The Washington herald., 1910-09-08
Ruling a City.

Ruling q City.
In the Worlds Work for September
attention is called to an advertisement
taken from a German newspaper which
reads as follows:
The place Of mayor Of Magdeburg is
vacant The salary is 1900 marks
IS. 800 a year, including the rental of a
dwelling in the city hall. Besides his
salary, the incumbent viii receive 1900
marks $1,000 for his official expenses.
Candidates should apply before Septem-
Der l."
Strange as this advertisement may
seem to American readers. it must serve
to set us to thinking why it should seem
a strange thing for a municipality to
seek. by means Of advertising, for the
best possible mayor to be had Our sys-
tenn of electing man to rule the city
just because he can control votes, not
because Of his fitness or business ability,
has resulted. certainly. in giving us some
municipal administrations Of which we
have good reason to be ashamed.
On the other hand. German municipalI-
ties are the best governed In the world.
The Germans hold that the business OF a
municipality Is precisely like any other
business: it needs training. peculiar TT
ness. technical skill. a standard OF hon.
esty. and a high measure OF character.
They do not. as we do select a mayor at
haphazard. and intrust the municipality.
with all its qualifications. responsibilities.
and duties. to him. 10 do with pretty
much as he pleases. To conduct the bust
ness Of {. city. they insist on having
trained man: one who understands sani-
tation, fire laws, street building some
thing Of architecture. and law and eco
nomic science: in fact. they recognize
that the business of being mayor Is
real business. a man who has proved a
good mayor in one German city Is often
invited TO come TO another city at
larger salary. Just as in our own coun-
try we watch the work OF school super
intendents and advance them 10 higher
positions because OF their successful
work: or as we do likewise in the case
OF clergymen OF certain denominations.
Thus. in Germany a good mayor is in
demand. and is always sure Of a position
as mayor. his party or his politics-these
things affecting not at all the business OF
the municipallty-not being considered.
Thus it turns out that the smaller towns
train mayors who. by experience. be-
come fitted to serve in cities whenever
a vacancy occurs It was following this
plan Of operation that when Dr. Lentz.
chief burgomaster Of Magdeburg. was ap-
pointed Prussian minister OF finance.
the citizens OF Magdeburg were without
a mayor, and promptly advertised for
one 20 run their city
Perhaps, as things are in this country.
this German plan would be found to be
impracticable. and yet one cannot help
regretting that some such device for Sc
curing competent and efficient public
service is not put in operation here.
More and more, we believe. public opln-
ion is inclined to take less heed Of
mans politics when his services are
needed for the community; and the
spread. in recent years. OF the commits
sion form Of government IN American
cities is, very certainly, an effort on the
part Of the people TO get away as far as
may be from the corruptness Of munic-
ipal government. The time will come in
this country-may It be soon-when a
man will get public Office only because
he has shown his fitness for it. not be-
cause he is good fellow or because he
commands the votes.