The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-27
..The british Cltx.e

THE British city: The Beginning of
Democracy BY Frederick c. Howe,
author of 'srhe City: The Hope of Democ-
raey." Published by Charles Scribner' 5
Sons. New York.
MI. Howe's subject is important not
only to British subjects, but It presents
food for reflection among Americans OF
the citizens of any land. The subject Is
very sensibly treated, and, though the
book Is largely statistical, 1t Is by no
means of the dry-as-dust description Oh
the usual statistical book.
The British city is free from corrup-
ton" says Mr.. Howe. Its organization
bers of the town councils are responsible
and responsive TO public opinion. There
Is no boss, no machine, no spells system.
Great Britain has achieved what we in
America have long prayed for. Her local
politics are in the hands of her business
men.
yet poverty is at its worst in the
British city. So far as human welfare is
concerned. good government is not
enough. Mere honesty Is not enough. The
calling of business men to the town coun-
ellis has not relieved the terrible costs Of
the modern city.
In the British. as in the American city.
democracy is chained by economic fet-
ters. The British city is under the servf-
tude of an economic master. 1t Is ruled
by the members of Parliament, and espe-
cially by the House of Lords, which has
no sympathy with the ideals of democ-
racy. All of the physical foundations of
the city are in alien hands. And those
who own these privileges and are respon-
sible for their abuses are as Indifferent TO
the needs Of humanity and as arrogant IN
their oppression of the people as the boss
of any American city, Mr.. Howe thinks
the day will come when the city will be
"a simple democracy. a little republic IKE
the great cities of the past" He has con-
idence in England's ability to throw off
the woke of a kingdom of privileged
classes and become a country OF and py
and for the people.
There are several chapters of peculiar
interest to the student Of municipal owner
ship. Municipal trading in England mas
become a wider issue even than the owner
ship OF street railways, gas. electric llgat-
ing and ysater services. The city OF Glas-
gov runs entertainments in its town halls
Brighton obtains a considerable revenue
f,om a race course. Ice is sold by another
municipality. And thus far, says Mr..
Howe. the trading enterprises have been
uniformly successful and. In general, or
benefit to the people. In the municipal
ownership Of tramways he finds much to
praise. Not only does ii act as a relief
of taxation and not only has 1t proved very
successful from the purely commercial
standpoint, hut it has resulted in better
and more courteous service to the public.
The titles of some of the chapters in the
book will give an insight into Its scope:
THE Cities and the ~Tramways," THE
Municipality and Labor Glasgow: A
City of Thrift and Conscience" London:
IA Municipal Democracy THE American
and the British City-A Comparison
THE Dead land of the Land THE
British Parliament-the Sanctuary of Privi-
lege," THE Upper and the Neither Mill
stones of Privilege The Next Step of
Industrial Democracy" THE City of To-
morrow"