Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29
BERLIN GOVERNMENT
Details Not Supplied by the
Reynolds Report.
SUFFRAGE BASIS OF RULE
German Taxpayers Control Their
Own Municipal Affairs.
POLICE MANAGED BY STATE
Voting Privilege Restricted to Those
who Pay Taxes-Divided Into
Three Glasses.
POLICE MANAGED BY STATE

well governed. but judging from his plan
for Washington. either he does not know
much about the government Of Berlin or
he does not want its good features
adopted here.
To begin with, the government OF Ber-
lin. aside from it's police, is absolutely
and wholly controlled by its taX-paying
citizens. and that. too, under monarchy.
while here, in republic, he proposes
that the tax-paying citizens shall nave
little or no voice, and that the executive
or governor is to be appointed py 'ne
President from any place he may choose
ont side OF the District, without any re-
gard to the wishes of the cit11ens.
A description of the municipal govern
mcnt of Berlin, prepared ny our $1,000
Of legation was published In the Report
of the State Department In 1881. covering
ten pages; and more condensed descr'p-
ton in pamphlet form by Sylvester hax-
ter of Boston. who visited the city SUD-
,euuently Mr.. Baxter says:
I'm the government of Berlin We have
the spectacle Of one of the greatest cities
of the world administered with the ut
most economy and efficiency, attaining
the most splendid results Tor the com 3rt
and convenience of the public. without
the suspicion Of jobbery. and everything
attended to with the thoroughness ana
conscientiousness which here We are only
accustomed to expect in private enter
prises.'
1ow n this accomplished? As he says
Municipal Assembly.
The broad basis Of the government is
10 be found in the municipal assembly,
a body composed of the one hundred and
twenty-six members. representing the
three hundred and. twenty-six wards OF
the city. One-half at least must be house
owners; and two brothers. or father ana
son, are not allowed to be members at
the same time. The members OF TINS
body are chosen for six years. one-th1rd
retiring every two years, so that tnere
is municipal election once In two years:
This gives the great desideratum OF
permanency, principle when is emooole1
firmly throughout the entire municipal
structure. The long terms OF members
give them experience, and the remaining
in ONCE of a large majority OF old mem
bers assures the management OF analrs
by persons thoroughly conversant with
municipal business This assembly direct
~ represents the people, and out OF II pro-
coed all the other features OF the NUM-
cipal government. 1t has the entire flnan-
cial control Of affairs. being supreme IN
drawing up the budget for the year. and
in authorizing extraordinary expenditures
1t has no executive functions as body.
but It's members exercise them individu-
ally in association with other branches OF
the government.
This assembly chooses the upper
branch of city government, known as
the magistracy and composed OF the
board Of mayor and aldermen, the latter
thirty-two in number. fifteen of whom
are salaried. while seventeen are honor
AIRY members with no salaries whatever.
The mayor Is chosen by the assembly
tor a period of twelve years. nominally
subject to the approval Of the king.
The seventeen unpaid aldermen chosen
bx, he fnr
wears are usually taken from those MEM
bers of the assembly itself, who have dis
tinSuished themselves by years Of effi-
cient service In various departments.
honor, and the incumbents assume the
same duties as those of the paid alder
men.
Three Glasses Of Voters..
Returning TO the municipal assembly.
/ must describe the peculiar manner in
which it is chosen by the people. The
voters Of the city are divided into three
classes. system which prevails through
out Prussia. and, l believe. throughout
Germany. These classes are divided ac-
cording to the rate of taxes they pay. In
the first class comes those heaviest tax
payers who pay one-third Of the entire
levy. In the second class come those who
pay the next third; while the third class
comprises all the rest of the taxpayers.
The first class have each three votes. the
second two votes and the third one vote.
Each Of these classes chooses one-third OF
the assemblymen who are to be voted for
AT an election In consequence a majority
of the assembly is chosen by minority
Of the voters: the principle prevailing in
municipal suffrage in Germany being
similar to that in a financial corporation.
where voters exercise power cor
responding to that number Of shares they
hold. At recent election the numbers OF
voters in the first class was little over
:;,Oo: in the second class little less
han 1900 while the small taxpayer, in
the third class. numbered over 10000.
The two chambers are supplemented by
a body Of seventy citizen deputies AS
they are called. selected by the assembly
from distinguished citizens TO serve on
general committees for the administration
of special affairs such the relief of the
poor. the conduct of the schools, etc At
the head OF these committees an alderman
acts as chairman. and other aldermen
may be leading members; and membe RI
of the assembly, together with the citizen
deputies, form the rest of the member
ship
Police Administration.
In Berlin and some other large cities
the police is administered by the state in
stead Of the city. The force consists OF
something like 5000 men. besides their
officers: and the expense. amounting ia
nearly 100000 annually, is borne by the
city. Certain branches of the police, not
concerned in the preservation of the
peace, but in the general public welfare
are administered by the city; such as
looking after the trade societies, benevo-
lent institutions. etc. as we'll as sanitary
matters and the construction Of streets
etc.
he great Transformation In the an
pearance of the streets in Berlin which
mas taken place within the past fourteen
Years, Is due TO change OF administra-
ton from the state to the city The
state. up 10 1874. had the maintenance OF
the Berlin streets in charge. and was re-
luctant to grant sufficient appropriation
Tor the purpose: therefore visitors were
tston!shed at the Wretched condition of
me pavements. sewers. bridges. etc
Now, however, since the city has assumed
the work. it has been carried on with
magnificent enterprise and energy. result
ing IN the perfect pavements, beautiful
new bridges, hne public carriages. the
pest street railway system in Europe an
excellent water supply. and the gigantic
sewerage system. that now go so far to
give Berlin its character.
The relief OF the poor is performed bv
-; local commissions. each composed OF
between four and twelve citizens or non
orary members. with the assemblymau OF
the district member ex officio Some
thing like 1,Soo citizens take part in this
work. AID the methods employed arc
directed toward assisting the worthy poor
without the imposition OF degrading con-
itionS
The fire brigade of Berlin is a military
organization with $50 men. besides of