The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-26
MODEL ENGLISH CITY COUNCIL.
How Birmingham's Affairs Are Adj
ministered With Economy.

The governing body, executive as well as
legislative, is the city council, says the Cen
fury Magazine. The eighteen wards are each
represented by four members, one having the
title of alderman and three that OF counclior,
all meeting in a single body. one is elected
annually for each ward, so that two-th1rds
of the councillors and all of the aldermen
have had experience. They are CHOSEN by
burgesses, who are male or female occuplers
of any dwelling house, shop or manufactory;
or of any land or tenement of the annual
value of Flo. The difference between pur-
gesses and parliamentary electors is that
women are admitted to the former.
The parliamentary electors number Sl,09i
and burgesses and school board electors W.
zoe, the difference representing with 1alr
accuracy women voters. Members Of par
lament are elected by districts councillors
from wards and the school board on a gen.
eral ticket. No two classes are voted for
at the same election, though practically the
same machinery Is employed the expeno-
iture permitted to municipal candidates is
about EGO each. Vacancies in the council are
filled by special election. One alderman from
each ward is elected by the council for SIX
years, half the terms ending every three
years. AS a rule they are reelected indeh-
nitely, party or factional considerations haV-.
ing little influence.
The council Is organized on the 9th of No
Vember of each year, when the general pur-
poses committee, composed of the mayor as
chairman, and the chairman of each OF the
working committees, dominates the commit
tees for the ensuing year. Outside persons
are appointed as additional members OF the
museum and school of art, free libraries and
technical schools committee, who In practice
control the technical work. the council mem
bers retaining financial management.
Each member of the committee proposed is
voted for separately. The wishes of fnd1-
viduals are rarely consulted until their names
are presented, when they may decline and
be excused. None may serve on more than
two committees nor be chairman OF more
than one. Every effort is made to secure
the very best results. No precedents re-
quire the appointment of old members even
to important committees, and new member
known to be capable and interested in some
special work has no difficulty in obtaining
an assignment that may enable him to do his
best. But in practice the experienced men
are reappointed without question. Each COM
mlttee selects it's own chairman.
The council is a thoroughly represen tative
body. OF the seventy-two members OF the
present council twenty-three are manufact-
drers, six are classified as gentlemen (men
retired from business), six are provision mer-
chants, five arc brass and iron founders,
solicitors, jewelers. and medical men, re-
spectively, three are merchants, there are
two each of auctioneers, chemists and dra-
pers, while printers, teachers, butchers, bak-
ers, glassworkers, tin plate workers and news
paper managers each have one So far as
can find out, but one publican has ever
been in the council, although this class had
much influence prior to 1871
No member has any privileges on rail-
way or public conveyance OF any sort, even
on the tramways belonging to the city, or
admission to a theater or entertainment,
and none is permitted to vote on question
when he has personal interest. He is sub
ject to a fine of ESQ, with loss of office, if
he enters into any contract with the city
or sells an article of even the smallest value
to the council, or to any of its subsidiary
or associated committees or departments. So
strictly is this observed that a member of
a committee suspected of a desire to sell
eligible property to the city was forced to re-
tire from public life.
When the work of committee is to be
discussed it presents a report of all 1t has
done since it's affairs were last before the
council, setting out what it proposes. This
report or adenda must be printed and sent
to each councillor three full days before the
meeting. In some cases, especially when
new scheme is proposed each member is re-
quested to make personal investigation of
the conditions with which it is proposed to
deal. fcr