The Pall Mall Gazette, we are glad to see, declares
for a single municipality for Loudon. Such a body, it believes, would be entered by very able men, would be closely watched, and would be able to raise ample funds for the needs of the Metropolis. We agree, adding that the argument which has so long stopped reform, the power such a body might possess of defying Parliament, has ceased since the Reform Bill to be valid. The Householders would make short work of a Council which disobeyed them. The City Parliament granted, however, we should still need an Executive for it, and we do not see why the English precedent of a Cabinet should not be adopted, the Mayor being Premier and holding office till dismissed, and his cabinet consisting of a City Accountant for finance, a Supervisor of Roads, a Commissioner of Police for that department, a Warden of the Works for Sir J. Thwaites' business, and a Chamberlain to manage the courtesies, public receptions, and so on of the metropolis. We should then have an Executive which, while in favour with the inhabitants, could suggest things and carry them out, and attract good men by a chance of a considerable term of office. If a further check is wanted, make an Upper House of the Members for London, with power of veto, to be exercised only in extreme cases.
Previous page
