The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-07-22
How Usual City Abuses
Are Kept in Check
by Regulations.

BERLIN-The Capital of Germany is
the best organized city in the world
This is a broad statement but there
can be no doubt that the great me-
tropolis on the Spree enjoys the most
ideal administration ever realized I'M
der any government. 1t is clean. or
derby, and thoroughly modern. In the
whole history of Berlin there has never
been a case of municipal corruption
To be an alderman in this city gives
a man public distinction, which is quite
the reverse to the effect produced in
most American cities, where the in
cumbent of the same office is often
brought under a stigma equivalent to
social ostracism. All authorities unite
IN praislng the Berlin policeman. He
is intelligent, diligent, and incorrupti-
BILE. He regards his post as public
trust, and woe be unto those who at
tempt to govern his actions by using
undue influence or Offering brides
After an intimate acquaintance with
the dirty, incompetent, thieVing off,
Gals of Russia, the clean, capable, |
straightforward public servants in Ger |
many win ones heart at first en- |
counter
At the German railway station there
is no such bedlam of shouting hack
drivers as is common to most coun- |
tries There is an attendant in charge |
who takes the number of each cabman |
as he comes up to the stand at the |
station, and who hands out icor-
responding checks to people issuing
from the trains, so that even the
largest crowd is received in an orderly
way and departs without any noise or
confusion. The taxometer is Berlin
invention which simplifies the matter
of tariff and makes it impossible for
the hackman to over-charge his fare.
It is unique contrivance located
within view of the occupant of the cab
and registers the distance travelled as
well as the sum that is due for the
service. The only way for a driver to
impose on his passenger is to go to the
destination by a circuitous route, but
this. of course, can only be done with
a stranger
RECORD BOOKS FOR SERVANTS.
The relations of servants to their
employers is under strict police regu
lation in Berlin. All domestic en-
ployes must have what Is called
service book showing the dates when
they enter and leave the employ Or
each family they work for, also the OBJ
ject for giving up their place. Each
employer writes in this book his COM
ments on the character and ability of
the holder. An emplOye can not be
discharged without fifteen days no
tice, neither can he discontinue service
without similar notification. With !
few exceptions this rule holds good
under all circumstances. Causes for
instant dismissal are theft, drunken :
ness, insolence, or immoral conduct on
the premises.
On the other hand, a servant may
sever connection without notice if his
wages are not paid, or if he is actually /
abused by his employer. One might
suppose that the servants would be
come Indifferent on account of the Sc I
curity afforded them, but the advan-
tages are so mingled that the law ;
works very well for both parties. The :
police are frequently appealed to where !
one party or the other is dissatisfied, :
but they invariably insist on the con-
tract being fulfilled unless discomfort I
is caused by some of the exceptional .
given above.
The municipal government of Berlin {
takes every precaution to provide for :;
the convenience and safety Of the pub :
lie. A novel and useful idea is that of
sprinkling sand and gravel on the as
ohalt pavements during rainy weather c
to keep horses and pedestrians from e
slipping At congested places there are a
boxes on the edges of the sidewalks n
from which attendants keep shoveling c
sand on to the street to make sure 1
footing for traffic Another novel ar C
-aneement is the one used to avoid Il
collision when the fire companies run /
n the street man sits on the drlV- n
ar's seat holding pole with an arm
attached. Upon approaching a cross
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