The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-31


ratio accumulates and realty values de-
cay.
Battorsea is known throughout Great
Britain as tine Municipal Mecca / have
made my pilgrimage. ana l have seen
and talked with che votarlcs who worship
at the shrine.
In the borough Of Battersea there is
an estimated population of 1900 The
ratable value IS 10000 pounds, and the
tax rate nine shilngs on the pound. This
ratable value is not tho assessed valua-
tion. as such is taken I'm the United
states. but the rental value Of the prop
crty. The renter pays the rate. For
each twenty shillings OF rent he pays
nine shinings IN faxes.
The SOCialist-labor union regime in
Battersea started in 1871; that rs the date
when municipal trading began. Then the
rate per pound was 5s. 6d. I have seen
q compilation by the present Battcrsea adj
uinistration showing. on paper that
every municipal trading scheme attempt
Cd by the borough has been success.
But the citizens of Battersea receive Moth
ing free now that they did not get in
1901; the tax rate has increased 63 per
cent, the municipal bonded indebtedness
has grown from 5000 pounds I'm 1890 to
more than 10000 pounds; the increase in
assessed valuation has been but ten per
cont.
This IN itself As on excellent Illustration
OF the value OF tile municipal trading
statements issued by the English munich
palities.
Battersea is not oven required 20 sup
port it's own police force. Half the eX-
pense OF the police department is paid out
of the imperial revenue. and tho imperial
tax IS not included IN that rate which
7 have quoted Il is an extra burden on
the rate-payer.
Viewed ia the light OF present-day de-
O. 10 fI
is peculiarly appropriate. The site OF the
municipality was formerly known as
Battersea Fields. u vas the favorite re-
sort for people bent on lawlessness and
was a famous spot for dueis These fields
were the haunts OF tho outlaws that n
tested London during the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. j. was ia these
swamps that they buried their loot.
often the outlaw VAS taken and hanged
before Ia had an opportunity TO dispose
OF his plumber. Some OF the caches D. so
been uncovered I'm digging tunnels anu
sewers during recent years.
In the centre OF the fields was the RED
House" tavern Of notorious repute. II
was there that Sunday fairs OF the worst
types were held
Here IL is that the twentieth century
adventures gather and prey on the ciu-
zens I'm the most approved twentieth
century methods. In no line is the adj
vance % civilization more marked than
in the refinement OF the practice and
methods OF outiawry.
Battersea's Schemes.
The Battersea Council now has under
its control baths. cemeteries and libra
ries. as Well as the electricity supply; uu-
mcipa milk debts and several minor
forms OF municipal trading schemes.
An excellent account Of the wonderful
progress made by the borough OF Batter
sea under municipal ownership regime
appears i'm the minutes OF tine evidence
taken before tho joint select committee
on municipal trading appointed by parNa-
mont 10 Investigate municipal socialism
in Great Britain.
Here are o. few extracts.
AR John Edward Atsiu is called in and
examined as follows.
Earl % Crewe. chairman.-You are
here on behalf OF the B4ttersea Municipal
Alliance Yes.
Perhaps you would just tell US what
that body is. ls 80 a kind OF ratc-payers'
protective asspctatiOng The Battersea
Municipal Alliance is an association COM
posed Of rate-payers of Battersea who
feel that the affairs Of Battcrsea are adj
minlstered iu worry eNtravagant man
neg. they are absolutely a political
body ana they have formed together for
combating the sociallstlc tendency % tie
present Progressive majority IN the Coln-
Gill; 1t is my Intention. my Lord, very
briefly 70 can your attention 10 tie
growth OF tile Battcrsca municipal deDt.
i wish 10 take the last twelve years.
wish 20 state that ia 1901 the local debt
was GS2.010, 81 the present TIME tie
debt is 200 %
"a regards the interest to be paid
on those loans. what have YOU 90 Say
.fr.r