El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1896-12-30
MODEL CITY COUNCIL.
Municipal Government of birmingham
England.

: England.
!. Mr.. George f. Parker furnishes
!. study of the city administration O
Birmingham, England, to the Centur.
!. under the title of IAN Object Lesson II
Municipal Government" Mr.. Parker
says: The government body, executive
. as we'll as legislative, is the city coun-
. Gil. The Is wards are each represented
!. by four members, one having the title
of alderman and three that of councillor
all meeting in a single body. One is
: elected annually for each ward, so tha,
two thirds of the councillors and all the
; aldermen have had experience. They
are chosen by burgesses, who are male
or female occupiers of any dwelling
house, shop or mandatory or of any
land or tenement of the annual value
of 500. The difference between bur-
gesses and parliamentary electors is
that women are admitted to the form
er.
The parliamentary electors number
81, ,097 and burgesses and school board
electors 92 700, the difference repre-
senting with fair accuracy women
voters. Memb bers of parliament are
elected by districts, councillors from
wards and the school board on a general
ticket. No two classes are voted for at
the same election, though practically
the same nachiDery is employed. The
expenditure permitted to municipal
candidates is about $500 each. Vacan-
cies in the council are filed by special
election. One alderman from each
ward is elected bv the council for six
years, half the terms ending every
three years. AS rule they are re-
elected Indefinitely, party or factional
considerations having little influence.
The council is reorganized on the
9th of November of each year, when the
general purposes committee, compris- |
ed of the mayor as chairman and the |
chairman of each of the working COM
mittees, nominates the committees for |
the ensuing year. Outside persons are |
appointed as additional membe of the |
museum and school Of art, free librar-
les and technical school committees,
who in practice control the technical
work, the council mem bers retaining
financial management.
Each member of the committee pro-
posed is voted for separately. The
wishes of individuals are rarely con-
suited until their names are presented,
when they may decline and be excus-
ed. None may serve on more than two
nor be chairman of more
han one. Every effort is made to Sc
cure the very best results. No pre-
,edents require the appointment of old
members even to important commit
ces, and a new member known to be :
capable and interested in some special 7
work. has no difficulty in obtaining an
that may enable him to do
lis best. But in practice the ex-
men are reappointed without Z
uestion. Each committee selects it's
wn chairman. Y
The council is a thoroughly repre- r
body. Oft the ~ members of
he present council 23 are manufacture
rs, q are classified as gentlemen linen {
etired from business), 6 are provision S
Merchants, are brass and iron found
RS, solicitors, jewellers and medical l
len respectively, 3 are merchants, +
lists and drapers, while printers,
eachers, butchers, bakers, glass
'orkers. tin plate workers and newspa-
er managers each have one. So far I
5 | can find out, but one publican has 3
yer been in the council although this
lass had much influence prior to d
81.
No member has any privileges on a 5
ailway or pu bile conveyance of any n
ort, even on the tramways belonging
} the city, or admission to a theater or
and none is permitted l:
} vote on question when he has q
ersonal interest. He is subject to q
ne of $3.50, with loss of office, if he e
nters into any contract with the city
r sells an article OF even the smallest q
alue to the council or to any of its +,
lbsidiary or associated committees or Z
apartments. So strictly is this OBJ v
erved that member of a committee q
of desire to sell eligible
roperty to the city was forced to retire
ON public life. T.
When the work of a committee is to fl
e discussed, it presents report of all
has done since its affairs were last r.
efore the council, setting out what it u
rOposes. This report or agenda mus t
= printed and sent to each councillor K
lree full days before the meeting. n
! some cases. especially when a new e.
,heme is proposed, each member is T
3quested to make a personal investi- +,
alton of the conditions with which it r
proposed to deal.