New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-04
THE WAsTREL WATERLOO.

Informed and judicious observers generally ex-
pected defeat Of the PrOgressives in the London
County Council election. Few If any expected
such an overwhelming defeat as actually Oc-
Cured. In the former Council the PrOgresslves
had more than two-thlrds majority-S3 I'm 11S
In the new Council they will be in a minority of
little IL any more than one-third. The relative
strength and position of the two parties are al
most exactly reversed. Such a result IS not
mere change. 1t is "A revolution. 1t is the more
significant because it was effected through an
mprecedeptedly full vote OF the citizens of Lon
don, after an unprecedentedly earnest campaign
Of investigation education and discussion, while
the contrary result of three years ago was Sc
cured by light vote, after a comparatively list
less campaign. 1t is most Of all significant be-
cause il follows and is the climax Of an extended
series of similar electoral results IN the other
municipalities of the kingdom Those former
elections have already been commented upon as
indicating an unmistakable and emphatic reac-
ton against eXtravagant schemes of municipal
ownership and other socialist fads. That of last
Saturday IN London added the approval Of the
metropolis 10 the general Judgment of the ma
ton.
We need not repeat in detail the causes Of this
extraordinary revolution, which we have hither-
To explained. Paraphrase characterzatiOns of
il as you may the issue was primarily and
fundamentally one OF radical socialism against
conservative democracy. The PrOgressives have
been in control of the County Council for many
years indeed. for the whole eighteen years since
that body was created. The result, or one result,
is that London is now more than $515,OOOOOO
in debt, of which about $225, 100000 is directly
chargeable 10 the Council. New York, with
population about 100000 smaller than that of
the county Of London, has debt OF about $780,,
o0O,OO0.) In return for this increase Of in
debtedness Of Sl2,5OO,OOO a year there is un-
doubtedly much to show that is for the good Of
the people. But there are also to show such
things as free billiard saloons and Turkish baths,
decorations of private buildings at public cost
and Thames steamboat service operated at
loss Of 100000 year-the last being, recent
champion Of the Council declares, n matter 10
which no serious importance Is to be attached!
There are extensive manufacturing establish
ments conducted by the municipality IN cOmpe-
tition with the private industries which are
taxed for the support OF their municipal rivals.
There are tramway systems on which heavy loss
Is averted only by the expedient OF leasing parts
of them TO private operators. the receipts from
the leases serving TO make good the losses ON the
lines operated by the municipality.
In brief the Council has been running London
into outright socialism, with the result which we
should generally expect from such process. 1t
has been dIscOYered-nlfrdbHe dictU that "the
State" TO which socialists affect to look as an
iRexhaustible source Of benedcence is, after all,
nothing but the people themselves, and that when
vast expenditures are ordered on the ground
that "the State is rich enough TO afford TT a
burden Of debt and of taxation in one form or
another is laid upon the people themselves even
10 the humblest of them. The law is inexOrabe
When taxes on land ard buildings are increased
rentals are increased. When rentals ara in
creased the prices of commodities and the whole
cost Of living are increased: and the effect is
felt By the poor family which lives in two or
three rooms and buys a few dollars worth Of
goods az the corner shop just as surely - by