New-York tribune., 1906-08-24
TIE RIVAL ROSES.
Modern Tournament of Local
Government.
Lancaster, August l3


~ - rivalries OF local government, when
a. are compared. the cost OF education
= - s,5 The advantages OF municipal trad
The two historic towns are not dl-
:: n'';s ,e,;sors IN the prOsaic tournament OF
= economies and utilities yet their names
81 .,,,nled anew as instructive examples OF
methods and tendencies. Lancaster
60 =, ahead in this informal rivalry. for ITS
'ss a. considerably lower than that OF York
-. as population is something over one
large and its ratable valuations only
- as great. Its tax rate is As Cd. and
.,on as low as IS, whereas York is as
80 "a on the pound Cor the costs OF local
sSs-,, The difference IS something 20 be
90, cor yvhen the ancient towns. with their
foundations. their Norman traditions
$50 Plantagenet intrigues. have emerged
! . .,-,,,ar conditions as modern industrial
- -s,,se each with q famous landmark
s os Joan o. Gaunt built on Saxon foun-
ora the magnificent Minister encom-
- with Roman walls
- che two RACES are analysed. Lancaster
I. credited with a marked saving in the
L.-.,ra.ion Of the Poor law. Its poor rate
- ,ne Of the lowest IN the kingdom. against
- :, York. The public charges OF pauper-
-. increasing so rapidly in English cities
Wv EXPERTS in social economics and ethics
- 4tis a more promising field for local re-
50, che operation OF municipal industries.
.-,, lancaster is entitled 10 respect as
- s.'.a,,, well governed town. If il has sue
4. !, minimizing the evils Of pauperism and
- .-,nIoyment. With a poor rate about
.s,.5 &c high as that OF York. it starts off
!. esvang which reduces az once the bur-
=. . iocal taxation. This economy might be
-ss.ras os questionable value il there were
-. ~ neglect in dealing with poverty and
-. nm, the inquisitive visitor has merely to
:. .,,on. rhe town TO convince himself that
!. rorking people are thrifty and fully en-
=. .,s that a series Of local charities are
s-t.,bly conducted. Among these institutions
l -. Povaf Albert Asylum. fine Gothic struct-
l : ,4,b seventy acres Of ground. where idiots
4 ,.upff various trades and enabled 20 become
l -s,rnnorting. Another is the Ripley Hos
Il mere three hundred boys and girls are
1 "a Car ana educated by a noble benefaction
-srorv Of a wealthy merchant. A third is
i !. povnl Lancaster Inflrmary, which does a
l =, ,sefrl work The old town has not hesi-
-a N times Of dire distress 20 employ its inn
,ssbes workrnen in the construction OF pub
4 t,vbWays and other works. and il is famous
! I. !, charitable institutions; but il has also
.,vss the best tradition OF self-respecting
~ and made it a source OF reproach for any
,g..bosied man or woman TO be dependent
1 -an .be rates. That was one OF the wholesome,
fashioned ideas when Dickens was writing
vaver Twist" half century ago. and socialist
u,s.ors have not improved upon it in inventing
!, tbeo.y that the state owes every man a liv-
and must supply him with food and lodging
IN does not find work for him.
uleTe is another substantial economy in the
-rs Of education. These amount 70 only dd. in
as ,O.aI rate for Lancaster. with another penny
sr he public library fund. whereas In York the
ssucsonal charges are Is. 41sd.. with a similar
,lsslun. This saving might be regarded as
4 nsg Suspicious than the economy effected in
/ ha maintenance OF paupers il there were any
L rposs OF neglect in providing for the education
{ The masses. The old town. however mas an
gsueut system OF schools, which has been sup
szented by private munihcence. The Royal
sammar School is well conducted, and the
sssey Institute at the top OF Market street.
vih seryiceable endowment. contains a free
ssFy a picture gallery, museum, a public
zsilng room, a school for art and lecture rooms
| n technical instruction For a town with
ygslation Of 44,O0O Lancaster has a fair edu-
zt0nal equipment, and is net 10 be reproached
| Il starving the schools in order to ease the
Hdens Of general taxation Local pride has
lRsys been strong in the town, and rich men
sW EivGlled one another in noble benefactions.
lamson Park, converted from a bleak moor
Ine spacious pleasure ground, with a pretty
bet Of water, was a gift to the town, and the
/ reg Observatory while built by the corpora
"a has been fitted up by private generosity
ard Ashton is rounding out a series of munih-
N undertakings by erecting a town hall at
Z OWL Expense It is not strange that taxes
r. low when public spirited men have done so
sth foE the town because they loved and hon.
I'd II and we're content 20 believe that charit!
sas a. home. The general and borough rates
We been kept lower than In other cities by the
2EOsity Of thess public benefactors.
i addition 10 the economies already described
se has been a saving through the ownership
public services. Lancaster has not Jagged be-
q other and less fortunate cities in the nu-
4Dal movement. II was one of the earliest
siAA towns 70 manage markets as public
peFt!es; it has owned the water supply for
z half q century. and carries annual profit
sZ's@ from it 10 the relief of The rates; it
controlled the gas service for over twenty
years and has reduced the debt until there
a'~ margin OF about Sl5.e00 year for the
-iOn good. he electricity plant has been con-
-'so for Z dozen years as a municipal under
1g and there is a small balance Of profit
'he rates and there are rentals from cor
.laon properties which yield a surplus Of
9'V Tor the same purpose, apart from marsh
= Investments. from which eighty freenen or
= WIDOWS have an annual pension. These
pits profits when added up are equivalent 10
-2hg ot sgd. IN the rates. Against this must
Eaeec as an Offset temporary losses from the
-~-DaI tramways. recently introduced and not
- - ssi-susiainng- York has been less ener-
--' nan Lancaster IN assuming the manage
public services. Private companies con-
= @e water and gas supplies. and there Is
--ag Tor the rates from the municipal electric
I, II there be any saving In York for the