Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-28

That German cities are better governed
than other cities probably Is due to the
faet that the German people are thoroughly
imbued with military ideas OF discipline
and obedience. They obey instantly and
without caviIling the slightest command Of
the omnipresent and omniscient police Of
heer. They never set personal liberty to do
as they please above their duty to the
community as whole. They are willing
In civic life and in the capacity OF citizens
TO sacrifice private gain for public profit.
Just as they are willing IN military life In
the capacity Of soldiers to lay down their
lives for the nation. German thinkers de-
clare that this condition is the result OF
universal military training. Whether It is
or not, 1t is certain that no such condition
Is even remotely possible in America.
In German municipality every law and
regulation, important or trivial. is enforced
to the letter. There is no notification Of
the law by common consent. and there is
no purchase OF immunity by bribing OF Of
ficers. The law is the law, a police regu-
lation Is a police regulation, and no Of
fleer Of the government is permitted to
temper the severity OF a statute by an ad-
mixture OF magisterial mercy. 1t is in the
little things that the harshness of this sys-
tenn Is most apparent, but the Germans do
not complain of an exact administration OF
the regulations which would precpltate a
riot In any American town within week.
For instance, 1t Is forbidden to water
flowers except between the hours Of ana
o'clock In the morning. 1t is forbidden TO
practice. or to play the piano before Z, in
the morning or after at night: It is for
hidden to air bedding by hanging 1t out OF
the front windows; It is forbidden to sing,
shout or whistle on the streets Il is for
hidden for woman TO wear cloak or
cape into theater, II IL forbidden for
anyone to get on a street car which Is
filled; II is forbidden Tor a pedestrian to
obstruct the way Of a carriage or auto
mobilei in short. the word 'verbotenn is
the sign manual OF the German municipal
regulations. some of the. trivial inhibi-
lions mentioned above are instituted by
landlords. and not by the city government.
but as the policemen will assist the land
lord in enforcing observance of the rules
OF the house on the part Of the tenant, the
practical result is the same :
The complaint OF an American sojourner
that this multiplicity Of regulations SC
rigidly enforced depiives,s him OF his per.
sonal liberty is incomprehensfbe. TO the
German mind. The German replies thai
these regulations guarantee him his liberty
since they assure him that his clothing will
not be despatched by water. from upstairs
window boxes; that he may 60 to sleep
and may stay In bed late without fear oil
being awakened BY pianos in the houses OF
4 singing and shouting on the streets; thai
his life Is not endangered by having e
stumble over womens wraps II the theatei
gets on fire; that he Is certain of a seat
| IN the street car and no one may crowd
him there; that II he drives abroad tht
pedestrian must keep out of his way and
therefore not involve him in damage suits
and so on
He says that he prefers to subordinate hi.
passing whims and to obey these regula
tons and their like. in order that he ano
all the other people Of thescommuntty may
fobtain the proteetionj from annoyance and
danger which the code is designed to give
and which can be obtained only by insist
ing upon strict and universal obedience t,
the regulations: It is Impossible for tn,
j German TO understand the American poln
of view with regard to such things al
L But It must not be thought that tn,
Germans will submit tamely to regulations
which do not meet their approval. IL al
attempt were made to Introduce into Ger
many puritanica regulations such as form
the chief stumbling block of American
police administrations, the result would b,
4 disastrous, The Germans would not permi
any Interference with their right to Blu,
beer wherever and whenever they please
nor would they tolerate any legislation re-
stricting their freedom Of choice of amuse
ment or refreshment on Sunday Tha
American cities do usually make more o.
less effort to restrict personal liberty IL
4 this respect causes the German to argu,
that the strict police regulation he know
is in fact much more lI5era4 tnan the la,
enforcement Of law in Amerca-the differ