Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-08
CITY GOVERNMENT.
,,N GERMANY. TAKENAs AMopEL
o' COO AMERICAN MUNICIPALITIES
I'M. of oficers-The Car Com
osnies-PoIlcc. Water, Streets
Gas, Etc.

r'oPa,umorc NHt pleoV"'S o.
-. ,c,.ure Of Mr.. Sylvester Baxter, OF
G r,.,,n Herald on ~ Model City Gov
m Europe and How 90 Attain One
,-,.-,ea" The lecture was delivered
u ~, "a meeting called by the Tax-Psyers'
pew. ...,,1n Of the monumental city, and
AZ Bsxter's model city government
"" -, embraces some features that
20 e. ,...sl notification in their adaptation
....,sl government in tins country,
S..,.,l IS interesting and suggestive
ral.as. vtrcrurr.
...otcr opcned with an account Of
l.. wen m Rerlin IN honor OF an IN
49,. "a, body Of scientists, In which he
W'' ,fst che councilmen were university
r''' an the like. and that none had
- .sr.pce OF ward politicians. He
,... 80. '' ''.,rteT1mont Of Berlin we have
1,of one Of the greatest cities
o.. ia a5ninistered with the utmost
d. ." and cA.cieucy, attaining the most
-..ulfs for the comfort and con-
p = the public without the sus-
' r.. ,-llerv, and everything attended
.h lie th1rouEhneSs ana cOnscien-
..... which here we are only accus-
b.. .,prct IN private enterprises.
r..,'iren. Professor LILY, praises
..rlIrt of the government, with
-...r. nl;tcd with the greatest of
...s-.c... rendering the accounts
-.., re,uy. and with the motives
..'. .t he oAclals completely de-
In reading one Of these reports
Us. ,b.t one finds 1t difficult not to
.. description Of some city gov
s--..tia Utopia -I.,.
-..-.rr.b hv This system. Over ten
..r..t.rars take part IN the admins
- e aF..-- and In the city govern
..f,,s- fnrthc best and most promi-
..-ers among the members and not
-. AID finds them, too. For eX-
,.--a are men like Professor Nir-
b. s.ss,r Guclst. and others from the
.-..r ari natural leaders in public
-.g n worldwide reputation and
--s. statesmen, taking their regular
IT,. b. HI, routine Of city affairs: Protes-
,...s.,- i.. ttcn member OF the city
...-s.t SINCE I~fS. To shirk these
.... I-,,, 3, hardly possible for any
-,.-,f u were desired by him. for
-..-- .... Is obliged. under penalty of
..rf IL heavy increase of taxation, TO
.. ,-. r0s.tion e. which he may be
ArAE7E CIV COUNCIL.
.-ter.-,rr system aims at the greatest
~ ...- .,.. economy Rttainahle under a
s--..-'-..v popular representative
..- 1.s l-.al basis Of the government
.-t.-.--t ,u the Municipal Assembly,
-...-.l q the l26 members repre-
.... 81. l.s wards Of the city. One
t.-- -.s- r-,' be house-Owners, and
f-....-s - father and son are not al
So. +- r. members st the same time.
--r.f.-. ~ tins body are chosen for
-.,-s orrthtrd retiring every two
80. =. there Is "a municipal election
--..- "a. wears. THIS gives the great de-
1857. .- ufrluauenCy, q principle
d. embodied firmly throughout the
...-.-.-. nal structure. As with ply
.--.~.--.. iu It's process Of growth, the
..--. p. German city government
....,. f-.'. LIT violent. / he example set
p -..-. is -e.y followed. The long
EN-. re- r-.- ter~ give them experience.
g.. g.. -.-l uiuC IN office OF large ma
-.. .. ..' members assures the man
.,- a. 4".rs ly persons thoroughly
--r.--..- with municipal business. This
n proceed oil the other features
.s.-.-..,. ..pAl government. 1t has the
s...,.. e. .....a. control OF affairs. being eu-
I'm. .. drawing up the budget for the
5.-.-. .-.--L .rlZing extraordinary eX-
-.-f .--... D: hes no executive functions
t.at us. r.,ts members exercise them
-r-.r - ASSOCIATION with other
t-.-.-.. .. GLE government.
