Connecticut western news., 1907-06-27
REVERSED BY THE PEOPLE.
English Voters Call Halt as to Mu-
 nicipal Ounership

nictpal Ownersnip.
 { The most dramatic incident In the history of municipal government oc- cured on Nov. 1. when the greatest city in the world reversed its policy In regard to municipal ownership by an overwhelming vote. For several years the "Progressives," as the munic- ipal ownership party called itself, have controlled the London county coun- cil, which has charge of most matters affecting the city as a whole, and of seventeen of the twenty eight borough councils. which deal with local matters, one borough being nonpartisan. After the borough council election on Nov. 1 this party was left in control of but two boroughs, having elected with their allies, the so called "Laborites," only 292 councilmen out of 1862. That 1t was popular and not a class victory is shown by the fact that the Pro gressives" were beaten worst in the boroughs where the heaviest vote was cast.
 Such a political upheaval must have an adequate cause. and the cause In the case was the rapid increase in taxes, and consequently rents, which resulted from the taking over by the city or its boroughs of tramways, cleo tric lighting, waterworks. etc. the building of luxurious public baths and other expenditures of public money out of all proportion to the results attain ed. This lavishness had raised the Dor ough tax rate in the boroughs control led by the "Progressives" 40 per cent above the rate In the other boroughs A few examples of the losses Incurred may be of interest.
 In Islington the street lighting costs nearly three times as much per mile as in the boroughs lighted by private companies. In St. Pancras the cost Is nearly as high. while in Woolwich, In spite of the high cost, the loss for the current year Is expected to reach So0.- 900. In Bermondsey and Southwark the councils have refused an offer from private company to light the streets at half the cost under municipal man agement. The same condition exists In commercial lighting, for the Aerated Bread company found that the bills for Its depots in municipally lighted Dor oughs were 116 per cent higher than the rate paid to private companies.
 In Shoreditch the palatial public baths, built within a stones throw of baths erected by local philanthropist. are now closed for lack of custom. though interest must still be paid on the investment and the borough has lost the taxes previously paid by the property. And In Poplar each bath taken in the public baths costs the tax payers 20 cents in addition to what the bather pays for his ticket.
 In this borough cases were proved in which outdoor relief was given to families earning $500 a year, equiva- lent to SS50 in this country. while the fare in the workhouse was better than could be afforded by the average inde- pendent wage earner.
 Examples of this sort could be multi piled indefinitely. and the same condi- tions exist in the work carried on by the London county council, which. for example, Is paying 47 per cent more
 
 ard contract price for the best work. The failure of its municipal ferry Is typical of its waste of public money. and the county council election to be held next spring is expected to result similarly to the borough council cleo ton.
 The Pail Mall Gazette sums the sit nation m by saving.
 You may confiscate capital, but you cannot confiscate that mighty force of self interest which belongs to the great generating station of all human ac- tivity. Municipal trading, conducted by amateurs and financed out of an open and bottomless pocket. can never be more than weak and false imita- ton of real commerce and industry. If the city council collected its capital by the issue of prospectuses to the public. who would invest a sovereign on the faith of its promises or the rep utation of its directing committees7 And if the ratepayer is wise he will take care that his money does not find its way by compulsion into specula- tions where he most assuredly would never place 1t by choice"