mayor.
The earliest mention OF mayor
In the records of London appears in
a writ issued by King Henry u. IN
1854. but he history OF that Office
begins In the reign OF Richard !. in
1859. when Henry Fitz-Eylwln was
made lord mayor by the king, and
continued as such to the end OF his
life. In 1898 the mayor appears as
the custodian OF King Richards ran
som.
Up to 1915 the mayor was appoin-
ed by the crown. but In that year
King John granted the cltiz0s the
right TO choose their own ruler. and
the election has taken place annual
ly ever since on ST. Micnaelmas day,
one OF the members OF the board OF
aldermen being voted for by his col
leagues. There has not been con-
test for many years. The members OF
the board OF aldermen, who are elect
ed for life. take their turns and the
senior in length OF service who has
not already passed the chair" Is Sc
lected London aldermen are elected
for life. an arrangement that would
he source of great qualification TO
the present lncumbents of that Office
ia New York, Chicago and other cit
les II the custom could be introduce
ed here. But the property qaalifca-
lions might bar them out. No man
is eligible for alderman In London
unless he Is worth $4,000 IN taxa
BILE property and when elected ne is
compelled TO serve or pay a fine OF
$500. II lord mayor-elect refuse
TO serve he is fined $1,000. An alder
man receives no salary or perquis-
ties OF any kind. and his duties and
responsibilities are considerable
tax upon his purse. Therefore no
poor man can assume them. The lord
mayor receives salary OF $4,000
year although he has only 96sO 90
constituents. but he is required to-
spend nearly all OF that money for
charity. and for social and ceremo-
NAL functions and in maintaining the
Mansion house, which is rent-free.
but costs a great deal to keep up. An
alderman has the title of worship
full" until he has been mayor, when
he is always addressed as the right
worshipful Sir John Doe"
Right TO Vote.
All free men, that U.s. all property
holders in the City of London, have
the right to vote. There are 25 wards
and 25 aldermen and the elections
are conducted by ballot, although
they occur infrequently Before an
alderman can take his seat he must
be approved by his future colleagues.
Should the electors of any ward re-
turn a person who is determined to
be unfit to support the dignity and
discharge the duties of the office the
other aldermen may reject him and
a new candidate must be elected. n
three candidates are rejected in sue
cesslon the board of aldermen have
the right to select proper man to
fill the Office.
In early times aldermen had a