The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-01-12
CIVIC SPIRIT sTR0NG
IN SCOTTISH CITIES
seventy-Two Oouncilmen Work
Without Pay in Modern
City of Glasgow.
City Flourishes by Exercise of the
Highest Standard Of
Citizenship.


free because owned by the city, is
as fabulous as foolish. But NUM-
cipal ownership exists in large
measure, it's responsibilities are met
most creditably, and the beneficent
results are fully shared and appre-
ciated by the citizens. The expenses
of city government and the taxes
therefor are reduced to minimum;
and are much lower than such are
in any city which owns much less in
America. The general tax is about
81 per $1,000 on the assessed prop
erty valuation, which approximates
as near as possible to the real value
of the property. Gas costs consum-
ers 48 cents per 1000 cubic feet
Water costs the consumer 10 cents
per IS rental and owner cents
per IS on assessed valuation of
property. What strikes an Ameri-
can most in Investigating municipal
affairs in the city Of Glasgow is the
strong civic spirit which pervades
everyone and everything connected
with 1t from the lord provost to the
piledriver in the new plant of the
drainage department. They do not
sing my Country, tits Of Thee"
But the atmosphere seems to breathe
the words, my city, it's for thee"
Without Salary.
LET Glasgow flourish by the
preaching of the Word" is the city's
motto. And let Glasgow flourish by
the exercise of a high standard of
citizenship, is the practice of the
city corporation. There are seventy
two councilmen elected by the vari-
Gus wards of the city, and with the
lord provost these form the city
government, magistrates, and minor
justices of the city. They are all
men of high intelligence, many of
them university men, most of them
holding high positions in the COM
mercial world and in the church;
but in all work without any salary
tives of labor on the council do not
expect any emolument for services
rendered to the city, but all esteem
it high privilege and great honor
to serve the people without pecuni-
airy reward. This civic spirit is the
finest example of Christian social
ism, as it is free from modern So
cialistic vagaries.
The writer asked the lord provost,
Sir John Ure Primrose, "HOw many
days per. week, =, and how many
hours daily do you, give to the SER
vice Of the city?'";Sa His reply was,
''Ten hours daily: and six days a
week." moreover one may travel
and make inquiries as I did among
the critics of the government. but
he would not hear a suspicion OF
dishonesty against any member of it.
They all seem to be, though serving
without remuneration, like Caesars
wife, "above suspicion"
Modern Lodging Houses.
This high civic spirit is the secret
of the success Of municipal owner
ship in the city. 1t simply means,
we shall do our best for our city be-
cause it is ours; we shall give of
our time and talents freely, and
teach others so to do, for the well
fare of our fellow-citizens. And it
is remarkable what this spirit is
doing for all the citizens, but especi-
ally for the poor in the city. In
terest in the man with the dinner
pail and his family is in evidence
everywhere. The city owns property
which it either remodelled or built
into 1000 laborers' dwellings. This,
in itself, has had far-reaching in
fuences upon better housing at rea-
sonable rents for the working man.
1t also constructed and equipped
seven model lodging-houses, which
naturally destroyed the success and
existence of many common lodging
houses conducted by private enter
prise, which were hot-beds Of vice
and crime, and also centers for pro-
pagating disease. he seven houses
give accommodation nightly to 2,43O
persons. Each house is provided
with common dining room, a
kitchen with utensile and fire avail
able for cooking at any hour of the
day; and provision store is at
tached to each house, excepting one,
where knocked food can be pur-
chased at market prices. A large
recreation room and ample bathing
conveniences are also provided, and
each lodger has separate bed with
spring, mattress, pillow, sheets,
blanket and bed mat, at charge
varying from cents to IL cents per
night. And what seems strange is,
the enterprise is successful from a
financial viewpoint.
Family Home.
The city also owns and operates
a Family Home" conducted on
what is commonly known as the
self-supporting and social settlement
plan. 1t was originally designed
and equipped for the use of widows
or widowers, belonging to the de-
serving working classes, who had
children with no one to properly
care for them. The Home" con-
tains 100 bedrooms, plainly but
comfortably furnished, each capa-
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