The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-11
A PROBLEM SOLVED.
PROGRESS MADE BY GERMANY I'M MI
NIciPAL GOVERNMENT.

Nt@sFrG NGhFNW6fN
Councillors Are Excellent Citizens ana Herve
without Experimentation Puf Into
the Hands Of ExpertA who Are Ofssn
Chosen For Life.
Municipal housekeeping al q science
and an art evolved out of the conditions
OF life prevailing in the last half Of
this century can be observed to better
advantage in Germany than in any 9TH
er country. It is true that the German
cities have been somewhat tardyi in pro-
viding themselves with modern conven-
fences and improvements. but now hay
ing fairly entered upon the task they
are accomplishing 1t In q more system
attic, thorough and businesslike way
than any other cities. whether In Eu-
rope, America or Australia
To this work Of modern improve
ment, especially in public appoint
ments, the Germans seem to have
brought more Of the scientific spiritand
method than any other people. Their
habits Of thoroughness In research and
OF patient, exhaustive treatment CT any
subject In hand have fully characterized
their progress in the arts of civilized
life. Above ALL the Germans had already
developed . system OF public adminis-
tration more economical and more in
fallibly effective than could have. been
found elsewhere, and they were prepav-
cd when the growth of their cities and
the new demand for modern imprOye-
ments made necessary q great increase
in the number and variety Of public
functions TO do in the best possible way
whatever 10 was decided to undertake.
So confident were they indeed in Che
efficiency of their administrative organ
ization that they dared to assign to the
municipalities spheres Of action which
elsewhere have been left to private ef-
fort and control.
Municipal councillors in Germany are,
as o rule, very excellent citizens. It is
considered a high honor to be elected 10
the council Membership is q title of
dignity that merchants, professional
men and scholars r usually eager to
hold. No salaries are paid to the conn
cilors, and a penalty Ia attached 10 re-
fusal TO serve If elected. The sentiment
toward these positions Ia much the same
in Germany as in Great Britain, though
stronger with men Of high education
in German than in British towns. The
reelection Of good councillors term aRter
term is common In both countries. at
would be difficult TO estimate fairly the
influence Of the class system In Prussia
upon the character Of city councils 8
regards their conservatism, intelligence
and business ability. Undoubtedly me
recent growth of the social democracy
would have . sharper influence upUm
the city councils If the class system
were abolished and il the municipal
franchise were made identical with the
simple manhood suffrage that exists for
purposes Of representation in the im-
perial legislature-the reichstag.
In addition TO the magistracy and the
council, there ia I'm Berlin q body Of
about rs so called ''citizen depatfaR :
who : selected by the council for their
general fitness to serve as associates On
committees charged with the oversiRht
Of various municipal interests. such as
parks, schools, the car Of the poor and
the sanitary services. They have no
authority to vote In the council, but
they illustrate at the center Of admir-
istration, the excellent practice whiuh
L. followed throughout the entire rami.
fcation OF German city government, OF
enlisting the cooperation Of unofficial
citizens in managing the ordinary cons
Germs Of the community.
The burgonaster and magistrates arB
the most highly trained experts that q
German city can The burgomasr
ter is an expert in the general art 0f
municipal administration. Associated
with him In the magisterial council are
experts in Law, experts in finance, ex-
perts in education 10 administer the
schools. experts in engineering to over
see public works Of every character, err
perts in sanitary science, experts i'm pub
lilo charity. experts in forestry and park
management, experts in the technical
and business management of water and
gas supplies. and SO on.
InS ShaAuBy WOuAu HUI 10 pGTI0Ct,
but it would answer roughly TO compare
the governmental structure of q German
city with that Of a railway corporation,
ii which the board of directors, chosen
~ the stockholders, appoint . general
superintendent or manager, q general
passenger agent, q general freight agent
dchief legal officer, q chief engineer, q
superintendent Of motive power and
fher general officers and leave to these
high salaried experts, drawn from the
frvice of various other transportatiOn
Companies, almost the entire manage
hent and operation OF the road. The
hareholders represent the voters Of Bers
lin, let Ms say, the board Of directors
IRE the municipal council, the general
superintendent il the chief burgomaster,
Ind the general officers al the head u
departments sire the magistrates.
The magistratsrath, or stadtrath, az
b German city Ia, then. o body Of dis
and honored, highly paid,
professional, expert employees and not
body Of citizen Representatives, al