Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05
THE PARIS COUNCIL
cHosRN NJ PEOPLE AND DEcIDzs
COMMUNAL MATTERS.
Its Character Has Varied With That
Of the Government-The Mayor
and Deputies.
From the London chronicis

From the London Chronicle
The municipal regime OF the French COM
munes has frequently varied. It may be
said. indeed, to have followed all the POI
litical fluctuations OF the country. Accord
ing as the government has been liberal or
autocratic, the communal organizations
have enjoyed comparative Independence.
or. on the other hand, have been held under
strict surveillance.
Municipal legislation was definitely fixed
by the law of April s, 1884. which formed
for all the French communes with the ex-
ception OF Paris. an exact code regulating
their administrative powers with precision
and assuring them great freedom in the
sphere of their own interests Tie munic-
ipal council, elected by universal suffrage,
decides all communal matters. It elects
within itself a mayor and one or more
deputies, who form the executive body Inc
project of the department, represent ng the
central power, exercises with regard to the
communes only right of surveillance and
control. But particularly important Ques-
lions, such as loans. are submitted to SUI
perior authority; according to their lmpor-
lance either to the project, the minister for
horne affairs, the president of the republic
or finally to parliament itself.
How Paris is Governed.
The municipal organization of Paris diff
those general rules. and the law Of 1884
does not apply to 1t. Paris represents such
an assembly of forces and so formidable
power that, notwithstanding the inces-
SAINT appeals of its representatives, no gov
crnment-not even that of the republic
has consented to give it an Independent ex-
istence with complete administrative ib-
erty. The city of Paris forms an aggiom-
Grafton of about 2, 800, 900 inha bitants dwell
ing together within Notifications forming
an almost complete circle OF walls and
moat without any solution or continuity.
For purposes of administration 1t has been
divided into twenty ACCOMPLISHMENTS or dis
tricts, but these reimbursement have no
municipal life of their own. At theiS heao
are officials appointed by the president OF
the republic upon the nomination of the
minister for home affairs. They are chosen
from among the most distinguished cltl-
zens, and, under the names of mayor ana
deputies, fulfill all the functions OF ofncers
of the civil state. They register births,
deaths and marriages. direct charitable and
sanitary committees attend to the celebra-
tions of weddings. draw up the conscript
and electoral lists-and that Is all. In reai-
ity they are mayors only in name; they are
neither mayors by their origin, which Is
non-elective. nor by their duties, which DO
not allow them to participate to any ex-
tent in interests vital to the city of Paris.
The ACCOMPLISHMENTS are themselves d.
vided into four electoral districts. called
quarters, whose sole raison d'etre Is the
election by each of a municipal councillor.
The Partisan communal administration Is
in the hands of two powers, absolutely dis
tinct, but acting in closest cooperation
with one another. They are:
l. The municipal council, representing the
people This Is composed of eighty mem
bers elected for four years by universal
suffrage, in the proportion of one to each
quarter.
2 The projects of the Seine and Of the
police representing the government. These
oh officials raSnODSihla direCtly to the
minister for home affairs, and appointed
by the president Of the republic.
How the Council Works.
The municipal council decides all matters
of communal interest, but while certain OF
it's resolutions can take immediate effect,
others have to be submitted to the ap-
prevail either of the government or OF the
chambers. It passes the budget, but this
budget must have official sanction; more
over. all the fresh taxes established by the
council must be finally approved. according
to their nature, either by presidential de-
cree or by special law. In the course OF
the year the council holds several ordinary
and several extraordinary sittings. At the
beginning of each year 1t chooses from
amongst its members a president. two vice.
presidents, four secretaries, and a syndic
(chairman). These eight representatives
form the bureau de conseil Executive COM
mittee), whose duty 1t is to direct the coun-
ellis labors and to represent 1t on all i'm
portant occasions.
For local work the council Is divided into
six committees, whose functions are:
No. /. Finance, litigation and recognized
municipal services"
No. 2 General administration, markets,
public emporiums. abattoirs. cemeteries and
police
No. 3. Public roads, lighting. parks and
open spaces.
No. 4. Education and fine arts.
No. 5. Charities, mont de pietc.
No. g. Waterworks, sewerage, sanitation.
The budget Is first discussed by general
committee and Is afterward voted at
public sitting of the whole council. For
the consideration Of public works of spe-
cfal Importance, such as the Metropolitan
railway, for instance, the council appoints
a special committee.
The business papers are distributed by
the president amongst the different COM
mittees, who study them, come to certain
conclusions, and appoint one of their num-
Der to present and defend their views at q
public sitting Of the council. The colossal
work which devolves upon the Paris NUM-
cipal assembly will be realized when
point tout that it has to examine and settle
no fewer than 10000 business matters in
a year, and this in addition to the framing
of the budget.