New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-03
nrorNrfkrfzA4FloS IL fRANcE.

One of the most efficient means of maintain
Ing despotc power In France during the quarter OF
century preceding the late in Europe was the sys'
TEN of territorial divisions which placed at the command
OF the Central Government we-organized and diset
pned body no member of which had any responsibility
except to the immediate superior authority In this
way an order, emanating from the chief execu-
tive power in Paris, was rapidly executed
ln every village Of the Empire under, the direct
supervision Of officers who had no option but
20 execute that order In ramicatons it analo
xous TO that Of strictes form OF hierarchy, and
neither the Of the people nor the officers who
were charged with Its execution enjoyed greater immu
nifty from its observance than the common soldiers of
disciplined body of troops their officers enjoyed from
obedience to command OF their superior military au-
thorities
The lowest grade in this order Of disciplined despotsm
was the commune. whose chief officer mayor, who
both administered the affairs Of the commune AID rep
resented the central power in executing the laws and
Tor general police purposes The next higher grade was the
canton which, however, merey judicial in Its func-
tions at its head was Jge dc PdiI. Several eantOns
formed an ACCOMPLISHMENT administered by suDpfe'
feet the assembly Of this territorial division was called
he council Of the arondissement but 1t had no lmpOr'
cant functions Finally there was the department. which
was the superior administrative authority Inc Preiec
who administered affairs Of the department directly
under the Central Government exercised extraordinary
although delegated authority. He was surrounded by
Kind OF cabinet called the Council Of Prefecture, whe
an elective assembly, called the General Council nomi-
aaly exercised legislative authority which, however
under the empire degenerated Into body sitting eight
DAYS in the year to register the DEGREES OF that pro-
consular officer, the Project.
The whole machinery of this system was at the com
nand Of the centralized Government, which appointed
and displaced the Protects sub Projects, and Mayors
with the exception Of recent modification, which
gives TO Communes having less than 10000 inhabitants
the tight of selecting the Mayor by the Municipal Coun-
sn and In Communes having than that number OF
| inhabitants the Mayor selected from the
Council itself. The Government gave its orders
20 the Projects, who In turn transmitted the
orders subprefect by whom they were passed ON
20 the mayors Some time ago 1t was determined to give
70 all municipal councils the right OF selecting their
mayor, but THEIRS who has into possession OF all
the remarkable powers welded by the late En-
peror, opposed the strongly, and threatened
resign II 1t were adopted; the Assembly gave way
Now another blow has been struck the Assembly at
GENERALIZATION In the form Of proposition TO extend
snd increase tne functions Of the General Councils AT
nrst most radical attempt to reorganize the whole ter
rtorai DIVISIONS was made but the Assembly evil
oenuy Hlsh'eheo al the proposition and 1t was SGT
enue' lSss radical measure proposed IN its place,
retaining the departments the projects but consera
bly, increasing the power Of the Council General giving
them, among other things power TO choose a commits
sion TO take the place Of the Council OF Prefecture IL
was this measure upon which all the members of the
Government voted with the minority. and the massage
WHICH, calculated az II Is 10 deprive the Chief of the
Executive OF portion Of his extraord,ar, ,o.s an
dnced THEIRS 10 resign.