The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-13

average American" His home life is less
developed. His social instincts are stronger.
He depends upon the municipality, largely,
for social entertainment. He requires that
his streets be cleaner. that the parks be
adequate and comfortable. and that per-
toms. American cities are being lnIected
more or less with this Germanic idea: The
modern popularity of the park, and the sd
cred band concerts. with the beer garden,
which are becoming more and more at
taches of all our cities, are run on this
principle.
The three-class system of voting in state
as well as municipal elections has some
things 10 do with good government III ber-
lin Ihis gives to the Weather class the
directing voice in municipal AFFAIRS. Inc
Importance of this principle, especially in its
application 10 American conditions, Is cas-
lily overestimated." And yet, If this class
OF citizens would give more attention 10
municipal affairs We would have more
economical and better business administra-
ton.
The civil-service idea of Prussia naturally
found ats counterpart in the city adnnnis-
tration. This has helped 10 solve many OF
the Berlin problems. Certain improvements
OF that city are doubtless due TO the TACT
residence of the royal family; and yet that
fact in America has not resulted in piac-
ing our capital above and beyond other
American municipalities. But, granting 10
all these conditions the full measure of
their Importance, il nevertheless remains
true that the great leading cause which has
departments has been the general interest
of all classes in municipal affairs. This is
the heart OF the whole question. III ac-
counts FOR almost every good thing wnicn
may be said OF the city government or Ber-
lin or of any other city. This principle is
being demonstrated in the improvement OF
municipalities in America. This Is mu-
nicipal Improvement in this country. Why!
Simply because the intelligent and loyal
people and the taxpayers are awakening
in some slight degree to the realization OF
their obligations in this matter
Let US note some of the marks OF ef-
ficiency in the Berlin government. as
brought out by this writer and by others.
The condition of the streets has to do with
the physical and moral health of all. and
with the personal happiness of great num-
bers. Berlin is said to be the most uni
world In Paris the idea of government is
exactly opposite to that Of Berlin Paris
is governed by the state. The main thor
oughfares of that commonwealth are kept
in fair order bat a great part of the city
is in miserable sanitary conditlon. Ine
people of Paris have not worked out the
municipal problem. and are not, therefore,
awake to their own interests, nor have they
been educated to realize their personal re-
sponsibilities. They have not risen to the
plane of elevated philanthropy which char,
acterizes the people of Berlin. In Berlin all
classes are interested in the condition or
the streets. The present system Of street
cleaning there is the result of years of care
He is aided by corps Of trained inspectors
and permanent body of over seven hun
dred scavengers increased as occasion may
demand. This organization has made pos
sible the execution of a carefully planned
system. The city has obtained, under the
most difficult circumstances, water supply
which, for purity as well as abundance, is
said to stand among the highest. a sys-
tenn Of drainage has been gradually de-
veloped which has made Berlin one of the
most healthy cities in the world mag
niicent system of markets has been built
with view towards beautifying less IA
vored districts; and what is more impoT.
such as to aid the poor In the difficult prob
sonable rates. The city has established
''pawnbroking, mortgage loan and fire In
surance institutions"
BERLIN'S FINANCES.
The finances of Berlin are comparatively
well managed. large income is derived
from the city's public works. mo fran
chises are granted without adequate re-
turns, while the system Of taxation Is by
far. the nearest approach to the modern
scientific ideal,' says Mr.. Rowe. The ad-
mirable civil-service system of Prussia was
the sine qua non to the realization of these
reforms. Berlin has gradually converted its
system of indirect to one of direct taxation.
Personal and real property contribute their
equal shares. An easily developed income
tax yields about % per cent. of the total in
come. The fact is, however, that the in
come from taxation is less than so per cent.
OF the total income Of the city. In other
words. of a total of $4,000 600 in 1892. taxa
ton contributed but little over $1,000, 900.
The remaining s1000O0O0 came from the
city's various Industrial enterprises. A mil
lion and half were expended for school
buildings The igas and water works,
slaughter houses and sewerage yielded
close to S4,500,000. One-half million was
collected from the public transportation
.lrltA ~, = Hill
to be sound and of great Importance to
each ard every city. The municipality
should control public transportation with
out hampering it. Too often municipalities
and governments follow a policy of petty
interference, which accounts largely for
the unsatisfactory condition of public trans
happens that those great corporations ever
awe the municipal government There is
room here for the exercise OF municipal
power. sense and business In Berlin the
municipality cc-operates with the street
car companies to improve the system with
out relinquishing for moment its control
Practically, the entire system of street-car
lines is in the hands of a single company
The original payment for the franchise Is
insignificant when compared with the an
nual incomes. The city requires the COM
pany TO pay into its treasury a certain per-
centage Of the gross receipts. ranging from
to per cent. This alone amounted tic
receives 100000 annually for street clean.
ing and paying. Finally, at the expira-
ton of the forty years charter. al
street-car lines. including waiting rooms
become the property of the city, together
with the right to purchase the rolling stock
at its appraised value. In the United
States we have become so accustomed &c
being dominated by railway companies that
| this condition of things across the seas In
single city comes like an oasis in the des-
| per cent. represents the profit-bearing in
| dustrial enterprises, such as water, gas
markets, slaughter houses, etc. The remain
| ing 20 per cent. being expended for school
houses. bridges and the like 1t is not sup.
| posed that Berlin Is as well governed as
| heard and read that it has many OF the
| qualities that are calculated to make some
| of the cities in America more like HEAVIER
| than they are at present.
1t must be noted that the underlying prin
| ciple of this better condition OF things IN
Berlin is contrary to that which America
| cities are accustomed to. 1t seems clear
| that We have not recognized the true ma
| ture OF the municipality. 1.-THE doctrine
| that municipal corporation is but. q
| subordinate branch OF the general govern
mental power of the State a doctrine which
has been confirmed from the Supreme Court.
downwards, is as false in principle as IL /.
detrimental to- progress in its operation .
says Mr.. Rowe. What is needed in thi.
| country is a change OF the attitude OF tn.
State towards the municipalities. Then
following this. the citizens must change
their attitude toward the city government
| They must realize that they are part o.
| the municipality: that its necessities ar.
their necessities. That each time the mu
| nicfpaiity Is robbed, maltreated or misgoy
] We must have a thoroughly equipped and
| organized civil service. scientific organization
| of charities and better way of locatin,
responsibility.