-rr.rY--yyO Albumin.
i'll. assembly chooses the upper
'--.. % t.e Guy government, known as
- -4--.-.rv. and composed Of the
t..--. ~ .ss.- and aldermen, the latter
-.-..v. .l t-u ley, fifteen OF whom are
-. while s-yeuteen are honorary
-.-..-- VITA Lo salaries whatever. The
..- a.. o.1- for a period of twelve
.-, -lalr subject 10 the approval
- E.- Ut, salary u $4,000 marks,
"a g. O. aGt $500, which, in its pur-
4.-s v..-"i1 Germany, would probably
b. ..-..1t4ly the same as the $4,000
..t..t.a Mayor Of Boston. II is post
&. o.. 1Ei--- honor, and may be con-
s.- Equivalent 10 life position,
- s-.. t.e-. is o vacancy III this
.e large German CITY II
..s. -.-r for the authorities TO
-.r ,- t,.l throughout the coun--
g. a,. .t from the mayors OF
....- 20. -o-s man Of the highest quail
-. g.. -sXs-gtIye and general business
.-.... ..lr. '-- person thus agreed upon
-.-..r make his own conditions and
t- u reelection when his torn ex-
I--t Boz 8 .-- not choose TO retire upon a
--. p. one mayor of Berlin when
- .- 81 ~ accept the position IN
o.. ..-'-.- -.t.Ouable state laws were
'..- All Tie Government WAS pre-
N... -- tv the city authorities TO take
g @. Tie present mayor OF Berlin,
'-t -.--'sgs. was MAYOR of the large
.. .-.,.4l when called 70 Berlin. The
e.. las ---elal direction OF the Board
G. t.r l.l is almost absolute IN the
--t.-. a.F business.
-l-AIrD CITY FATHERS.
I-s -... salaried aldermen are eject
f-.t .s-.fe wears by the municipal cVun-
s'- special regard 20 the qualltcs-
-. 20 .uIlirtorlDR the departments
'.' F-..- '-ag are = rule. Their salaries
--sr than those Of the local judges
.--e- members Of the civil ser
'.e- gre made attractive 10 the
.l.l, who must have received
training IN the splendid !
tr az Prussia. from which |
F--t ..ea. IL Is also the custom
.-. men on the expiration OF
10y '-.. II they DO not choose 10 retire |
.- 3 l--uLs. These paid aldermen !
t deputy mayor, two legal adj |
..y treasurer, two school coun- |
$3.50 architects, and seven alder |
80 '..-.-' special title, who may be as |
ans POSITIONS they are deemed |
2. ,' .-.lpy. These men correspond |
, ~ our various department !
, lat It IS great advantage |
ave ..a regular members OF the |
.ermen. where they may take |
'-...- .-t CELEBRATIONS.
s.EN-TKS UNPAID MENBERs.
-. '-- 'e''uteen unpaid aldermen are !
.i 'ae assembly for terms OF SIX /
..- e'" usually taken from those |
,le assembly itself who have |
--- % Themselves by years OF eff /
're Ia various departments. (
Sons are esteemed OF great |
-.i Tie incumbeuts assume the |
..- as those ot the paid aldermen. /
b.. also reelected at the end of their /
'.' Aly competent man may be q /
t.. .. Tie city government for life II /
ald under tins system II would |
". tjf al Incompetent member 70 |
.. AkctJSG TIE ASSEMBLY.
o.. All Yo.ets Of the city are divided into |
=. '--r,. system which prevails |
.-,-' Prussia. These classes are d. |
81. fl.ng 70 the rate of taxes they |
I- --r trst class come those heaviest |
80 -'s "aO pay one third OF the entire |
-. 4- i'e second class come those who |
Zen, third. while tho third class |
L.i.. oil the rest Of the taxpayers.